Students from Corowa High School, St Mary’s and Corowa South Public School planted numerous wetland species including river bottlebrush, Callistemon sieberi and cooba wattle, Acacia salicina.
But perhaps the most important one planted was the Eleocharis acuta, which is a common spike rush that the Sloane’s froglet, a locally endangered species, lay their eggs on.
The education around the Sloane’s froglet and the promotion of the species underpinned the tree planting event which took place at the corner of Honour Avenue and River Street.
“The idea is to reintroduce wetland species that may once have occurred at the wetland where there are now predominantly introduced species,” Project Officer for Corowa District Landcare Sally Hughes said.
“So it’s great to know from observation that the Eleocharis is important for the frog so we can reintroduce it.”
Dr Alex Knight, who is an Environmental Scientist at Charles Sturt University, has been working with Corowa District Landcare and local schools on the education around the Sloane’s froglet as part of a project on the rehabilitation of local wetlands.
“The University and myself have secured funding for two years which will be a two armed project aimed at rehabilitating wetlands which we’ve been working with both the land care community and schools but the second arm is really about educating the community and school children,” Dr Knight said.
“I’ve been able to come visit the school kids in the classroom for the last couple of years and they’ve all learnt about the Sloane’s froglet and wetlands and we’ve seen so much enthusiasm as a result.
“Everybody in the community has really come together to recognise the future well-being of the Sloane’s froglet as a nationally endangered species and also the significant and unique wetlands around Corowa.”
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke attended the planting event to assist students and also highlight the importance of having a National Tree Day and the enormous impact that students have with their participation.
“Since National Tree Day started in 1996 I believe about 25 million trees have been planted, so that’s what happens when schools come together and get involved,” he said.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy, who was also came along to show his support, reiterated Mayor Bourke’s comments and emphasised the privilege we have from being able to interact with nature.
“It’s such a good thing to be involved in nature whether be in the garden or out here; it’s a great part of life to have that contact with nature,” Mr Clancy said.
National Tree Day was co-founded in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John and has now grown in to Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature protection event.
National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to put their hands in the earth and give back to their community. Each year, about 300,000 people volunteer their time to engage in environmental activities that educate individuals about the world around them.
