National and Trees For Life team up for Eyre Peninsula - 27 January 2005

Thursday, 27 January 2005

South Australian environmental organisation Trees For Life and National Australia Bank have joined forces to help Eyre Peninsula landholders revegetate their land ravaged by bushfire.

The National announced today it will cover the cost for landholders in the fire-affected area to order seedlings through Trees For Life’s Tree Scheme. Landholders in these areas can order 500 local native seedlings this season, grown by Trees For Life volunteers or a 1,000 seedling starter kits if they grow their own, with the National picking up the tab.

National Agribusiness Manager in Port Lincoln Peter Read said the National hopes that this collaboration between Trees For Life and the bank will result in well over 50,000 seedlings planted in the fire-affected area of Eyre Peninsula.

"Every year, Trees For Life does a great job encouraging and helping landholders plant native vegetation across South Australia. This year, their work is more important to Eyre Peninsula than ever before and the National wants to be a part of the area’s long-term recovery. We would encourage all landholders affected by fire to take advantage of this opportunity."

"Trees For Life is really pleased to work with the National to help landholders affected by the bushfire," says Trees For Life spokeswoman Rita Reitano. "We would recommend any landholders in the affected area wanting to revegetate their property take up this offer and put in an order for seedlings through Trees For Life."

Once orders are received, local native seedlings will be grown by Trees For Life volunteers over summer ready for planting in 2006, or farmers can choose to grow their own seedlings.

Ordering Trees For Life seedlings is a simple two-step process:

1. Order from 50 to 500 seedlings if you require a volunteer grower,
or
Order from 50 to 1,000 seedlings and grow your own. 

2. Your seedlings will be ready to plant in Autumn 2006.
The seedling ordering season officially opens on May 1 and closes on July 31.
 
The Trees For Life ordering system has been going for 24 years and Trees For Life members have grown over 25.7 million local native seedlings in that time.

"Choosing plants is made easy with a Trees For Life species list," says Ms Reitano. "The list includes a height and shape classification of each plant, what soil type it is best suited to and a description of its possible uses, including windbreak, shade, firewood or shelter."

"These seedlings are not only native to South Australia, but occur naturally in the geographic area they are revegetating, which means that they are water-efficient, adapted to local conditions, and therefore have a higher survival rate, pose no risk of becoming weed species, provide homes for local fauna and restore local ecosystems.”

Last year around 1,500 Trees For Life volunteers grew over one million local native seedlings for landholders and revegetation projects across SA, helping to repair major environmental issues such as salinity and soil erosion.

National’s General Manager SA and NT Richard Hockney said that National employees are already enthusiastic about volunteering to grow seedlings destined for affected landholders on the Eyre Peninsula.

"We are also talking to authorities and the Port Lincoln community about other ways in which the National can contribute to the region’s long-term recovery," Mr Hockney said.

This partnership between Trees For Life and the National is good news for the South Australian environment, and for ordering information, becoming a volunteer grower, or general enquiries, phone Trees For Life on 8372 0150.

Remember, orders close July 31, 2005.

Media enquiries to:

Rita Reitano, Trees For Life Promotions Coordinator
p: 08 8372 0150  m: 0428 238 159re: ritar@treesforlife.org.au

Geoff Lynch, Head of Media Relations Australia, National Australia Bank
p: 03 8634 1564  m: 0405 319 819  e: geoff_c_lynch@nab.com.au  

* The information contained in this media release is for media advice purposes only. The contents are true and correct at time of publishing/issuing, however may change over time. For further information about NAB products or rates, please go to Interest Rates, Fees & Charges