Reforest Now lovin’ those new nursery babies

You can never have enough trees and local tree planting NGO Rainforest Now say, the more they can grow, the more they can plant.

To help them in their efforts, a new nursery and volunteer space was built from donations from the community as well as grants from Patagonia, Southern Cross Credit Union, Justine Elliot MP’s office (Stronger Communities Round 5) and The MANA Movement.

Reforest Now rep Zia Flook says they have increased their total tree growing output from 20,000 to 80,000 annually. ‘The nursery can hold between 20,000-30,000 trees at a time. The new volunteer space can host 20 volunteers, up from four.

‘This expansion and upgrade will help us achieve our mission of bringing back to the rainforest to where it once stood.’

Ms Flook says that Reforest Now work with local landholders who want forest back on their property. ‘This area was once Australia’s largest expanses of subtropical rainforest and now only 1 per cent exists in fragments due to clearing for farming and logging. We are planting upwards of 150 species of native subtropical trees, shrubs, and vines.’

Ms Flook says that owing to COVID-19 restriction, they cannot currently host volunteers. ’In a few months we hope to be able to invite volunteers again and we have ensured the volunteer space is COVID friendly.

Anyone can donate trees to be planted in the Byron shire region. Visit Reforestnow.org.au and their Facebook and Instagram pages – @reforestnow_australia.