Local schools have celebrated National Tree Day with GeoCatch by planting over 1000 trees across Busselton, Capel and Dunsborough. 150 students took part to connect with nature and learn more about remanent vegetation, habitat construction for wildlife and how they can have a positive impact on the environment around them.
Students from Capel Primary, Geographe Primary, Dunsborough Primary and Busselton Primary schools were happy to get up close and personal with their natural environment. “National Tree Day is such a great opportunity for students to connect with both nature and the local community, do something for the local environment and experience the many benefits of spending time outdoors,” said Nicole Lincoln from GeoCatch.
Laurie Saltarini, Dealer Principal from Busselton Toyota expressed his ongoing support for the program. “Busselton Toyota has been supporting GeoCatch and Schools Tree Day for some years now and it has been a great partnership. Being involved in National Tree Day each year is a way to celebrate nature and do our part to help improve the natural environment in our community.”
There are many benefits to planting trees, on both a global and local scale. GeoCatch project officer, Nicole Lincoln, emphasized to students that their actions in planting more native trees is helping the survival of an iconic local species, the critically endangered western ringtail possum.
“The biggest threat to western ringtail possums is habitat loss and fragmentation,” she said.
“The more trees we can plant now, the more habitat there will be for ringtails and other wildlife in the future. Through National Tree Day, these students are creating a legacy of conservation that we hope they will continue to value into adulthood.”
Schools Tree Day (July 29) and National Tree Day (July 31) are organised by Planet Ark and are Australia’s largest annual tree-planting and nature care events, with plantings taking place across the country on the last weekend of July.
