After more than six years of dedicated revegetation and landscape management, a once-rare sighting of a mother and joey koala has become a rewarding symbol of success for conservation agreement-holder John Blanch.
The arrival of the koala family is tangible proof the conservation work undertaken on Brightling Park at Georges Plains, is making a real difference in the restoration of local wildlife habitats.
When the agreement was signed in 2019, John hoped to improve his land management practices, aiming for enhanced biodiversity and a more sustainable, profitable farm and livestock business. John said the results exceeded expectations.
“Koala sightings here were very rare prior to 2017,” he said.
“We saw one every five or so years, at best. Now we see a number of them every year. There is a definite increase in the number of koalas scattered across the area and the recent sighting of a mother and joey was especially exciting.”
John has worked hard to create a landscape that supports koalas and other native species. With annual payments from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, he has planted tree corridors, established several conservation areas, and undertaken extensive tree planting and weed management. These efforts have created safe passageways for koalas, allowing them to move freely across the landscape while providing crucial refuge from threats like fire.
“Koalas need large, connected areas of habitat to eat, move and breed. The tree corridors we’ve planted help them do that,” John said.
“It’s amazing how quickly the landscape can recover when you give it a little help. We've noticed an increase in soil moisture and a reduction in erosion, which has also improved water retention on the property.”
Their conservation efforts have been bolstered by the use of Agronomeye, a platform that helps integrate biodiversity projects into their farming system. It has also allowed them to track and report on their environmental actions and document wildlife sightings.
John's long-term goal is to continue increasing biodiversity on the property, hoping it will lead to better ground cover and fewer weeds—while also fostering more koala families. His dedication to the environment is proving that sustainable farming and conservation can go hand in hand, bringing lasting benefits for both the land and its wildlife.
“It’s not an easy undertaking,” John admitted, “but seeing the positive changes and knowing we’re helping koalas thrive makes it all worthwhile.”
Learn more about protecting koala habitat on your property.