Half a million trees and counting: How one woman is saving koalas across the Northern Rivers

BANGALOW Koalas has reached a major milestone in its bid to create a wildlife corridor across the Northern Rivers, planting its 500,000th tree on a property at Possum Creek last weekend. The non-profit organisation has now set a new goal – one million trees by 2030.

Founded in 2016 by Bangalow local Linda Sparrow, the organisation has worked with landholders, volunteers and partner groups to restore native habitat on 123 properties across seven shires.

Sparrow’s efforts were recognised in 2022, when The Australian Geographic Society named her Conservationist of the Year.

With koalas listed as an endangered species in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, Sparrow said it was more important than ever to continue the work.

“People have said to me ‘now you can put your feet up’ and I’m like, ‘no way – I have got another half a million trees I have to make sure I get in the ground,” she said.

“There’s so much land clearing and development happening and koalas are under so much stress from car strikes and dog attacks.

“Just this week a joey was hit on Lismore Road near Bangalow’s industrial estate. They need habitat away from us and roads.

“You can’t stop and take a breath, you just have to keep going getting grants and getting NGOs and government agencies to support you.”

Over Friday and Saturday, 2,575 trees were planted at the Possum Creek property. The trees were funded by One Tree Planted and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, while the planting itself was funded by Cherish the Environment.

Sparrow also thanked the organisation’s partners at WWF-Australia Koalas Forever, who have funded almost half of all trees planted to date.

She said the project just doesn’t connect koala habitat, it also connects communities, with local schools and Indigenous rangers also taking part.

Sparrow is now conducting site inspections for future plantings and is always looking for new landholders to join the effort.

“In a lot of cases we have planted a property and a neighbour wants to get involved then another neighbour,” she said.

To donate, visit bangalowkoalas.com.au/donate