Australian fashion brand Country Road and grassroots organisation Landcare Australia have added a fifth farming family to The Biodiversity Project - a joint scheme to support the restoration of Australian farmlands.
The fifth addition to the initiative is the Schwagers family. The project is aimed to drive biodiversity outcomes for threatened species along 2.8 kilometres of riparian and floodplain habitat on the Namoi River in Northern New South Wales.
The project will involve planting shrubs, understory, and canopy species to protect natural habitats and threatened species.
Owned by Kevin and Mary-Ellen Schwager, the property known as ‘Wentworth’ is a 550-hectare dryland (non-irrigated) farming operation. Similar to previous projects, this site has been identified as an area of interest for biodiversity enhancement in research findings from a report developed by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).
Since 2020, Country Road has provided over $1 million of funding to the biodiversity program, raised through brand contributions and sales of its Verified Australian Cotton Heritage Sweat.
Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish said that this level of funding provides Landcare Australia with the means to deliver multiple biodiversity projects across local farming landscapes.
“Throughout our partnership with Country Road, Landcare Australia has worked with five Australian farming families to plant 18,300 seedlings along 14.4 km of riverbank in the Namoi Valley, rehabilitating a total of 102.6 hectares of native vegetation,” Dr Norrish said.
“Together with Country Road, our work on The Biodiversity Project is achieving our shared vision to improve biodiversity and habitat connectivity, support threatened, vulnerable and iconic fauna species while also providing farming co-benefits.”
Kevin Schwager said being a part of The Biodiversity Project allows for them to play a part in societal change.
“We are fortunate to be in a position to showcase modern day farming in a constructive and purposeful light,” he said. “[We aim to] play our part and to learn ways in which we can better contribute to social, economic, geographic and environmental cohesion.”
As mentioned, a mix of shrubs, understory and canopy species will be planted, specifically to increase habitat for browsing and wildlife movement along the riparian corridor; increase the presence of pollinators, small birds and micro bats in the area; and increase native vegetation and canopy cover across the riparian and floodplain zone at Wentworth to help support ecosystems in the Namoi River catchment.
The Schwager project involves planting 4000 native seedlings on 43 hectares. These locally sourced natives, including River Red Gums, casuarina species and shrubs such as sweet bursaria, will increase habitat for wildlife along the riparian corridor.