Projects: Restore the land and Restore the reef
Locations: Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living organism and one of the most bio-diverse places on earth. It’s under threat. The Reef supports the culture and livelihoods of 70 Traditional Owner groups, who have been its custodians for over 60,000 years.
Since European settlement, over 90 million hectares of land across Australia has been cleared, threatening species and the productivity of farmlands. Climate change will only exacerbate the impact with reduced rainfall, increased temperatures, droughts and more frequent extreme weather events.
On the 7th of June 2023, we welcomed Greening Australia, on the impacts of climate change and their incredible ecological restoration projects. Greening Australia aims to restore 330,000 hectares of habitat across Australia by 2030, establish 500 million native trees by 2030, and prevent 475,000 tonnes of sediment from polluting the Great Barrier Reef each year.
Greening Australia has one of the world’s largest and most ambitious ecological restoration programs.
Key insights
What does Greening Australia do?
Brendan Foran:
We are an environmental enterprise with 40 years of experience, focusing on science-based land restoration in Australia. Our primary areas of operation are in the southern agricultural zone, spanning southwest Western Australia to the reef catchment areas. We collaborate with farmers and increasingly with First Nations Enterprise and communities.
Our vision is to create healthy, productive landscapes for both people and nature. Currently, we employ approximately 150 individuals and generate annual revenues of around $45 million. As a non-profit organisation, all our funds are reinvested in our mission. There is a pressing need to expand our efforts to address the significant challenges ahead.
What’s the overall vision for the environmental movement in Australia?
Brendan Foran:
Our objectives include planting 500 million trees by 2030, preventing 400,000 tonnes of sediment from reaching the Great Barrier Reef, and fostering strong engagement with First Nations Enterprises and groups for their participation in the restoration economy.
Our First Nations committee supports these goals, emphasising intergenerational wealth, asset ownership, and employment opportunities. These objectives align with various state, national, and international strategies related to biodiversity, carbon emissions reduction, and threatened species management. We focus on areas where we can apply our expertise to develop practical solutions within existing regional and global frameworks.
What are the impacts of the funds raised for Greening Australia through the i=Change platform?
Georgina Honner:
Partnerships, such as the one with i=Change, significantly support our work. The funding raised through i=Change fuels our investment in science and innovation, leading to measurable impacts like reducing sediment reaching the reef and improving our planting techniques. This capacity-building focus helps us strive towards our 2030 goals, making our projects more robust and impactful, all thanks to partnerships and the contributions of businesses and individuals.
Every $50 raised prevents 1 tonne of sediment from reaching the Great Barrier Reef. Another $50 plants enough trees and shrubs to store 1 tonne of carbon dioxide.
Be the change today.
