As koala habitat continues to disappear through development and land clearing, Bangalow Koalas are working hard to connect koala habitat and rainforest remnants through the planting of a wildlife corridor for vulnerable species.

Through linking a number of properties across the Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Lismore Shires, the corridor provides koalas with a safe passage across open paddocks, ensuring they avoid the threat of residential and developed areas.

The team continue to make impressive progress. To date, they have completed 26 plantings across 22 local properties. Together with community volunteers, the team have planted over 27,000 trees, well on their way to a target of planting 40,000 trees this year alone and an ambitious goal of planting 250,000 trees by the end of 2025!

An NRCF Community Grant funded 750 of the 2000 trees planted on 14 March on Greg and Claire O’Meara’s property in Binna Burra. Over 160 volunteers travelled from all over the Northern Rivers, as far as Grafton, Lismore and even Brisbane, with their collective power getting the trees planted within 50 minutes! The day was also supported by Bangalow Lions and Summerland Credit Union.

These community planting days have been providing an important opportunity to educate adults and children in how to nurture and grow trees that will in turn support and protect one of Australia’s most iconic animals.