Growing Hope: Inspiring future guardians of New Zealand’s land

The Junior Landcare Programme, launched by the Bupa Foundation in collaboration with the New Zealand Landcare Trust, is an inspiring new initiative designed to engage young people in practical environmental projects. Over the next three years, school and youth groups across New Zealand will work on various activities—from native tree planting and wetland restoration to pest control and ecological monitoring. What sets this initiative apart is its intergenerational focus, partnering schools with local Bupa retirement villages and rest homes, fostering not only environmental stewardship but also meaningful community connections.

Through these hands-on efforts, the Junior Landcare Programme aims to empower young people by showing them that they can be part of the solution to environmental challenges. Involvement in such projects offers more than just ecological benefits; it also addresses an increasingly recognised issue known as eco-anxiety. This term refers to the chronic fear and worry about environmental threats, a phenomenon that Niki Harre, a professor of psychology at the University of Auckland, explains is especially common among young people.

“Eco-anxiety isn’t just an abstract concept,” Harre shares. “It is deeply influenced by how environmental threats are portrayed in the media and compounded by uncertainties about the future. Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these fears as they try to shape their sense of identity and belonging in a rapidly changing world.” A global study by Hickman and Associates, surveying over 100,000 young people, found that 59% were extremely or very worried about the future. Of these, 45% admitted to experiencing emotions such as sadness, anxiety, and helplessness that impacted their quality of life.

Although eco-anxiety can affect anyone, rural communities are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. Harre draws attention to studies highlighting the emotional impact of these changes on rural populations, such as Inuit communities in Canada and farmers in Australia’s Wheat Belt. “In these cases, people are not just imagining the future—they’re witnessing and grieving changes to their land right now,” she says. “Whether you call it eco-anxiety, eco-grief, or something else, the connection people have with their environment is undeniable. Dismissing these feelings means ignoring the profound relationship we all share with the land.”

This connection is just as relevant in New Zealand’s agricultural sector. Harre points out how her own daughter and son-in-law, farmers in the Waikato, experience emotional ups and downs depending on weather patterns. “Farmers live with the land in an intimate way, and their identity and well-being are intertwined with its health,” she explains. “They know better than anyone how unsettling it can be when the environment doesn’t behave as expected.”

One of the key goals of the Junior Landcare Programme is to take these anxieties and transform them into positive action. By actively involving young people in nature-based projects, the programme offers them a sense of agency and purpose. Harre stresses the importance of shifting away from fear-based narratives towards messages of hope. “It’s essential to explore practical ways for young people to get involved, instead of leaving them feeling overwhelmed by problems that seem too big to handle. When we focus on community-driven solutions, it becomes easier for children to believe they can make a difference.”

This perspective is crucial for rural communities, where young people are more exposed to the direct consequences of environmental change. The Junior Landcare Programme provides a space where they can channel their emotions into constructive efforts while working alongside older generations. Planting trees, monitoring ecosystems, and restoring wetlands are not just environmental tasks—they are acts of resilience, of reimagining what is possible in a world often depicted as doomed.

Critically, the programme also supports mental well-being. Research suggests that working with nature and engaging in communal activities can significantly alleviate eco-anxiety. “It’s not just about environmental outcomes,” Harre notes. “Projects like these can help young people feel part of something bigger than themselves. They learn to appreciate the small, cumulative efforts that contribute to larger change.” Furthermore, spending time outdoors and building relationships with people from different generations nurtures mental health in ways that are deeply restorative.

The collaboration between schools and Bupa retirement homes also highlights an important aspect of environmental stewardship: the value of intergenerational learning. Farmers in New Zealand are custodians of land and knowledge, and their insights are invaluable in fostering a culture of sustainability. By working with elders, young participants in the Junior Landcare Programme are exposed to stories of perseverance, tradition, and care for the land—values that will serve them well as future guardians of New Zealand’s natural resources.

Despite the urgency of environmental challenges, Harre warns against catastrophising the future. “We need to frame environmental issues thoughtfully. Telling children that disaster is inevitable won’t empower them—it will paralyse them,” she says. “We must balance between acknowledging the seriousness of these challenges and encouraging young people to act with hope, knowing that they are not alone in facing these issues.”

Harre’s insights echo a broader understanding that has grown within rural communities: resilience comes from action, not despair. In these communities, practical problem-solving has long been a way of life, and it offers valuable lessons for the younger generation. Programmes like Junior Landcare reinforce that change is not beyond reach when people work together—whether planting a forest, restoring a wetland, or tackling pest problems in the bush.

The Junior Landcare Programme exemplifies what is possible when hope meets action. It aligns perfectly with the ethos of New Zealand’s agricultural community—one of stewardship, resilience, and forward-thinking solutions. Farmers understand that their work goes beyond producing food; they are caretakers of the land and mentors to future generations. This initiative reminds us that environmental challenges are not insurmountable when approached with collaboration and optimism.

Through small but meaningful actions, the programme offers a model of what the future could look like: a place where young people, farmers, and elders come together to protect and restore the environment. As Harre puts it, “If we want our children to believe in the future, we need to show them that there is a future worth believing in.” With the Junior Landcare Programme, New Zealand farmers have an opportunity to do exactly that—to inspire the next generation by demonstrating that care for the land is not just a duty, but a shared legacy.

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Angus Kebbell is the Producer at Tailwind Media. You can contact him here.