Although the population of the region is relatively small, local communities are cohesive and express a strong interest and attraction to the landscape. They identify healthy landscapes as being important to enjoyable rural lifestyles and local community development. Because of this, local communities of the Avon Region have well-established involvement in managing natural resources within local catchments. Formal and informal networks are formed to increase the capacity for local NRM. These include development of:

• landcare and catchment groups;
• landcare networks, community networks and associations of networks (coordinated through the Avon Catchment Council's Information Network);
• conservation networks such as through Greening Australia (WA), Wildflower Society and the WWF Australia;
• local conservation organisations such as the York River Conservation Society, Toodyay Friends of the Avon River and many others;
• community-led research and development (R&D) groups such as Western Australian No-Till Farmers Association, Lucerne Growers Association, the Kondinin Group, Oil Mallee Association, Saltland Pastures Association, Australian Master Tree-growers Network and the Avon Sandalwood Network;
• local productivity groups such as the Facey, the Freebairn and the Ningham groups;
• NRM and agricultural knowledge brokers such as professional consultants, marketing groups and service organisations;
• heritage groups (e.g. historical societies, National Trust, local museum groups);

The knowledge and skills for NRM within the region have been developed through programs and initiatives including:

• the 'Decade of Landcare' initiatives;
• the Avon Landcare Program and 'Landcare Vision';
• recovery programs for threatened species and ecological communities;
• the Bushcare program in the Avon Region;
• the community-based 'Living Landscapes', 'Woodland Watch' and 'Land For Wildlife' programs;
• the Avon Rivercare Program;
• agricultural industry extension programs, such as the 'Time to Lime' initiative for soil acidity, and,
• farm forestry extension, including 'Farm Forestry Support' and 'Tree crops for Sustainable Agriculture' programs.

In recent years, the capacity of communities for local NRM has been developed and maintained through Community Support Officers (CSOs) located throughout the region. Approximately 25 CSOs have been employed for landcare, bushcare and rivercare programs.