Northern Rivers (Australia)

Reforest'Action is partnering with Permaculture Design Action in the Northern Rivers region of the Australian state of New South Wales on a multi-dimensional project to create a food forest on abandoned pastureland. Led by a new generation of on-the-ground farming community, the project has both environmental and social objectives.

The project at a glance

Number of trees to be planted: 20,000
Species planted: 
Type of project: restoration of degraded pastures
Planting period: between February to april

Context and objective of the project

On the one hand, it aims to develop local biodiversity through the planting of more than fifty species, most of which are endemic. On the other hand, it will contribute to strengthening the intergenerational social link within a local farming community, through planting, long-term monitoring of the project and training of groups from diverse backgrounds in agroecology techniques.

The ambition is to eventually create a successful example of agroecology, in the hope of inspiring young people who own land to replicate similar projects. The goal is to create an agroforestry system on degraded former forest land that has been converted to pasture and then abandoned, combining food crops, livestock, and a nascent forest in the first few years. More than fifty different tree species will be densely planted. The growing forest will be managed in agroforestry, initially by the local farming community. The growing forest will be managed as an agroforestry system, initially to harvest fruit and to provide a protective cover for the underlying food crops that will accompany the young trees during their first years of life.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a true food forest, rich in fruit and biodiversity, and thus return the land to its original nature as a forest ecosystem. The planting and monitoring activities help to strengthen the intergenerational social link within the farming community associated with the project. The project also aims to create attractive economic opportunities for the younger generation by providing agroecology training workshops to groups from different backgrounds.

Our partner in the field

Permaculture Design Action is an Australian organization led by Sam Parker Davies, a young permaculture and forest restoration expert. Working with and under the supervision of such greats as Geoff Lawton and Elaine Ingham, Sam has designed forest regeneration systems and planted thousands of trees on three continents, from the subtropical deserts of the Middle East to Ireland.

The partnership with Reforest'Action allows Sam to initiate this brand new project in the heart of his native Australia and to train new generations of farmers in agroecology techniques.