Narrawilly's rainforest, already classified as endangered by the NSW Government and critically endangered by the Commonwealth, was badly damaged by bushfires in January 2020.
Last week, a small group of volunteers, along with Dr David Bain (from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment), set about the arduous task of replanting thousands of lost trees. Nearly 500 young trees were planted in the rainforest's burnt patches on 18 and 19 March 2020. "A great outcome" according to David.
A couple of photographs (supplied by David Bain) show the efforts that he and the volunteers undertook in the damaged heart of the rainforest. Clearly visible is the incinerated landscape where, once before, there had been shrubs, vines and a diverse canopy layer consisting of several Ficus species, Claoxylon australe, Dendrocnide excelsa, Syzygium australe, Acmena smithii, Streblus brunonianus, Toona ciliata, and Baloghia inophylla.
COVID-19 and the lock-downs in NSW have brought the rainforest replanting process to a halt for the foreseeable future.
For now, while we wait for the COVID-19 curve to flatten and these young trees to grow, let's all do our part and #stayathome while enjoying the sage sounds of Bobi Wine & Nubian Li.
