Conservation organisations plant 26,000 trees to rewild Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Phase 1 planning to reforest and rewild Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has brought together conservation organisation Aussie Ark and partners WildArk, Re:wild and the Australian Reptile Park to commence the planting of 26,000 rainforest and eucalyptus trees.

Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, which was secured earlier in the year by the organisations, is 1,500 hectares of bush habitat in Upper Mongogarie, New South Wales. The site is located approximately 30 kilometres from the world heritage listed Mallanganee National Park and 70 kilometres from the Richmond Range National Park. The soon to be sanctuary is located within one of the most bio-diverse regions in Australia, reflected by the diversity of vegetation communities which support a range of mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates.

The replanting of 26,000 trees was supported by Byron Bay based organisation ReForest Now. ReForest Now was created by an unabated passion to see large-scale reforestation and regeneration of Australian rainforest ecosystems. A team of 32 individuals spent three full days onsite, drilling 26,000 holes, filling each hole with water crystals and fertiliser and of course planting each tree by hand.  

Liz Gabriel, Managing Director of Aussie Ark advises “at Aussie Ark we are working really hard to restore Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary to its natural state – from the ground up. The replanting of these tree’s is just step one for us. We know that by rebuilding the habitat our wildlife will have a place to call home.”Gabriel adds “trees play a critical role in the survival of our wildlife – they provide food and shelter for endangered wildlife. We are so proud to get 26,000 plants back in the ground.”

In addition to the 26,000 trees planted, the team also managed to regenerate an additional five hectares of existing bushland removing weeds, including lantana from the choked environment.

Maximo Bottaro, Chief Executive and cofounder of Reforest Now notes "this project is one of the largest ReForest Now has supported and working with the team at Aussie Ark to create Mongo Valley wildlife Sanctuary is really special. Our team have been waiting to work with people like this. We know that by pairing our capabilities in tree planting and bush regeneration and Aussie Ark's speciality in wildlife and rewilding, we can together make a huge impact to native Australian flora and fauna.”

Further plans for the property, include the creation of a feral-free sanctuary fit to host the return of a suite of endangered Australian wildlife to the property including the iconic Koala. The wildlife refuge will be modelled off Aussie Ark’s successful Wildlife Sanctuary creation model started in the Barrington Tops of New South Wales.

Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary holds so much hope for wildlife conservation, its significant biodiversity and ecological value will prove vital in the protection and preservation of Australian wildlife. You can support the Mongo Valley Sanctuary by donating today at aussieark.org.au/mongo-valley/ - just $5 equals one tree planted.

More information on not for profit organisation, Aussie Ark at aussieark.org.au/