An exciting new initiative to improve koala habitat is set to begin in Bongil Bongil National Park at East Boambee.
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The ‘Tree Parents’ Project is enables interested locals to sign up as volunteers to help local koalas.
The NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) Area Manager Glenn Storrie said the aim is to improve former eucalypt plantation areas within the National Park as koala habitat.
“The plan is to promote koala food trees in that section of the park by planting 600 Tallowwoods, Grey Gums and Swamp Mahoganys,” said Mr. Storrie.
“Ranger Martin Smith will run the program which needs 10 teams of up to 8 people each from the local community to take on the challenge and plant, water and nurture the trees until they are mature enough to survive on their own, he said.
“Local social clubs, extended families, sporting groups, gardening or nature clubs, school teams, businesses or work groups are all encouraged to sign up as a ‘Tree Parents’ team.
“In effect we are asking the volunteers to become the parents of these trees for the first few vulnerable years of their lives. But unlike modern children, they can be left to their own devices by age 5.
“Anyone who wishes to do something practical and beneficial for the natural environment to ensure koalas remain an important part of the local Coffs landscape is welcome”.
“NPWS staff will provide training, support and management of the teams, tools and equipment will be available to assist teams in the field. Each team will be assigned to a clearly defined 2 hectare block into which they will plant their allocated 60 trees”, he said.
“As all these blocks are side by side I expect some pretty healthy competition will be generated with each team striving for the biggest, greenest and healthiest trees possible”.
“This is an opportunity to assist local wildlife for centuries into the future as most eucalypts live in excess of 300 years.
To inform and encourage participation in the ‘Tree Parents’ program the NPWS project manager, Ranger Martin Smith has planned 3 information sessions for up to 20 potential volunteers at a time.
These sessions will be held at the NPWS Coffs Harbour Jetty offices at 10am on Saturday April 11th, on Monday April 13th at 6pm and on Wednesday April 15th at 6pm.
To learn more about the ‘Tree Parents’ project contact Ranger Smith on 66.520.900 or by e-mail martin.smith@environment.nsw.gov.au.
