Reforest Now is an environmental NGO based in Byron Bay Australia

Our mission is to grow and plant trees that will reforest cleared land in subtropical Australia and stand for generations to come. 

Our Vision is to see this region as Australia's largest expanse of subtropical rainforest once again. 

We achieve this by:

Growing over 150 species of native subtropical trees in our nursery

Working with local landholders for sustainably managed and maintained reforestation projects

Eancouraging community involvement and participation through volunteering

Incorporating ecology and rainforest genetics research into our practices

Partnering with passionate donors who share our vision 

 

STEP 1 SEED AND WILDLING COLLECTION

There are around 450 tree, shrub and vine species that we must collect for in rainforest restoration in NNSW and there are thousands in the Daintree rainforest. The first step is seed collection and wildling harvesting. Teams in the field identify and collect plant material for us from around the region.

Timing is everything, as with many species the window for flowering and fruiting can be just a few weeks. Harvested material is then brought back to our nursery. (In the Daintree, we no longer grow our own plants and instead work with a local indigenous nursery for seedling supply or the local council’s own rainforest nursery.)

 

STEP 2 THE NURSERY 

Our nursery in Mullumbimby in NSW is a key part of our work, housing eighty thousand trees per year. Throughout the week our team run seed propagation, potting, weeding and other tasks for our volunteer teams. We take special care to ensure we are growing vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species of trees, vines, and shrubs, have a high diversity of native species, and prioritise food and habitat trees for native animals. 
 

If plants are grown from seed, they are set to germinate in a nursery tunnel specific to those conditions until big enough to go into a misting tunnel. If grown from wildlings, they are potted and grown immediately in the misting tunnel to ensure survival. The hot humid conditions of the misting tunnels accelerate grown dramatically, after just a few months in there, plants can go to the shade house. The shade house provides some direct sun, less water and hardens the plants a little more. After no more than 1 to 3 months in the shade house they are taken outside of harden in the full sun with little water before planting. During this growth period, we need to ensure that funding is secure to plant them.


STEP 3 DONATIONS, COLLABORATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS 

Every $5 = 1 tree planted. Anyone can give trees through this site. Tree givers from all around the world have donated for the trees we plant! 

We also believe that strong partnerships and collaboration with businesses and organisations can encourage the impact of environmental work and conservation while enhancing the social responsibility of businesses, their involvement in greater social issues and wellbeing, and the satisfaction of their staff and customers who are contributing.


STEP 4 IDENTIFYING A SITE & SITE PREPARATION 

We work primarily in the Byron Shire of NSW and in the Daintree rainforest of Far North Queensland. We plant on cleared land, along the periphery of rainforest and subtropical rainforest, and on private and public land.