Yarra Ranges Council has planted 2,000 trees to support koala habitat restoration and increase native vegetation in the Yarra Valley.
The trees and plants were specifically selected to help restore and expand habitat for koalas and other threatened species while strengthening vulnerable ecosystems. The revegetation project saw the trees planted during the 2026 winter and spring planting seasons.
This project received funding through the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife’s Landscape Resilience Program.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, welcomed the support for this important project.
“These 2000 trees represent an important investment in restoring habitat for koalas and supporting the diverse species and ecosystems that make Yarra Ranges so special.”
“This project will help strengthen native vegetation across the municipality and contribute to the long-term resilience of our local environment.”
Council’s Biodiversity team was joined by volunteers from the Tree Project to complete the extensive planting.
Mark Cairns, Chief Biodiversity Officer at the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife said that restoring koala habitat requires the efforts and support of our partners and the community to strengthen our rich biodiversity.
“These 2,000 trees will re-establish the canopy cover and feeding corridors that koalas and other threatened species depend on to thrive. The trees will directly improve habitat connectivity and build environmental resilience across the Yarra Valley. We are proud to have contributed to this project,” said Mr Cairns.
Yarra Ranges is home to some of Victoria’s most significant natural ecosystems, including Mountain Ash forests and extensive stretches of plants and trees along rivers, creeks and other waterways. These corridors provide important habitat for wildlife, help protect waterways and connect different natural areas.
“Yarra Ranges has over 188 000 hectares of native vegetation providing habitat for more than 2,700 native flora and fauna species, up to 50 of which are listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act,” said Cr Higgins.
“Our region also supplies approximately 70 per cent of Melbourne’s drinking water, so it’s incredibly important to take care of our natural environment, for our local communities, and for Victoria as a whole,” he said.
This planting program focused on priority sites where revegetation can contribute to the restoration and expansion of koala habitat, while increasing native vegetation cover and supporting biodiversity, with thanks to funding from the Landscape Resilience Program of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.
