Australia is planting ‘koala corridors’ to save its beloved marsupials

A New South Wales conservation group has planted 340,000 trees, including koalas' favorite food, eucalyptus, to provide a lifeline for koalas. These trees enable routes between shrinking patches of habitat, allowing koalas to avoid human threats and interbreed more freely, boosting their resistance against disease.

Wild koalas are only found in Australia, but their numbers have declined by 62% in New South Wales since 2001 and are forecast to become extinct there by 2050. They are also endangered in several other states due to wildfires, logging, and development.

Bangalow Koalas, the conservation group responsible for the initial 340,000 trees, plans to grow 1 million trees by 2030. Their wildlife corridors also help other vulnerable species, from glossy black cockatoos to possums and wallabies.

In addition to community efforts, the private sector also has a crucial role to play. 1t.org, a World Economic Forum platform, aims to conserve, restore, and grow 1 trillion trees.

As part of Salesforce's pledge to 1t.org to conserve, restore, and grow 100 million trees by 2030, the company is increasing biodiversity and conserving ecosystems in Australia, including 34,000 trees planted in partnership with Greenfleet as part of efforts to restore degraded farmland in central Victoria.