The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) is central Australia’s peak environmental organisation that has been advocating for the protection of nature and growing sustainable communities in the arid lands since 1980. We are a strong and trusted voice for Australia’s iconic desert country. We stand up and speak out for the protection of land and water, animals and plants, special places and the communities that depend on them. We demonstrate courageous leadership and work with partners across vast landscapes to deliver solutions to the ecological challenges we face. We understand the importance of knowledge, science, research, education and engaging the community on the issues that matter.
ALEC is catalysing change and building momentum with our supporters towards our vision of healthy futures for arid lands and people. ALEC works regionally with projects in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia and connects in with national environmental campaigns and initiatives. ALEC works on a wide range of issues; climate change, renewable energy, sustainability, biodiversity conservation, food and water security, fracking, nuclear issues, mining, urban development and has it’s own social enterprise Arid Edge Environmental Services. ALEC also works in range of ways; regional representation on working groups and government committees, policy submissions and reviewing environmental impact statements, project management, program development, advocacy, community events, public meetings, and driving innovation and new initiatives. ALEC has approximately 350 financial members, and has strong support from the local community. This saw ALEC survive funding cuts in 2014 where the organisation was entirely dependent on donations and fundraising. Funding for a Policy Officer was re-instated at the end of 2016 by the new NT Government, however the organisation still requires significant public support to remain operating at the same capacity. Support the work of ALEC by becoming an ALEC Member and/or a regular Desert Defender.