Media release 6 June 2016
Volunteers complete planting 12,000 trees at Hexham Swamp for World Environment Day.
Hunter environmental organisation WetlandCare Australia and their partner Conservation Volunteers Australia completed planting 12,000 trees at Hexham Swamp last Friday, just in time to mark World Environment Day on Sunday 5 June.
The project is part of the 20 Million Trees initiative funded by the Australian Government with support from Hunter Water Corporation.
The project was a joint effort with WetlandCare Australia overseeing the works and Conservation Volunteers Australia engaging the planting teams.
WetlandCare Australia’s Project Manager Tim Mouton is delighted with the outcome. “We’ve had some tough conditions with weeks on end of above average temperatures and no rain. It’s fantastic to see the plants in the ground and good rain now to water them in.”
Steve Travers, Hunter Region Manager with Conservation Volunteers Australia praised the local and international volunteers who completed planting on Friday: “our local volunteers showed great commitment planting the trees, and teams from Carpe Diem and International Student Volunteers in the United States helped swell our numbers to get the plants in the ground.”
Hexham Swamp is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia, and is part of the Hunter Estuary Important Bird Area. 90% of the swamp’s fringing vegetation has been cleared for agriculture and residential development.
“This project will help treat pollutants from urban run-off before it reaches the swamp, and increase habitat for wildlife” said Louise Duff.
WetlandCare Australia has been working with communities to protect, restore and promote wetlands since 1991. They are a subsidiary of Conservation Volunteers Australia’s whose mission is to connect people with nature through volunteering opportunities.
Further information contact:
Louise Duff
Hunter Region Manager, WetlandCare Australia
Telephone: 02 5951 1425