Tree planting to help Koala group reach milestone

VOLUNTEERS are being urged to support the Bangalow Koalas, with the community group aiming to plant 500,000 trees to complete its seven-year project.

The group will plant another 1000 trees in the Ballina Shire at Tintenbar on Saturday, March 15.

It will be the first of several tree planting events to be held across several locations this year.

Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow said the group is on track to complete its Reasons for Hope campaign which will see it plant 500,000 trees by the end of the year.

“Since 2019 we have planted just under 414,000 trees, that is 150 plantings on 115 properties across seven shires in the Northern Rivers,” she said.

“Every year we are amazed how these community plantings bring so many different people together.

“We get community groups, families, farmers, landcare groups, indigenous rangers and schools in a collaborative effort to help save koalas.

“The holes are already pre-dug, the trees are in the hole, with mulch next to it so literally people only have to take tree out of tube, plant and mulch and move on to the next hole.”

The project is funded by the Australian government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.

The group also relies on donations and support from the One Tree Planted group and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

“The grants we get allow us to plant and maintain trees for two years,” Ms Sparrow said.

“We also have funding which supplies our koala seedlings and One Tree Planted funds all our other species trees.

“Our plantings are offering hope for koalas, hope for the planet and hope for all of us. Without habitat there is no future for koalas.”

Bookings are essential for the tree planting and can be made to [email protected]