TREECK® planted over 40,000 trees in Australia after the devastating bushfires in 2021.
Following the destruction of flora and fauna by the Black Summer bushfires, last year TREECK® supported the reforestation of Australian forests and thus the restoration of the habitat for local animals. In addition, the planting of trees has protected local water catchment areas, preserved biodiversity and promoted sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices among landowners.
Australia has the seventh largest forest area in the world. Australia's more than 123 million hectares of native forests are equivalent to three percent of the world's forests. The flora that this country is home to is unique and enormously diverse - from ancient Gondwana rainforests to tropical mangroves and vast bushlands made up of native acacia, melaleuca and eucalyptus trees. The forests also provide a habitat for countless animals that are only found on this continent.
During the devastating Black Summer bushfires that raged in Australia from June 2019 to March 2020, a total area of 12.6 million hectares burned. According to projections by the University of Sydney, it is estimated that at least one billion animals fell victim to the flames. It is estimated that 33,000 of the 80,000 koalas living in Australia lost their lives.
The intensity of the fires is considered unprecedented in history. Since records began, 2019 has been Australia's hottest and driest year on record. As a result, the fires broke out in June, six months ahead of the usual bushfire season. They also blazed in densely populated coastal regions, such as the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales and Australia Capital Territory. South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory were also affected by the bushfires. The most extensive contiguous fire was the one in Wollemi National Park, which covered a total area of five million hectares. Areas in the Gondwana rainforest also burned, as well as in eucalypt forests and dried-up swamps due to the falling water table.
TREECK®'s efforts focused on mobilizing support for reforestation, developing tree nurseries and planting millions of trees through an army of volunteers and professional crews. By planting trees in Australia, they created habitats for koalas in New South Wales and Victoria, improved biodiversity in Western Australia and promoted sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices to landowners.
Together with TREECK®, you have helped restore these areas to native mixed forests, providing a new home for Australia's countless unique plants and animals.
Restoring forests also means restoring habitats that are critical to conserving Australia's unique wildlife. Healthy forest ecosystems support greater biodiversity and are more resilient to the stressors of climate change.
Reforestation measures help the native vegetation to regrow and at the same time improve soil quality, prevent erosion and control invasive species that can be particularly aggressive after forest fires without intervention.
Young, healthy woodlands can help suppress future wildfires and reduce the impact on public health and native ecosystems.