Residents are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and have fun at this year’s planting day.
Livingstone Shire Council’s tree planting event will take place along the coastline at Emu Park this Sunday, to celebrate National Tree Day.
The planting site this year is located around a special vegetation area called a littoral rainforest, also known as beach scrub.
Littoral scrubs are rainforests by the sea and are characterised by many different tree species growing closely together to provide a canopy.
Tree’s will be planted to improve the canopy where a native species of foliage dwelling pigeon is found.
The Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove is rarely seen but a common rainforest fruit-eater found in littoral scrubs, vine thickets and coastal hillside gullies.
Councillor Andrea Friend says National Tree Day is a great opportunity to maintain and enhance our beautiful environment for our local wildlife as well as ensuring the region continues to be a great place to live.
“Over 26 million trees have been planted by Australian volunteers since 1996 as part of the program and we are excited to be supporting the goal of getting another million native plants in the ground throughout our nation this year,” Cr Friend says.
“This year’s planting site will be located at Lions Park in Emu Park, around a very special vegetation area found along our coastline – a littoral rainforest, also known as beach scrub.
“This vegetation type is endangered nationally, and it is home to many special plants and animals.
“Planting more native trees that are endemic to this site will provide extra homes for our local wildlife for many years to come.
“On behalf of Council, we’d like to thank major sponsor Ian Weigh Toyota for making our largest annual tree-planting possible.
“National Tree Day is always well-attended in Livingstone, and we hope this year’s event will be no different.
“It’s free for the whole family, so grab your hats, gloves, water bottles, covered in shoes and sunscreen, and bring the kids down to enjoy a fun day out giving back to our community.”
Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling says the research clearly shows the many benefits that time outdoors in nature has for our physical and mental health, our children’s development, the liveability of our communities and the robustness of local ecosystems.
“With the simple action of planting a tree you can help cool the climate, provide homes for native wildlife and make your local community a happier and healthier place to live,” she says.
