Green Jobs to restore the Big Scrub Rainforest

Green Jobs to restore the Big Scrub Rainforest

Location: Byron Bay, Australia
Action: Big Scrub Rainforest restoration and Green Jobs in the new economy

Threatened Species: Wompoo Fruit-dove, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Little Bentwing Bat, Red-legged Pademelon and Spotted-tailed Quoll
Habitat: Lowland Subtropical Rainforest 

Total Cost of Project: $100,000

Status update on the fundraising on the 5th of April 2020. 

Financial need: $100,000

Amount raised: $

Remaining target: $

Please make a donation now online.

Green Jobs the solution to the Coronavirus recession.

Around the globe, economies are tumbling and there’s no doubt that many people are experiencing genuine hardship right now. As we begin to repair the economy it’s crucial that we invest in programs that help move society forward in a sustainable way. It’s time that we shifted from an economy based on unsustainable consumption and burning fossil fuels to one that actively mitigates climate change.

And the good news is that we don’t need to wait to be able to do that. We can start right now.

The Byron Shire in NSW is famous for its beaches and laid-back lifestyle. It’s a beacon for international travellers. The largest economic driver and employer in Byron Shire is the visitor economy. Traditional occupancy rates over Easter sit at around 90% but now they’re well below 20% and expected to drop close to zero. Opportunities for alternative employment in the Shire are minimal. There are thousands of people now unemployed. We need to do everything we can right now to create employment while restoring our environment.

It’s amazing to think that at 75,000 hectares, the Big Scrub Rainforest in northern New South Wales’ was once one of the largest subtropical rainforests in the world. The Big Scrub was located within the Mt Warning caldera between Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and the hinterland. But now only 1% remains. While that's only a tiny fraction of the original rainforest, these small surviving pockets contain more plant and animal species than any other ecosystem in the state. Amongst them are 50 species of threatened plants and animals.

To look after these threatened plants and animals we need to make the Big Scrub Rainforest remnants bigger. We can do that by planting trees (simple) and that also creates jobs.

Let's get planting!

We are beginning by planting 10,000 trees at Cromwell Farms at Goonengerry inland from Byron Bay. An ecologist has prepared a farm plan indicating where trees are required to protect waterways, prevent erosion and improve habitat. This is an established tree planting site and 4,000 trees have been planted so far in 2020.

We will plant and maintain one tree for every $5 provided. The trees through our Rainforest Ranger program and this will kickstart our green jobs in the Byron Shire. We are committed to ensuring at least 98% of the trees we plant survive (we replace those that don’t at no additional cost) and we do this by ensuring maintenance of the trees (weed control) is undertaken.

We care for people – We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our supporters, volunteers, employees and the people in the communities in which we work – and we have established a tree-planting protocol that is not impacted upon by current Coronavirus restrictions. To ensure the safety of our staff and contractors during the Covid-19 crisis we will take necessary action to manage risk and hazards. We conduct daily risk assessments at each location to ensure it’s suitable for a Rainforest Ranger (tree planter) to work alone or as a pair. Each Rainforest Ranger will be supported remotely by a team manager.

Tree planting is being undertaken while practicing social distancing. It is practical for one or two persons to be planting trees and achieving the required outcomes, and on that basis, we can commence immediately. Our tree planting activities can be scaled up or down depending on group gathering restrictions As soon as it is safe to do so we will hold community tree planting events. This will provide an additional opportunity to provide recognition of the support of Enova Energy.

You can join us in helping create Green Jobs. For every $5 one tree will be established, involving site preparation, planting and ongoing maintenance for three years to make sure it survives.

Caring for our future. Restoring rainforest will sequester carbon from the atmosphere to help mitigate Climate Change preventing future escalations of bushfires. Planting rainforest trees is one of the most effective ways we can reverse Climate Change. The drawdown of carbon through biosequestration can help mitigate, and eventually to reducing global average temperatures. YOU can help.

Please donate now. Every $10 will plant one tree. A $50 donation will plant five trees, $100 will plant ten trees and $1,000 will plant and maintain 100 rainforest trees.