Field Day to learn about koala friendly carbon plantings in Northern Rivers

A pioneering initiative has begun in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, benefiting wildlife and the environment, with an invitation for local land managers and the community to find out more at a plantings field day 9am – 12 noon, Friday 14 October 2022, Saratini Farm, Clunes, NSW.

The Koala Friendly Carbon program, which is a partnership between land managers, Climate Friendly, the World Wide Fund for Nature – Australia (WWF-Australia) and the NSW Government, aims to restore habitat for koalas, while also attracting other wildlife and enhancing biodiversity.

Climate Friendly is providing in-kind resources to develop the innovative partnership model and source projects for the pilot. This includes guidance and hands on support to land managers to enable them to generate carbon credits, forming part of an integrated approach to enhance the environment and agricultural productivity.

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Head of productive agriculture for Climate Friendly, Jessie Laing, says a field day being run in Northern Rivers in October is a great opportunity to learn more about the program.

“We’re really looking forward to the field day at Saratini Farm in Clunes, to meet with land managers and explain how the koala planting pilot works and the potential wider benefits such as increased biodiversity, improved farm productivity and sustainable land management,” she says.

Field Day to learn about koala friendly carbon plantings in Northern Rivers

Saratini Farm is a mixed agricultural enterprise producing macadamia nuts, finger limes and Davidsons plums. It also runs a herd of around 250 head of cattle. 26 hectares on the property are being restored as koala habitat, with a further 55 hectares being planted as a rainforest restoration within the wider carbon project.

Manager Matt Bleakley’s says he plans to use Koala Friendly Carbon credits generated through the project to help restore the large, interconnected forest on the productive family farm.

“The newly established environmental plantations will link remnant forests to existing native timber plantations and will add about ten per cent to Australia’s acreage of critically endangered big-scrub rainforest,” says Matt.

Matt is keen to share the story behind the koala carbon friendly plantings at Saratini and encourages other land managers to get involved.

“Come along to the field day and see first-hand all the great work going on. The integrated program at Saratini is also helping to really boost our biodiversity and attract other endangered species like the greater glider, as well as build in mechanisms to reduce flood impact.
So far there are five properties in the Koala Friendly Carbon program for 2022, with another two being assessed.
One of the first to get going was Eltham Springs. Owner Jim Irvine has allocated around 35 hectares of his property to the program. Conservation minded, he was looking for ways to optimise his land management for the best mix of agricultural production and habitat rehabilitation.
“Having travelled quite a lot, I was drawn to Eltham Springs as it was previously owned by three generations of a settling family and it reminds me of my father’s farm in Tasmania. Very similar as its perched up high on a ridge line. The previous owners named the place ‘Eagle’s Rest’ primarily because of it having a generational wedge tailed eagle nest high up in the original native trees.

Often you can see the eagles gliding with the thermals with the parents teaching the young birds how to fly. Very cool to see. I’m slowly trying to regenerate the soil and soul here,” says Jim.

“Eligible participants are being sought for the 2023 program and beyond,” says Jessie.

“Land managers can apply for a property assessment to determine if there are koalas close by and if their land is suitable. Criteria includes the need for at least 30 hectares of suitable land available for planting, as well as evidence of koalas living nearby as the aim is to reconnect fragmented habitat,” she says.

WWF-Australia Landscape Restoration Project Manager, Tanya Pritchard, says that Koala Friendly Carbon would help address some of the major threats facing koalas.

“We can’t turn around the decline of east coast koalas without bold actions to tackle habitat loss and fragmentation,” says Tanya.

“This project provides incentives for landowners to be part of the solution and will help us restore and connect large areas of koala habitat. Working together with government, landowners and Climate Friendly, we can give koalas the chance to thrive, not just survive.”

Koala Friendly Carbon Plantings Field Day, NSW
9am – 12 noon, Friday 14 October 2022, Saratini Farm, Clunes, NSW
https://www.climatefriendly.com/koala-projects/