Information for landholders

Greenfleet is seeking suitable sites on which to plant native trees. Outlined below is information about our tree planting program. We invite interested landholders and managers to contact our forester (details below).

Greenfleet works closely with catchment management authorities, LandCare groups and landholders to establish trees across the country on behalf of our subscribers. We target priority areas, where the the trees will provide maximum benefits in addressing land degradation, salinity, and habitat loss. 

We work with land managers and landholders on both public and private land. We target larger sites of 10 hectares or more, to maximise benefits from revegetation while providing economies of scale. 

Greenfleet plants native forests where the original species are restored and left in the ground permanently. Our policy is to use indigenous seedlings from seed collected in the particular region where the trees will be planted.

In terms of costs, Greenfleet supplies and plants the trees. We ask that the landholder take responsibility for the site preparation, which involves soil cultivation and weed control appropriate to the site. To date most of our projects have involved treeplanting however we are also keen to be involved in more direct seeding projects in the future.
 
Project specifications

• Greenfleet supplies an agreed number of trees for planting
• Labour to plant the trees is supplied and co-ordinated by Greenfleet
• All equipment for planting is supplied by Greenfleet (unless otherwise specified or requested)
• Greenfleet does not cover the cost of fencing or tree guards
• Greenfleet works with the land manager to establish a suitable maintenance program. We also conduct site visits to assess the survival of trees and any necessary re-planting.

Greenfleet specifies that site preparation requirements appropriate to the site be met. This usually involves the following:

• Deep rip at least five months prior to planting when dry (so it has the shattering affect needed), rip lines should be 3-4 metres apart
• Allow weeds to come up post ripping, but then spray with a herbicide to keep it weed free and conserve soil moisture over winter/summer
• Re-work soil at least two weeks prior to planting, and do a final weed control

Greenfleet databases all trees that it plants and in conjunction with the landholder, takes responsibility for their ongoing survival. We need to track the survival and growth of the trees for our subscribers, and to evaluate their ability in salinity and carbon control. This bank of data cannot and will not be sold or traded.

Carbon Agreements

Before planting, a carbon agreement between the landholder and Greenfleet is signed by both parties. This agreement specifies that the trees will not be harvested, and that Greenfleet maintains the rights to the carbon soaked up by those trees in their lifetime.

Testimonials

This letter was received from the landholder in Wagga Wagga, where 6,500 trees were planted as part of Greenfleet's 2003 Murray Darling Rescue program:
“I am writing on behalf of my partners in Kooringal Pastoral Company, to thank you all most sincerely for facilitating the recent tree planting project on our property on Sunday 6th July. We all thought it was the most wonderful day with regard to a shared view for the future, productivity, organisation, community building and friendship. I am also delighted today to report that last night we received 20.5 mm of rain which should consolidate the soil around the new plantings and set the site on its way to become an extremely valued portion of our catchment area.  Would you kindly formally extend our sincere thanks to Scouts Australia who I understand are your partners in the project. Their support and enthusiasm was exemplary ….”
Annette Lamont, Partner, Kooringal Pastoral Company

'Inverness' was another of the 2003 Wagga sites. Ten thousand trees were planted along a large eroded gully known as ‘The Chook's Foot’ because of three branches that resembled a chicken’s foot. “We called it ‘Operation Chook’s Foot’ last year and the Scouts loved it,” says Greenfleet forester Jackie Waring. “I received lots of questions this year about how The Chook’s Foot was going.” 
Land owner, Brian Reid is thrilled with the result. During a site inspection in August 2004, one year after the planting, he said: ‘Greenfleet and Scouts have turned a liability into an asset on my property’. The survival rate is excellent. Jackie adds: “It’s a model Greenfleet site; Brian has proudly hung the Greenfleet sign on his fenceline.”

Contact

If you are a landowner or manager interested in working with Greenfleet please contact our forester, Michael Spiller on 03 5662 3588 or 0418 997 125, michael@greenfleet.com.au