28 July 2025

LANDHOLDERS LEADING THE WAY IN KOALA RECOVERY

Across northern NSW, landholders are bringing landscapes back to life through the Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative. Meet the farming families who are restoring habitat, building biodiversity and supporting koalas, while generating carbon income and strengthening the resilience of their properties. From sugar cane paddocks to mixed farms, each story highlights the power of local action to create lasting environmental impact.

Banyula: farming with conservation in mind

Banyula, a mixed farm in northern NSW, produces cattle, macadamias, and native fruits while adopting sustainable land practices. In 2022, through the Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative project, the farm planted 25 hectares of native vegetation to reduce erosion, shade livestock and create wildlife corridors. A few years on, and the plantings are helping to restore koala habitat, boost biodiversity, and improve water quality. The sound of insects has returned to the planting site, and birds are starting to build nests in the trees. Carbon revenue earned through the program is supporting the expansion of the critically endangered rainforest, increasing its national estate by around 10%. Not only that but the project is also set to sequester approximately 65,000 tonnes of CO₂, proving that conservation and farming productivity can work hand in hand.

Clunes, New South Wales, Australia. WWF-Australia experts Tanya Pritchard (left) and Ben Herington (right) and are finishing a walk through the newly planted forest at the Banyula farm in Clunes together with Banyula farm manager Matt Bleakley (center) to make observations and get the pulse of the health of the trees, 3 years after the planting took place. The growth of the trees is healthy and very encouraging, with birds coming back in the area.

WWF-Australia experts Tanya Pritchard (left) and Ben Herington (right) finishing a walk through the newly planted forest at the Banyula farm in Clunes together with Banyula farm manager Matt Bleakley. © WWF-Australia / Franck Gazzola

Patches Flat: reviving land for wildlife and climate

Patches Flat, a 68-hectare former sugar cane farm in northern NSW, is being transformed through the Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative project. Owners Suellen Thompson and Gray Pritchett saw the potential to restore degraded land while generating an income stream. The project reconnects remnant forest on higher ground with the Richmond River floodplain, improving water access for wildlife and enhancing water quality. Now, a mosaic of vegetation types, including dry rainforest, Melaleuca swamp and eucalypt forest supports rich biodiversity and creates critical koala habitat. By shifting from agriculture to conservation, Patches Flat demonstrates how planting for impact can benefit the environment, wildlife and farmers alike.

2 people stand with their arms around each other on an agricultural property with grass and trees in the background. Patches Flat, a 68-hectare former sugar cane farm in northern NSW, is being transformed through the Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative project.

Swan Bay: Creating Koala Habitat from Cleared Farmland

In Swan Bay near Evans Head, NSW, Lyn Thomson and Steve Posselt are restoring a 43-hectare former sugar cane property through the Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative. Once mostly cleared, the land now hosts newly planted native trees that link remnant forest to the Richmond River floodplain, providing habitat, shade and access to water for wildlife. Motivated by climate impacts and local flooding, the couple joined Pilot 2 of the program, aiming to create a thriving ecosystem for wildlife while earning income through carbon credits. Their revegetation supports koalas, boosts biodiversity, and contributes to restoring over 10,000 hectares of koala habitat nationwide. For Lyn and Steve, it’s about leaving a lasting legacy, for wildlife, the environment and future generations.

Swan Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Team effort is required to plant new trees on Lyn Thomson and Steve Posselt’s property in Swan Bay. Planting and mulching are the two main steps to complete. These young trees will eventually create a forest that will then become a viable habitat for many wildlife species, including koalas.