Streams

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ALCA’s conference program is developed annually to enhance the knowledge and capacity of the private land conservation sector and its partners and stakeholders and has consistent streams each year.

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Land and Water: Effective conservation requires adaptive, ongoing and practical management to protect and sustain our natural and cultural values. This stream explores emerging challenges and 

opportunities, including new and innovative approaches to land and water management, and cutting-edge tools, technologies and research that enhance land, water and cultural stewardship.

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People and Place: With nearly 65% of Australia’s land privately owned or managed, landowners, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, land stewards and local communities play a crucial role in building the health and resilience of our environmental, social and cultural landscapes. This stream examines initiatives, approaches and knowledge systems that foster inclusivity and participation in conservation efforts, and that support outcomes for culture, connection to Country, community wellbeing, trust and cohesion, and environmental justice.

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First Nations: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island peoples steward more than 45% of the nation’s network of protected land across over 70 million hectares of Indigenous Protected Areas, as well as land and waters held through different tenures. This stream explores the challenges and opportunities for strengthening and expanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander access, ownership and management of Country. It highlights collaborative management models and partnerships, explores the ways in which Traditional Knowledge and private land conservation can work together to build ecosystem resilience, and considers the community and institutional factors for engagement and success.

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Economics and Finance: Money is critical to conservation success. This stream unpacks innovative funding mechanisms, including environmental markets, offsets, philanthropy, public-private partnerships, financial incentives, and natural capital strategies. We explore how these tools can accelerate and expand conservation impact, and how they are being developed and used by a diverse range of businesses and organisations to secure financial capital to advance the pace and quality of land conservation.

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Future Leaders: Supporting and developing the skills of emerging conservation practitioners is vital to sector success and sustainability. This stream informs and inspires around critical topics, including intergenerational knowledge transfer and equity, ecological grief and climate anxiety, and education and leadership—providing a platform for young professionals and emerging leaders to showcase their research, ideas, and programs that are helping to shape the future of land conservation.

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Policy Pathways: The policy landscape is constantly evolving, presenting both challenges and opportunities for private land conservation. This stream examines emerging national and global policy trends, strategies for advancing nature priorities across all levels of government, and governance frameworks that strengthen decision-making and risk management. It explores key enablers and game changers for unlocking the full potential of private land conservation.