Bangalow Koalas celebrated a major milestone today in its mission to save koalas – the planting of its half a million trees in northern New South Wales.
About half the total was supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia as part of its aim to double koala numbers by 2050.
As the swamp mahogany sapling was positioned on a hobby farm in Possum Creek, supporters cheered an incredible achievement – half a million trees in the ground since 2019.
Bangalow Koalas President Linda Sparrow called the work ‘our 500,000 reasons for hope project’.
She said: “500,000 trees means half a million new homes for koalas and countless other native species.
“It’s a symbol of what community passion and persistence can achieve — turning hope into living, breathing habitat.
“For me, it represents connection, purpose, and a legacy of care that will grow for generations.”
Nicole Forrester, Chief Regenerative Officer, WWF-Australia, who attended the celebration, said: “Koalas are a keystone species. Save koalas and their habitat, and we save all the other species that need forest areas to survive.
“Seeing bare paddocks being transformed back into wildlife habitat is inspirational.
“To build on Bangalow Koalas great work we also need to protect remaining forests.
“The federal government must strengthen the EPBC legislation now before parliament to close loopholes that allow deforestation of the homes of koalas and other threatened species.”