Hi!  My name is Ashley Beven, the Regional Landcare Facilitator for North Central Victoria, hosted by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

The North Central CMA is situated in North Central Victoria and covers an area of around 30 000 km2 (about 13 percent of Victoria).  The region is bordered by the mighty Murray River to the north, the Great Dividing Range and Wombat State Forest to the south and Mt Camel Range to the East.  It is home to a population of over 200 000 people, which are mostly concentrated in the large regional city of Bendigo.  Urban development, gold mining and agriculture have significantly impacted the environment.  Land degradation, the fragmentation of native vegetation and pest plants and animals are the major environmental issues in the region.  Approximately 13 percent of the region is public land, with internationally significant wetlands and grasslands protected for conservation.  Landcare plays a vital role in protecting the region’s environment and natural resources, with 160 Landcare groups and approximately 5 000 members across the region.