Why and how it all it began
Trees For Life was formed in 1981 by a group of concerned volunteers after an inspirational visit and presentation in Adelaide by Richard St. Barbe Baker (Men of the Trees)'.
When land is cleared too extensively we lose valuable habitat, species disappear and weed and pest species move in. In 1981, the South Australian community formed Trees For Life to do something practical to undo the damage by reintroducing native plants to degraded areas and caring for the bush that remained.
Australia is one of the most biologically diverse countries on the planet, home to more than 1,000,000 species of plants and animals, 80% of which are found nowhere else. In SA alone some 26 plant, 23 mammal and 2 bird species are extinct, with 50% of native birds in the Mt Lofty Ranges alone either threatened or declining.
Our natural environment is under severe threat and many plants and animals face extinction in the near future
The primary threat to biodiversity is loss of habitat through clearing and fragmentation of native vegetation. As habitat resources dwindle, the genetic diversity of the remaining vegetation is threatened, affecting its ability to withstand disease, stress and climate variations. Remaining bushland also provides a vital seed source for revegetation
The state has one of the worst land clearing records in the nation
Research recommends 22-25% of farmland be devoted to shelter belts to decrease the wind speed on farmland, reduce soil loss and provide shelter for animals. This was theory, but farmers needed to be convinced and then take appropriate action
One way to do this was to offer trees to landholders at no cost. Today these seedlings are provided to Landholders at below cost through The Tree Scheme .
Now in its 28th year, Trees For Life has developed programs in response to community demand and environmental need. Trees For Life has over 10,000 members, of these over 3000 are involved in a volunteer capacity.
Some 1500 are volunteer growers, whereas others contribute through bushland management, seed collection, seed packaging, distribution of materials, mail outs and office work.
Each year over 1 million seedlings are grown, and to date over 28.8 million seedlings have been propagated
Community driven, non-political and not for profit, Trees For Life is the largest volunteer organisation of its type in Australia.
Trees For Life’s work has helped change perceptions and now almost 30 years on landholders understand the value of planting trees, bushes and grasses .
Trees For Life recycles its income back into the following comprehensive revegetation and vegetation protection programs:
Tree Scheme - Local native seedlings for revegetation
Direct Seeding - Broadscale revegetation
Bush For Life – Training and supporting volunteers to manage ecologically significant bushland
Carbon Neutral - Biodiversity plantings for carbon offsets
