Greenfleet is restoring this property on Ngunnawal Country in NSW to return it to legally protected native forest. River Bend was once cleared for farming, and the current owners approached Greenfleet to restore it.
River Bend is located north of the Namadgi National Park, a popular place for walks and bird watching. It is also an area with sites of cultural significance. With our reforestation of River Bend, we are connecting areas of remnant vegetation to extend habitat for native wildlife to travel, feed and breed in the region.
The forest growing at River Bend will deliver climate action by removing carbon and providing many environmental benefits to the region, including the reduction of soil erosion.
Location & Map
River Bend can be found in the elevated, mountainous area to the northwest of Canberra. Close to 25 hectares of cleared farmland is being returned to native forest, providing additional habitat for local wildlife from nearby Namadgi National Park. The Murrumbidgee River runs through River Bend, making soil erosion prevention a vital part of our work at this project.
This is one of many native reforestation projects that Greenfleet has undertaken in New South Wales since 1997. To see where some of our other projects are growing, you can explore our forest map here.
Revegetation Approach & Species Selection
As this project is at altitude, our Revegetation Team selected species that are resilient to wind and cold weather when planting. New seedlings have been shielded from cold winds, and Greenfleet will return within the next two years to remove the guards as the trees establish.
Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) copes particularly well in this cold environment, and we planted this along with 11 other eucalypts native to the region.
Several acacia species are included in the revegetation of River Bend to support the local bird populations, especially parrots and cockatoos. Their flowers and leaves attract the insects and grubs which birds consume as a main part of their diet. Being hardy, frost-tolerant plants, acacias suit the terrain. Some of the species planted include Silver Wattle (Acacia Dealbata), Lightwood Wattle (Acacia Implexa) and Weeping Myall (Acacia Paradoxa).
A mature Kurrajong (Brachychiton Populneus) or Bottle Tree was found growing on the property, and Greenfleet has planted more of this species to bolster the existing vegetation.
Image: Kurrajong on the hill at River Bend
Wildlife Habitat Restoration
Bare-nosed Wombats have been spotted at River Bend, as seen by this distinctive wombat hole. By restoring native species at this property, they will grow to provide the grasses, plants, roots and bark preferred by local wombat populations.
River Bend had some existing vegetation, mainly casuarinas which are growing in abundance along the rivers edge. The Drooping She-oak (Allocasuarina Verticillata) provides seeds for birds and is favoured by the vulnerable Glossy Black Cockatoo. This species planted also aims to attract a variety of other native birds such as Noisy Friarbirds, Red-rumped Parrots and Grey Fantails, all known to inhabit the nearby Namadgi National Park.
Climate Action
The forest growing at River Bend is legally protected for 100 years. Over that time, it will remove around 18,900 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, which is the equivalent of what almost 4,400 average vehicles emit on Australia’s roads in a single year.
Greenfleet uses the Full Carbon Account Model (FullCAM) to measure the carbon uptake at our revegetation sites. This model was developed by the CSIRO and is approved by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Location Size
24 hectares near Canberra, ACT
Planting Dates
2024
Species
Silver Wattle (Acacia Dealbata)
Lightwood Wattle (Acacia Implexa)
Black Wattle (Acacia Mearnsii)
Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon)
Weeping Myall (Acacia Paradoxa)
Red Wattle (Acacia Rubida)
Drooping She-oak (Allocasuarina Verticillata)
Kurrajong (Brachychiton Populneus)
Blackthorn (Bursaria Spinosa)
Cypress Pine (Callitris Endlicheri)
Prickly Cassinia (Cassinia Aculeata)
Long-leaved Cassinia (Cassinia Longifolia)
Hopbush (Dodonaea Viscosa)
Blakely's Red Gum (Eucalyptus Blakelyi)
Apple Box (Eucalyptus Bridgesiana)
River Red Gum (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis)
Grey Box (Eucalyptus Dives)
Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus Macrorhyncha)
Manna Gum (Eucalyptus Mannifera)
Yellow Box (Eucalyptus Melliodora)
Snow Gum (Eucalyptus Pauciflora)
Red Gum (Eucalyptus Polyanthemos)
Red Stringybark (Eucalyptus Rubida)
Mugga Ironbark (Eucalyptus Sideroxylon)
Manna Gum (Eucalyptus Viminalis)
Australian Indigo (Indigofera Australis)
White Mountain Tea-tree (Kunzea Ericoides)
Coastal Tea-tree (Leptospermum Continentale)