Engaging private landholders, Hydes Creek Landcare Group and the Friends of Wonga Forest in improving vegetation condition in a crucial corridor for the movement of koalas across the landscape.

This project is in the area with the highest density of koalas recorded within the Bellingen Shire outside of the National Park estate. It is located on private land between Bongil Bongil National Park, Pine Creek State Forest, Tuckers Knob State Forest and Dorrigo National Park.

This area forms the missing link in a corridor which, when complete, will allow the movement of koalas from the coast to the plateau. The NSW government’s Bellingen Koala Plan of Management identifies this corridor as crucial to the survival of koalas in the Bellingen Shire.

As part of the Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance, Bellinger Landcare are working on establishing this crucial link. We are engaging private landholders, Hydes Creek Landcare Group and the Friends of Wonga Forest in establishing and reinforcing the corridor. 

We are also working with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Saving Our Species and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to deliver the best outcomes possible for koala movements across the landscape.

This project is engaging a minimum of six private landholders and two local Landcare groups in extensive bush regeneration and the planting of 2,600 trees during 2018-19. This includes the engagement of professional bush regenerators and the Hydes Creek Landcare Group assisting with tree planting on the private land. The Friends of Wonga Forest have been improving an important site integral to the corridor behind the Bellingen Cemetery in the township of Bellingen. They run working bees on the first Sunday of every month. The project involves the installation of two educational signs at key locations and the delivery of two workshops.

The time and energy contributed to the project by dedicated volunteers from the Bellinger Landcare Committee and two local Landcare groups have been essential to project success. The excellent relationship building skills of the Bellinger Landcare Project Manager has meant that the initial funding received has been supplemented by funding from multiple project partners.

A Bellinger Landcare place on the Council Koala Advisory Committee means that our relationships with project partners and key stakeholders can be further strengthened with the hope that the project will run for the longer term to achieve significant koala conservation benefits.

This project has been funded by a NSW Environmental Trust Restoration and Rehabilitation grant, the NSW government’s Saving our Species program, North Coast Local Land Services, the World Wildlife Fund and Bellingen Council.