Landcare in Focus May 2026

Landcare In Focus is a biannual online magazine that features case studies, project information, photos, people profiles and science-based articles submitted by volunteers, groups and organisations involved in landcare from across Australia. The magazine content showcases articles about innovation in sustainable land management, revegetation and habitat restoration, protection of waterways, community participation in landcare projects, and excellence in agriculture and environmental stewardship. The magazine profiles the people across Australia who are actively caring for our natural environment.

34 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026

essica Lovegrove-Walsh on

community, conservation

and leading for the long term.

What Gap Did the Pandemic

Reveal That Led to Friends of

Parks Queensland?

How Have Communities and

Traditional Owners Shaped Your

Conservation Approach?

During the pandemic, there was a surge in grassroots Friends of

Parks groups as people reconnected with nature. While the energy

was incredible, many volunteers were working with limited support,

resources or coordination.

Friends of Parks Queensland was created to back those passionate

people—to amplify their voices, strengthen relationships with land

managers, and ensure volunteers aren’t left to navigate complex

systems alone.

Volunteers are essential to caring for protected areas, and they

deserve support, recognition and advocacy.

It has reinforced one core truth: conservation is built on relationships.

Real, meaningful relationships take time - time that is often

undervalued because it doesn’t fit neatly into KPIs or productivity

metrics. But without it, everything falls short. Partnerships lack depth,

engagement risks becoming tokenistic, and trust can erode.

Climate change and biodiversity loss are complex challenges that can’t

be solved in isolation. Long‑term collaboration, respect and trust are

essential. Without those foundations, even the best intentions will fail.

Jessica Lovegrove-Walsh is an emerging conservation

leader driven by the belief that caring for nature is

inseparable from caring for people. As founder and

Executive Officer of Friends of Parks Queensland, she

supports volunteers working across national parks,

conservation parks and state forests - often with limited

resources but deep commitment.

In this interview with Landcare in Focus, Jessica reflects

on her journey into conservation, the value of community

led action, and what it takes to stay sustainable in long

term environmental work.

Seeing the

System, Not

Just the Symptoms

Above Jessica Lovegrove-Walsh at the NaturallyGC event

Right Jess at Daisy Hill

Top Right Jess at the Landcare conference Felixer