Phillip Toyne, the co-founder of Landcare, has been hailed a "visionary" for creating the national environmental protection program.
Mr Toyne, who also worked with the Hawke government on the hand-back of Uluru to its traditional owners, died on Saturday at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer.
Former independent MP Tony Windsor praised him for his foresight in environmental protection.
"Australia has lost a visionary in Phillip Toyne - my thoughts are with his family," he said on Twitter on Sunday.
"He cared for those who cared for the land, black and white."
Former Greens senator and environmentalist Bob Brown said Mr Toyne was a magnificent Australian who had drawn worldwide plaudits for creating Landcare.
"Phillip Toyne has left our nation, and our planet, greener and better equipped, both socially and politically, to face the very great environmental challenges which lie ahead," Dr Brown said.
Another Greens senator, Christine Milne, said Mr Toyne was a dedicated campaigner for the environment and indigenous rights.
Mr Toyne was executive director of the Australian Conservation Foundation from 1986 to 1992 and played a key role in putting the Daintree Rainforest on the World Heritage list.
"With his counterpart at the National Farmers Federation, Rick Farley, Phillip Toyne developed the Landcare model and together they convinced the Hawke government to support it," ACF CEO Kelly O'Shanassy said.
"It started a movement that has engaged communities across Australia in the job of reversing damage to farmland, public land and waterways."
Landcare's Twitter account also hailed Mr Toyne as a visionary.
Mr Toyne died in Melbourne on Saturday morning with his family by his side.
