All images by @Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
WildArk together, with our partners David Yarrow and Global Wildlife Conservation, has planted 4685 koala feed (eucalypt) and rainforest trees in a fire-impacted area of NSW, Australia, as part of the #KoalaComeback campaign.
Using David Yarrow’s striking image of a surviving koala amidst an incinerated landscape on Kangaroo Island, the #KoalaComeback Campaign raised funds for wildlife rehabilitation and habitat restoration efforts in the aftermath of the Australian bushfires.
The #KoalaComeback has funded the planting of 4685 koala feed and rainforest trees. Photos © Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
The trees were planted through local not-for-profit Bangalow Koalas and form part of the Bangalow Koalas Community Wildlife Corridor, which aims to enhance, protect and conserve habitat for threatened species and ecological communities. This includes the koala and the critically endangered Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia.
(Top Left) 4685 saplings ready for planting. (Top right) Bangalow Koalas team of bush regenerators and ecologists were part of the planting. (Bottom Left) Bangalow Koalas President Linda Sparrow ready to plant. (Centre) A Rainbow Lorikeet rejoicing at the prospect of new trees. (Bottom Right) The trees will be big enough for koalas in 18 months. All images © Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
The trees will help enhance and connect the wildlife corridor of koala habitat and rainforest remnants currently existing in a cleared agricultural landscape matrix in Northern NSW.
“We aim to provide ‘stepping stones’ for koalas to move safely to a neighbouring wooded area and support the existing koala population with an enhanced network of koala feed trees,” said Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow
A selection of indigenous kaoala feed and rainforest trees were planted. @Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
The trees were planted in the North East Hinterland Area of Koala Significance, recently identified under NSW Koala Strategy 2018. Areas of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS) have been mapped across NSW using koala conservation densities analysis. The property selected in the Swan Bay floodplain, is an area impacted by recent bushfires and drought. This area has crucial koala habitat with fragmented populations of koalas.
The trees were planted in an area of Koala Significance in NSW, Australia. @Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
Koalas have been identified on either side of the property and across the river. Bangalow Koalas recently completed a planting on the other side of the river in Swan Bay, which has many koalas over-browsing existing trees planted 20 years ago.
Swan Bay Floodplain was selected as the site for the #KoalaComeback tree planting. All image by © Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
The #KoalaComeback supported the planting, site advice, and species identification undertaken by Bangalow Koalas expert team of qualified and licensed bush regenerators, ecologists, and a project manager who will continue monitoring and maintaining the trees over three years.
A small team of volunteers worked tirelessly over three days to plant all 4658 trees as a curious horse looks on. © Daniel Ridgley Hewitt
“Grassroots projects such as tree planting are the soul of the conservation community, and Bangalow Koalas represent the very best of community action,” said WildArk Co-founder Mark Hutchinson. “These 1,000s of trees extending the wildlife corridors of NSW is vital, and it’s a positive story after our devastating fires. WildArk couldn’t be prouder to support this initiative.”
Funds raised through the #KoalaComeback Campaign will continue to support wildlife rehabilitation and habitat restoration efforts relating to bushfire recovery across Australia.
