Restoring Australia launches in South Australia, with 51,200 trees planted

Our direct seeder at work on Kangaroo Island.

‘Restoring Australia’ has extended into two new areas this year with the planting of over 51,000 native trees across South Australia’s Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsula through our partnership with Officeworks – two landscapes which have experienced extense clearing over the past few decades.

Launched in August 2017, Restoring Australia sees two trees planted for every one used, based on the weight of paper-based products that customers buy at Officeworks.

Through Restoring Australia we have spent the past 12 months establishing native plants in vulnerable landscapes across Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia, improving water quality and restoring vital bushland habitat to help local wildlife and communities to thrive.

The primary focus across the new South Australian sites has been the restoration of Sheoak Woodlands, which include threatened grassy woodlands, as well as to create ideal habitat and food sources for many species of birds including Kangaroo Island’s endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo and Lake Eyre’s Diamond Firetail and Malleefowl.

Eyre Peninsula landholder Bill Nosworthy is presently undertaking a strategic sheep grazing removal program to assist the land’s natural regeneration process. Kangaroo Island landowners Alan and Susie Noble have also ensured all farming practices have permanently ceased and intend to explore the opportunity to build a small tourism hub within the restored area to provide a nature-based tourism experience on the beautiful island.

Kangaroo Island landholder Alan Noble said, “Most of Kangaroo Island’s native vegetation has been severely damaged after many years of farming and animal habitation. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to restore the land to its natural beauty for future generations to enjoy, as part of the Restoring Australia initiative.”

Kangaroo Island landholders Alan and Susie Noble

Greening Australia Project Officer, Mick Durant said, “The planting activity that has taken place across South Australia will go a long way towards restoring the woodland ecosystems and improving habitats for the landscape’s threatened species. We recognise that planting can have an amazing impact for long-term biodiversity conservation and protection and we are looking forward to seeing the land thrive over the coming years.”

Officeworks Corporate Affairs & Brand Manager, Alexandra Staley added, “We’re delighted to be entering the second year of Restoring Australia. Thanks to our customers, we’ll have planted around 326,000 seeds and seedings by the end of the year.”

Read more about Restoring Australia

These plantings are part of Greening Australia’s Great Southern Landscapes program, which aims to see 300,000 hectares of habitat restored by 2030.

Find out more about Great Southern Landscapes