Bellinger Landcare – creating koala habitat corridors

Bellinger Landcare’s Hyde Creek project is kicking goals for koala conservation.

For the last 3 years Bellinger Landcare Inc (BLI) has been working as part of the Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance to reinstate and reinforce a vegetation corridor which runs between Bongil Bongil National Park, Pine Creek State Forest, Tuckers Knob State Forest and Dorrigo National Park. This builds on many years of dedicated work by the Hydes Creek Landcare group.

The corridor has been identified as a missing link that would enable koalas to move from the coast to the plateau, and crucial to the survival of koalas in the Bellingen Shire.

Through the partnerships formed in their Koala Connections project, Bellinger Landcare’s Koala Corridor Project has attracted significant funding. The project has planted 3,600 trees, engaged 10 private landholders and 2 local Landcare groups, held 2 tree planting workshops and installed educational signage.

This project demonstrates the power of partnerships, volunteers and landowner collaboration. The regeneration work is ongoing, and Bellinger Landcare hopes to strengthen these relationships to achieve even greater long-term conservation benefits for koalas.

This project was funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, Saving our Species, North Coast Local Land Services, Bellingen Shire Council and WWF-Australia.