20 Jan 2025
IT’S NUTS!!!! A KOALA OASIS IN A SEA OF MACADAMIAS
What was once a treeless field in a nut plantation in northern NSW has become “a koala oasis in a sea of macadamias”.
Just last month, in the space of a week, three koalas were spotted among the eucalypt plantings in Binna Burra.
The stunning transformation from grassy slope to koala haven has taken less than two years after 1630 koala food and habitat trees were planted in March 2023.
It’s another success story in the partnership between Bangalow Koalas and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia as they strive to save koalas.
Habitat destruction and fragmentation is one of the biggest threats to this iconic species.
Heatwaves, droughts and bushfires made worse by climate change, disease, and vehicle strikes are also causing significant population declines.
Without strong intervention, it’s predicted koalas could become extinct in the wild across eastern Australia by 2050.
“Back in early 2023 this treeless field stood out like a sore thumb. Now we’ve created a koala oasis in a sea of macadamias. It’s a brilliant pit stop for koalas dispersing through the landscape,” said Linda Sparrow, President of Bangalow Koalas.
“Koalas can stay shaded among the macadamia trees during the day and feed on eucalypts at night before continuing their journey in a corridor we’re creating, stretching from Byron Bay out towards Tenterfield.
“Some of the trees have grown to be more than 5 metres high in under two years. Our thanks to the plantation owner who saw koalas on his property and wanted to do something to help,” Ms Sparrow said.
“What a wonderful success story with three koalas photographed in the plantings last month. Once a eucalypt can take the weight of a koala they will climb it and start chewing. It shows that these trees fill a gap,” said Tanya Pritchard, Senior Manager Koala Recovery, WWF-Australia.
“It’s amazing seeing koalas using such young trees, it shows the urgency of the situation, we need to plant a lot more trees if we are to reverse the koalas’ continuing decline. Farmers are helping play a crucial role in creating future habitat and we are hoping many more landholders will join the corridor to support the long-term survival of koalas,” Ms Pritchard said.
Bangalow Koalas has planted more than 413,000 trees since 2019 and is on a quest to reach 500,000 trees by the end of 2025.
WWF’s Koalas Forever program aims to double the number of koalas across eastern Australia by 2050. In total, WWF has assisted Bangalow Koalas to plant more than 238,000 trees since 2021.
WWF and Bangalow Koalas work with Githabul Rangers, Minyumai Rangers and the Jagun Alliance on the mission to save koalas.