Coming together for our second Annual General Meeting was a time for us to reflect on how Land Covenantors Victoria came to be. What does it take to launch a not-for-profit to support landholders across Victoria? It takes people: motivated, generous and determined. And pragmatically, it also takes financial, practical and governance support to establish a robust organisation that grows in strength at a rate that has even surprised us!

Looking back to the minutes of our inaugural meeting in August 2021, we already had the key elements in place. From day one we had good people, willing to give their time to support and promote the benefits of private land conservation. And we are grateful that we had the backing of the Rendere Environmental Trust. Rendere means “to give”. And what the Trust has given LCV and all Victorians is an unwavering confidence in the benefits that accrue from supporting private land conservation.

Rendere Environmental Trust is an invite-only Trust that provides strategic advice and core funding to get pioneering community conservation initiatives off the ground with strong organisational structures. The Trust supports, enables and strengthens community leadership and where there is a gap, Rendere facilitates and fosters the start-up of new environmental not-for-profit organisations.

Back in 2021, Rendere identified such a gap. There was no platform for landholders with conservation covenants to connect, share knowledge, advocate for and grow private land conservation. And so, LCV was born.