PLANTING A FUTURE FOR KOALAS IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

At a glance:

• Australia Post supported the planting of more than 3,000 trees in Arakwal National Park in Byron Bay in July. 
• The restoration project is helping reconnect koala habitat to create a wildlife corridor.
• The Northern Rivers region in NSW is one of Australia’s most significant strongholds for koalas.
• The planting day brought together Australia Post and WWF-Australia staff, Bangalow Koalas, Arakwal National Park Rangers, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and community members.
• Australia Post has renewed its partnership with WWF-Australia for another 3 years, supporting koala recovery and regenerating nature across Australia. 

On a winter morning in July, just beyond the bustle of Byron Bay and a stone’s throw from Tallow Beach, thousands of young trees were being planted in Arakwal National Park to help secure a future for Australia’s Endangered koalas.

Against the backdrop of the iconic Byron Bay Lighthouse, a dedicated planting crew got to work, transforming sparse coastal bushland into a healthier, more connected landscape for koalas and the many species that depend on it.

The planting day brought together Australia Post and WWF-Australia team members, Bangalow Koalas volunteers, local community members and Indigenous Arakwal National Park Rangers, working side by side on Country to plant koala food trees and create safer passage for the region’s koalas.

The community tree planting day was part of a much larger regeneration effort to restore and reconnect this important koala landscape with more than 3,000 trees planted, supported by Australia Post. 

This kind of collective action is helping to restore nature – reconnecting habitat today to create a future where koalas and entire ecosystems can thrive.

Why are koalas Endangered on the east coast of Australia? And how can planting trees help?

Habitat loss and fragmentation are among the biggest threats to koalas, alongside disease, climate change and extreme events such as bushfires. 

Since 2001, koala populations have declined significantly – by up to 50% in Queensland and 62% in New South Wales. 

That’s why projects like this are critical to their recovery.

“Every tree planted today is helping reconnect habitat and create a healthier more resilient landscape for wildlife,” explains Nicole Forrester, Chief Regenerative Officer, WWF-Australia.

The great news is, in just two years, koalas could begin using the trees planted. 

The Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is recognised as one of Australia’s most significant strongholds for koalas and a critical area for long-term species recovery.

For Nicole, the planting day highlights what regenerating nature can look like when organisations, conservation groups and communities work together on the ground.

“By restoring degraded landscapes and reconnecting habitat, we're helping build healthier ecosystems that support wildlife, strengthen communities and create a more positive future for the generations to come.”

Helping koalas and nature thrive in Byron Bay and Northern NSW

Once heavily impacted by sand mining, this stretch of land in Arakwal National Park is being restored to connect important habitat around Cape Byron.

Around The Pass in the Cape Byron State Conservation Area, koalas are squeezed into small pockets of fragmented habitat, where they face over-browsing, human disturbance and the risk of vehicle strikes. 

Once established, the new plantings will give them more room to move, feed and find refuge.

The pressures facing local koalas are visible across Cape Byron, where ‘koala’ roadside signs approaching the Byron Bay Lighthouse warn motorists to slow down.

Koalas still call this landscape home. By protecting, restoring and reconnecting their habitat now, we can help create the conditions they need to thrive here for generations to come.

What is a wildlife corridor?

Wildlife corridors are areas of connected habitat that allow animals to move more safely between the places they need to survive. For koalas, they connect patches of eucalyptus trees and other food trees, providing access to food and shelter while reducing the need to cross open or heavily used areas.

Restoring and reconnecting landscapes is a key part of WWF-Australia’s Koalas Forever program. The program focuses on protecting, restoring and reconnecting koala habitat, supporting healthier landscapes and helping koala populations recover and thrive across eastern Australia.

Australia Post’s support is helping WWF-Australia continue this work to protect koalas, restore habitat and regenerate nature, recently renewing its partnership with WWF-Australia for another three years.

For Australia Post’s General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Engagement Nicky Tracey, seeing that partnership take shape on the ground made the impact especially meaningful.

“What's really special about working with WWF-Australia for another three years is that we have an opportunity to gather our team members, our customers and communities to help support WWF to regenerate nature.”

For Australia Post team members joining the planting, the partnership became something tangible – swapping their usual working day for gloves, soil and a hands-on role in restoring koala habitat.

Bangalow Koalas, is an important part of koala conservation across Northern Rivers NSW, creating habitat corridors on public and private land through large-scale community planting.

WWF-Australia has supported Bangalow Koalas since 2020, helping enable the planting of more than 104,600 trees for koalas.

Together, WWF-Australia, Australia Post and Bangalow Koalas are demonstrating how strong partnerships can deliver lasting conservation outcomes, creating healthier, more connected landscapes for koalas and the many species that share their forest homes.

For Bangalow Koalas President Linda Sparrow, the impact reaches far beyond koalas themselves.

“Koalas are what you call an umbrella species. By planting and trying to create habitat for them, you're creating habitat for a multitude of different species, whether it's kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, birds.”

“They're the most iconic animal in Australia, so we have to care for them because if we don't, they could be extinct by 2050, and that's not going to happen on my watch.”

By the end of the day, hands were dirty, hearts were full and rows of young trees dotted the landscape.

Koalas have been given their greatest gift. 

In the years ahead, those saplings will grow into towering eucalyptus trees, providing food, shade and shelter, ensuring Australia’s iconic koala has a home here, forever. It’s a powerful example of what partnership and combined efforts can achieve – helping regenerate nature and create a future where koalas and other wildlife can thrive.

How can we save koalas?

For koalas, having trees isn’t enough – those trees need to be connected. Now there’s more than 3,000 trees that will link vital habitats for many native animals.  

Protecting koalas can have a ripple effect. By restoring the forests they need to survive, we’re also helping protect habitat for countless other native species and supporting healthier ecosystems overall.

“The future isn't written yet and the actions we take today will shape the Australia we leave for future generations,” Nicole said.

Support koala conservation in Australia by planting eucalyptus trees in your backyard or plant trees with a local conservation organisation.

More ways to help koalas and nature thrive:

• Become a Koala Champion – take the quiz and discover how you can help protect koalas and regenerate nature.
• Adopt a koala and receive a koala plush toy
• Donate today to help protect Australia's iconic koalas, restore habitat and support a future where nature can thrive.