Linking critical habitat for threatened species on New South Wales Crown Land

Seedlings planted on National Tree Day

A host of threatened species including the Regent Honeyeater, Superb Parrot and the Koala, are set to enjoy the benefits of 140 hectares of new habitat on Crown Lands across New South Wales.

The trees are some of the 60,000 that are being planted across 187 hectares of public land by Greening Australia alongside landholders, local communities and Australian Government Green Army teams to create new homes for wildlife.

Crown Lands, which cover almost half of New South Wales, play a vital role by providing refuge for a broad range of species and linking key patches of habitat.

Superb Parrot

“The work we are doing will significantly improve the value of the land and restore vegetation which has been heavily impacted through previous land management practices. This will result in multiple positive conservation outcomes for wildlife, critical wetlands and regionally significant species and ecological communities,” says Jeni De Landre, Greening Australia Project Manager.

Activities are being carried out across six environmentally significant sites including Fivebough wetland, Collector Reserve and Bredbo Travelling Stock Route.

“The results of our direct seeding are already showing great signs of success. It was exciting to see last year’s seedlings sprouting nicely and looking healthy when we went back to monitor the sites in January.”

Collector Public School students at our National Tree Day event in 2016.

Community engagement forms a core component of the project, with local landholders, communities and partners actively involved in revegetation activities, such as the planting of tubestock.

“Community and school planting days, run in partnership with the local interest groups such as landcare, engage a broad range of groups and individuals and give people a sense of stewardship over their local environment. To date we have run eight events engaging close to 140 people.”

“We look forward to seeing local communities and wildlife continue to reap the benefits of our work into the future.”

The project is supported by the Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees Programme, part of the National Landcare Programme.