ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION OAK SOCIETY
MAY/JUNE 2026
RESTORING BALANCE IN THE BIG SCRUB Koalas are a national symbol of Australia’s unique wildlife, beloved for their sleepy charm and close connection to eucalyptus forests. But across Queensland and Victoria, these iconic marsupials are losing their homes. Once abundant regions like the Big Scrub rainforest in northern New South Wales now survive in tiny fragments, making it harder for koalas to find food and safety. In just the past two years, deforestation and wildfires in New South Wales have tripled, uprooting the habitats koalas rely on. Between 2017 and 2022, more than 2.2 million hectares of bushland were cleared, and the 2019–2020 bushfires destroyed another 12.6 million hectares. Forced to the ground, koalas are vulnerable to threats like cars, dogs, disease, and stress. Today, they are officially endangered in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory under Australia’s national environmental law (the EPBC Act). Without urgent action, this beloved species could disappear within our lifetime. The solution is simple, yet vital: trees. Once covering 75,000 hectares, the Big Scrub rainforest — Australia’s largest continuous subtropical rainforest — now survives as just 1% of its original size. Despite fragmentation, it still shelters koalas, platypus, spotted-tailed quolls, Richmond birdwing butterflies, and rare birds like the regent bowerbird. Every tree planted helps reconnect habitats and restore balance to stressed ecosystems.
The Arbor Day Foundation partnered with ReForest Now to restore the Big Scrub through the Australian Critically Endangered Rainforest Restoration Project. Planting native trees along waterways and across the landscape reconnects habitats, supports wildlife movement, reduces erosion, improves stormwater absorption, and strengthens community resilience. Rebuilding forests is about more than planting trees — it’s about restoring ecosystems, protecting endangered wildlife, and fostering long-term stewardship. With collaboration, strategy, and care, the Big Scrub can once again thrive. Read the full story at arborday.org/big-scrub. Your leadership and support make this work possible. To discuss how to expand your impact, please reach out to development@arborday.org.