More than 18,000 individual plants comprising 30 different native species were planted in the Kokoda Biodiversity Offset Project and are now thriving.
A project that resulted in the planting of thousands of native species of trees is the Parkes nominee for the NSW Environmental Citizen of the Year Award to be announced on World Environment Day on Sunday, 5th June.
The Kokoda Biodiversity Offset Project at Northparkes Mines won this year’s Environmental Award on Australia Day and became our shire’s nominee for the prestigious state award that recognises the incredible efforts from NSW citizens working towards creating a more sustainable environment in their local region for the benefit of the whole community.
Northparkes Mines bought the Kokoda Biodiversity Offset in 2014 to establish a conservation area to transform degraded farmland into a functioning woodland, protected in perpetuity under a voluntary conservation agreement.
In 2019 the mine engaged local labour provider Skillset Landworks as a partner in the delivery of the project to train and employ local Land Works crews that provided the opportunity for local people to gain valuable skills and experience for their future career.
The crews rehabilitated the conservation area with tree planting and revegetation management plans. The 350-hectare area consists of open grassland and dense woodland and was targeted for its connectivity between national parks within the Mandagery landscape.
The project set out to restore 37.3 hectares of degraded grassland to a Grey Box Grassy Woodland community, reflective of the surrounding plant community types.
Over a period of 18 months, more than 18,000 individual plants comprising 30 different native species were planted in the area and are now thriving. The work also supported the local community, with recruitment acknowledging Australian traditional owners who received TAFE accredited qualifications and employment.
The Environmental Citizen of the Year Awards was started four years ago and is an initiative of The Australia Day Council of NSW in partnership with Return and Earn.