60,000 trees towards restoring critically endangered Big Scrub

Greening Australia’s Ian Rayner at the new project site with Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy’s Mark Dunphy. Credit Clare Douglas.

More than 60,000 trees are being planted across 26 hectares on Bundjalung Country in the NSW Northern Rivers region, as part of a reforestation program aimed at capturing carbon and restoring local ecosystems.

The plantings are part of the Nestlé Global Reforestation Program, which in Australia aims to establish 10 million trees in partnership with Greening Australia, Canopy and One Tree Planted.

A mix of 70 native species is being used on former grazing paddocks to support the restoration of critically endangered Big Scrub vegetation. Revegetation on the site will help support the formation of new biodiversity corridors and habitats for native species such as the Rose-crowned Fruit Dove and Grey-headed Flying Fox.

The project features high diversity with over 70 native species used. Photo credit Clare Douglas.

Once the largest lowland subtropical rainforest in Australia, the Big Scrub spanned 75,000 hectares. Today, only 750 hectares of this Gondwana-era rainforest remain. (Why was the Big Scrub cleared?)

Greening Australia Program Specialist Ian Rayner said that partnership and collaboration are key to driving impact and change for Australian landscapes.

“Only 1% of the Big Scrub remains today, and it’s amazing to see so many people collaborating to conserve and restore this precious ecosystem. We’ve worked closely with the NSW Government, landholders and local experts to ensure this planting will thrive and best represent the vegetation that would’ve been here prior to clearing, from taller canopy-creating trees to midstorey and shrubs.

“And this planting also wouldn’t be possible without our partnership with Nestlé and One Tree Planted, so it truly is a collaborative effort from a global level to an incredibly localised level. It’s about coming together to create impact by restoring native habitat,” said Ian.

Greening Australia, Nestlé and One Tree Planted representatives during a site visit, surrounded by planting holes. Photo credit Clare Douglas.

Local rainforest restoration practitioners have generously shared their experience and knowledge with Greening Australia’s on-ground team, helping to set the project up for success.

President of Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy Mark Dunphy said the organisation is excited to see 60,000 endemic rainforest trees planted for this carbon capture project.

“There are wonderful things happening to restore this endangered ecosystem; however, this pioneer project has the potential to inspire and hopefully supercharge the restoration of rainforest in the Big Scrub area,” said Mark.

Remnants of the beautiful Big Scrub rainforest like this one are vital guides for the project’s planting design. Photos credit Clare Douglas.

The Nestlé Global Reforestation Program aims to grow 200 million trees globally by 2030, part of Nestlé’s efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The 10 million trees in Australia aim to capture an estimated 1.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent over a 25-year carbon crediting period.

Working in collaboration with local landholders and communities, over two million trees have been planted in Australia for Nestlé to date, with the aim to restore local biodiversity, improve water quality, and revitalise degraded soils at sites across NSW and Victoria.

Landholders interested in restoring parts of their land can learn more and register their interest at: greeningaustralia.org.au/landholders

Towards more Big Scrub rainforest restoration. Photo credit Clare Douglas.

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