Koala conservation group plants 336,000 trees to help the animals in the wild

Urgent koala conservation underway with tree corridors being built to protect the animals in the wild

When Lucy the koala was rescued from a rural NSW property two years ago, she was suffering from chlamydia*, a disease widespread among koalas.

Today, she’s one of the lucky residents of tree corridors in the Northern Rivers region* dedicated to protecting the nation’s beloved marsupial* by preserving its rapidly shrinking habitat.

The vast networks of vegetation*, planted by local conservation group* Bangalow Koalas, are a lifeline* for koalas and numerous other species like the endangered glossy black cockatoo, gliders*, possums, and wallabies.

Located in the lush hinterland* near famous Byron Bay*, they provide safe passage across the koalas’ increasingly fragmented habitat*, increasing genetic diversity* and protecting the animals from human threats.

“Our corridors are actually trying to get them away from humans, from cars, from dogs,” said Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow. “They can safely move across the landscape and not have to put up with us humans.”

The koala is predicted to be extinct in the wild* in NSW by 2050, with some of the biggest threats being wildfires, habitat loss through logging* and land clearing* for development. The eucalyptus leaf-munching marsupial has already been declared endangered* in several states.

A 2022 government report showed that Australia has lost more mammal species than any other continent.

Founded in 2019, Bangalow Koalas has planted over 336,000 trees on 119 properties, contributing to koala conservation and boosting the local ecosystem*. The group, which relies on community volunteers, aims to plant 500,000 trees by 2025.

“The neighbour would want to join and then another neighbour will want to join,” Ms Sparrow said. “It’s like a domino effect, where all these people all over the Northern Rivers want to join our corridor.”

Volunteer Lindy Stacker, who has been planting trees for over five years, said the activity was “better than meditation*, better than yoga”, and had rallied the community together.

A recent report by the Australian Koala Foundation said the iconic marsupial was worth an estimated $3.2 billion per annum to the tourism industry.

However, the World Wildlife Fund – Australia reported alarming declines* in koala populations, with a 50 per cent drop in Queensland and a 62 per cent drop in NSW since 2001.

Ms Sparrow remains committed to the cause.

“I can’t imagine a world where there’s no koalas in the wild,” she said.

“We’re going to do everything we can possibly to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

GLOSSARY

• chlamydia: A disease that affects koalas and is common among them

• marsupial: an animal with a pouch, like a koala

• tree corridors: areas with a network of trees that provide a safe passage for koalas and other animals

• Northern Rivers region: a specific area in New South Wales known for its rivers and nature

• conservation group: a group of people working to protect and preserve the environment and its wildlife

• vegetation: plants and trees

• lifeline: something that provides essential support and protection

• gliders: animals that can glide through the air, similar to flying squirrels

• lush hinterland: a fertile and densely vegetated area

• Byron Bay: a famous coastal town in New South Wales

• fragmented habitat: an environment that is broken into smaller, disconnected pieces

• increasing genetic diversity: having a variety of genetic traits within a population

• extinct in the wild: no longer existing in their natural habitat

• logging: cutting down trees for wood or other purposes

• land clearing: removing vegetation from an area, often for development

• endangered: a status indicating that a species is at risk of becoming extinct

• boosting the local ecosystem: enhancing the natural balance and health of the local environment

• domino effect: when one action leads to a series of similar actions

• meditation: a practice of calming the mind

• alarming declines: a significant and concerning decrease

BASIC SHORT ANSWER 3

Fill in the blanks with NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER

1. Where was Lucy the koala rescued from?

2. Who grew the vast network of vegetation?

3.This network of vegetation keeps the animals safe from ...

4.How many main causes that probably lead to koala's extinction?

5.Which country has the most mammal animals dispappeared according to 2022 report?

6.How many trees have been planted by Bangalow Koalas?

7.Who are the main members of Bangalow Koalas?

8.How long has Lindy Stacker been growing trees

9.How much was the iconic marsupial worth according to a recent report?

10.What was the percentage of reduced populations of koala in NSW since 2001?