Overview

The Pinery fire was devastating for both the community and the natural resources in the region. Lives, homes, livestock, 120,000 tonnes of crop, precious remnant vegetation, fences and gardens were lost and the region’s soil was laid bare. Restoring the natural resources and environment on farms is a vital part of community recovery.

Trees For Life and Greening Australia were proud to be able to contribute to the great community rebuilding effort through the Vegetation Recovery Committee, which coordinated widespread revegetation and restoration activities.

The Vegetation Recovery Committee has committed to support the region’s revegetation efforts for at least five years post-fire and includes interested locals, government agencies, councils and NGOs. The group came together shortly after the Pinery Fire to secure additional resources and support for community members ready to return vegetation to their homes and farms, and to assist precious remnants clinging on after the blaze.

Summary of project outcomes

Through the Vegetation Recovery Committee, Trees For Life worked closely with the local community, Councils, service groups and government agencies responsible for fire recovery. We provided seedlings for plant give-aways, and offered a 50% discount on native seedlings, tree guards and stakes through our Tree Scheme. Our ability to respond so rapidly and over multiple planting seasons is thanks to generous support from Viterra Glencore Grain, ElectraNet and National Australia Bank.

An estimated 80,000 seedlings have been made available to landholders affected by the Pinery fire, helping bring this region’s bushland, roadsides and farms back to life.

In conjunction with Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges, Trees For Life also supplied eight local schools with necessary materials to grow 500 plants each, and for Gawler Rotary to grow 1000 plants. These plants were all grown for the native plant giveaway at Barossa Bushgardens.

What makes this project so special?

The community partnership effort was amazing; from the contribution of volunteers who grew seedlings for fire-affected landholders to the gratitude of landholders, everyone involved in the project contributed to making it so special.