Recently announced National Australia Bank Foundation grants include welcome funding supporting a program of community plantings for climate adaptation in Wodonga’s Murray River corridor.

In response to expectations of a hotter, drier future for our region, CSIRO and other researchers are encouraging mixing up the provenance of local plant species to improve their resilience as the climate changes. This involves sourcing seedstock of local native species from regions further north such as Parkes/Forbes.

Parklands have been including seedlings from hotter, drier regions in our planting programs in the last two years. We hope that this will broaden their genetic resilience and ensure our local species continue to thrive here for many hundreds of years as they have in the past.

The new ‘Climate Adapted Planting’ project includes multiple climate action responses. The planting of diverse species, from grasses and ground covers to understorey shrubs and overstorey trees means more nectar will be available year round, improving habitat and food sources for native animals. Using climate adapted seedlings will improve species resilience, while planting in linked corridors will improve connectivity for native plants and animals to travel across country.

Equally importantly, the project provides opportunities for local people to get involved in ensuring their environment is cared for and sustained into the longer term. In a time when the news is often overwhelmingly negative, Parklands believe that providing practical ways to contribute like planting trees offers opportunities to improve community health and wellbeing.

We thank the National Australia Bank Foundation and look forward to involving NAB staff, families and community in planting mornings during autumn and winter 2024.

If you, your school, group or business would like to get involved in planting these corridors, please contact us.