Envite and the Rainforest to River project are enhancing the condition, extent, and connectivity of 42 hectares of critically endangered, EPBC-listed, Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia Threatened Ecological Community. Centred on biodiversity hotspots in Lismore, the project will maximise benefits for native species and improve site resilience to major threats including flooding, weed invasion and pollution through Culturally and scientifically-informed ecological restoration.

Delivering riparian restoration activities in urban subtropical rainforest sites in the Lismore CBD reach of the Wilsons River and its urban tributaries, this project will deliver on-ground outputs at 16 sites covering 42ha, on Widjabul Wia-bal land in northeast NSW.

The primary goal is to support the restoration of nationally significant threatened species habitat including nationally significant Endangered Ecological Communities, specifically the critically endangered Lowland Subtropical Rainforest and endangered Subtropical eucalypt floodplain forest and woodland of the New South Wales North Coast and South East Queensland bioregions.

On the ground, the strategy involves assisted natural regeneration and revegetation (over 30,000 plants including rainforest and wetland species) targeting new sites and expanding actively worked areas on existing sites. Many of these areas were in stasis or decline due to insufficient funding and major threats such as flooding, weed invasion, and pollution.

Community planting events support connection to the sites and include education and wellbeing components.

The project area forms part of the lands of the Widjabul Wia-bal people of the Bundjalung Nation. This project is supporting ecological restoration to be delivered in ways that are culturally informed and that create space for cultural values and protocols to be respected. The project is delivering on-ground riparian restoration (weed control, planting) and cultural engagement activities on sites on the Wilsons River, Leycester Creek, Banyam Baigham Wetlands and Browns Creek catchment in the urban area of Lismore. The Bundjalung and Widjabul Wia-bal people have Rights to, interest in and enduring connection to these sites which will be respected by engaging with local mob on this project.

Many of the project sites are subject to major threats such as flooding, weed invasion, and pollution. These sites are in the heart of Lismore and provide a critical interface between the community, our river and natural environment.

By enabling work across 42 Ha over 16 sites, the project links a near continuous corridor of historical and recently restored riparian vegetation running along the Wilsons River from Boatharbour Nature Reserve to Lismore and connecting to primary ‘green’ corridors through Lismore linking to Wilsons Park Nature Reserve and resident koala populations.

This strategic selection of sites and activities amplifies the outcomes of all projects, maximising meaningful impact for the environment and community and ensuring that works take place across effective spatial scales.

Link: Rainforest to River Lismore City Council

Envite Environment has been contracted by Lismore City Council to provide ecologist and technical project delivery services for the Rainforest to River project.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Lismore City Council, Rous County Council, Wilsons River Landcare Group Inc, Richmond Landcare Inc, Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation, Ngulingah Local Aboriginal Land Council, South Lismore Duckpond Landcare Inc, Lismore Lake Inc Landcare, Far North Coast Canoe Club, Richmond Riverkeeper, Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy Inc, OzFish Unlimited, Revive Northern Rivers, North Coast Local Land Services, and Birdlife Australia: Northern NSW Chapter.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Lismore City Council.