Reforestation
Restoring degraded ancestral land in Australia
Ecologi is supporting Rejuvenation Trees, an Australian First Nations-led initiative that reconnects the Wudjari people with their ancestral land while restoring critical biodiversity in Southwestern Western Australia, one of only 25 Global Hotspots for Plants and Wildlife designated by Conservation International. The project centres on the Kardutjaanup site, a 4,000-hectare former wheat farm selected by the Tjaltraak people, where 200 hectares will undergo initial reforestation through direct seeding and hand-planting of endemic species. Since European settlement, this biodiverse region has suffered severe degradation from agricultural clearing and chemical-intensive farming, resulting in soil deterioration, groundwater contamination, and the fragmentation of native vegetation that once supported unique species found nowhere else on Earth. The separation of First Nations people from their traditional lands has compounded these impacts, preventing the application of the traditional land management knowledge developed over tens of thousands of years.
The project's transformative approach interweaves ecological restoration with true economic self-determination for First Nations communities. By enabling land ownership and generating sustainable income through forest restoration and regenerative agriculture, Rejuvenation Trees creates pathways for the Tjaltraak people to own homes, build generational wealth, and secure employment through land management activities. All implementation work is carried out by members of the local Wudjari community, with capacity-building as a core program element, including the training of new Tjaltjraak Rangers.
The project embeds skills development and intergenerational knowledge transfer by training Wudjari community members as land stewards and Rangers, strengthening both formal and cultural education pathways.
By creating long-term employment in restoration, regenerative agriculture, and land management, the initiative supports sustainable livelihoods and economic self-determination for First Nations communities.
The project directly addresses historical inequities by restoring access to Country, decision-making power, and economic opportunity for the Wudjari people.
The project strengthens community resilience by enabling stable housing, employment, and culturally grounded land management, supporting the long-term sustainability of regional First Nations communities.
The initiative promotes sustainable land use practices that reduce environmental harm and restore soil and water health.
Restoring vegetation to this landscape will lock up carbon from the atmosphere.
By reforesting cleared land with endemic species in a global biodiversity hotspot, the project restores fragmented habitats, protects irreplaceable flora and fauna, and strengthens ecosystem integrity.
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2026
Tree planting in Australia
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This project is supported in our Tree planting in Australia in the impact shop.
Impact partner
One Tree Planted is an environmental non-profit dedicated to planting trees around the world to support healthy forests, biodiversity, & local communities.





