How Carbon Positive Australia is restoring the ‘Big Scrub’ of Northern NSW with nature positive planting
Do you know that the Big Scrub of Northern NSW is kind of a big deal? A big deal that has been dealt some big losses. With only 1% of this diverse ecosystem left, we have some big work to do, and as its remnants are home to at least 61 threatened species of fauna, 9 of which are classed as endangered and 38 threatened species of flora, 19 of which are endangered, this is work that must start now.
Do you know that the Big Scrub of Northern NSW is kind of a big deal? A big deal that has been dealt some big losses. With only 1% of this diverse ecosystem left, we have some big work to do, and as its remnants are home to at least 61 threatened species of fauna, 9 of which are classed as endangered and 38 threatened species of flora, 19 of which are endangered, this is work that must start now.
The Big Scrub was the largest area of lowland subtropical rainforest in eastern Australia, located on the North Coast of NSW, between what is now the town of Byron Bay (east) and Lismore (west). This amazing forest once covered approximately 75,000 hectares (including 900 square kilometres of subtropical rainforest) that primarily grew on fertile basalt and floodplain-derived soils. Between 1801 and 1901, the Big Scrub was intensively cleared for agricultural use.
With only 1% of the Big Scrub remaining (less than five hectares in total!), we must act now, but first, join us in learning more about the Big Scrub.
The history of the Big Scrub clearing
Let’s take a trip back in time, about 40 million years ago. At that time, Australia was part of a bigger landmass called Gondwana and was completely covered in rainforest. Fast forward to 2024, and that coverage sits at only 1% (you do the math)!
Tens of millenia ago, the ancestors of the Big Scrub’s Bundjalung people arrived. They lived in balance with the rainforest, caring for the land and adding to the seed dispersal pattern critical for many species (flora and fauna) to survive.
By the turn of the 20th Century, between 1840-1990, 99% of the Big Scrub had been cleared by European settlers, primarily for logging and agriculture.
From 1930 to 1990, early conservation efforts were brought about, with the formation of Booyong Flora Reserve and Lumley Park.
In 2011, the Big Scrub was listed as a critically endangered ecological community by the Federal Government and endangered by the NSW Government, largely due to the efforts of the Big Scrub Landcare group that was formed in 1993 to protect the remaining rainforest.
More information on the history of the Big Scrub can be found here.
The current state of the Big Scrub
What is left of the Big Scrub (that tiny 1% we mentioned earlier) is mostly on private land or not open to the public. The most notable reserves to visit the remnants include:
- Booyong Flora Reserve;
- Victoria Park Nature Reserve;
- Minyon Falls Nature Reserve;
- Big Scrub Flora Reserve and;
- Boomerang Falls Flora Reserve.
Big Scrub Rainforest (formerly Big Scrub Landcare) is one organisation that has worked tirelessly to save Australia’s critically endangered Big Scrub and its many threatened species, and Carbon Positive Australia is in awe of the work they have and continue to undertake.
In 2020, after the black summer bushfires, our donors called for us to help restore the east coast. As fate would have it, an opportunity to plant koala habitat in Nimbin, NSW, arose, allowing us to work with local contractors to restore part of the Big Scrub region.
Find out more below.
What is Carbon Positive Australia’s approach to restoring the Big Scrub?
At Carbon Positive Australia, we use nature as our guide to plant and deliver ecologically sensitive revegetation projects across Australia.
In 2021, we began planting to restore 33 hectares at our Nimbin, NSW site on Widjabul country, in partnership with Future Forests. This land was previously used for grazing cattle and had been extensively cleared. Our goal was to create a corridor between two national parks, increase habitat for endangered species, including our beloved koala, increase stocking in the dry rainforest area, and encourage further natural regeneration.
Sam from Future Forests undertook a full site assessment to determine soil structure, topography, and vegetation (including weed species and site challenges – we will come to this shortly!) in order to develop a planting methodology and establishment plan. A mixture of natural bush regeneration and planting was proposed.
One of the biggest challenges at this site has been the shoulder-high Setaria (a thick, tufted, African pasture grass) that covers much of the planting area. This grass is very hard to plant into, and slashing is difficult due to steep slopes and hidden rocks. Furthermore, given that the site is located in a high rainfall area, averaging more than 1,150mm each year, flooding in 2020 washed away two key creek crossings that provided vehicle access to the planting and regeneration areas. These crossings were repaired by a local contractor to ensure access for planting in February and March of 2022.
In 2022, we had planted more than 69,000 seedlings, with over 104 species, including five Acacias, 5 Eucalypts, 2 Casuarinas and 92 other native species.
Our first monitoring survey took place the same year. Overall, the plant establishment and growth were exceptional, and the average density across the site was 2,805 trees/ha. There was also evidence of naturally regenerating trees across some plots, which indicates that previous bush regeneration work had been successful.
In May 2023, we commissioned a biodiversity survey of the site. Excitingly, the survey revealed the presence of koalas at the site and identified more than 30 threatened flora and fauna species within a 10km radius. Results from our second annual monitoring assessment showed an incredible average survival rate of 97% (excluding natural regeneration) and an average height increase of 115% from the previous year.
This year, we will be planting an additional 300 trees along the creek line in an area that has been affected by waterlogging. We will continue to undertake annual monitoring assessments for the next four years.
Following the success of our Nimbin project, we are excited to announce that we will be restoring another property in the Big Scrub region. Later this year, we will be planting a biodiverse mix of native rainforest species to provide critical habitat for koalas and a range of other native fauna at a property at Clunes, NSW on Bundjalung country.
Our work at Nimbin was only possible because of the support of our donors, and our Clunes project is no different. If you would like to support this vital work, please consider making a donation.
We can’t do it alone.
The Big Scrub needs us to make big moves.
If you are interested in finding out how you can support our Clunes, NSW project on Bundjalung country check out the below.
Join us, and together, let’s restore Australia.
To find out more about what your donation supports check out our Reports & Impacts
