Green Army benefits local youth and local koalas

LISMORE City Council has hope that two Green Army projects secured in 2016 will lead to jobs for young people as well as improved habitat for local koalas.

Green Army Supervisor Lucas Salmon from EnviTE with 2016 participants Guillaume Berthier, Sheba Martyn and Rosie Ronan.

LISMORE City Council has hope that two Green Army projects secured in 2016 will lead to jobs for young people as well as improved habitat for local koalas.

The Green Army is a hands-on environmental program that provides young people aged between 17 and 24 years old with skills, training and experience in environmental management while helping to protect habitat for threatened species like koalas.

The first team of eight has just finished a six-month project and the next young crop of nine Green Army participants began their six-month stint last week.

These Green Army projects are contributing to the delivery of Council's Biodiversity Management Strategy, which seeks to create employment and training opportunities while improving the natural environment in the Lismore Local Government Area.

Green Army Supervisor Lucas Salmon from EnviTE NSW described the work the teams are doing as "critical".

The koala is listed as vulnerable to extinction under NSW legislation and endangered in this part of NSW. Lismore is home to one of the few urban koala populations in the state.

However, Mr Salmon said he is watching food sources disappear and can't understand why no-one is making a fuss about it.

"There are so few food trees left out there that the koalas are stripping trees bare and the trees are dying," he said.

"We are seeing koalas perching in camphor laurels for cover and shade because there's no crown cover on their food trees anymore.

"We are shocked at how little is being done about this. We are talking about a national icon - creatures that draw people to this country from all over the world - and they are starving to death. It's madness."

The two Green Army teams will plant around 2500 trees in 2016 and participants will learn skills in propagation, bush regeneration, weed control and habitat restoration.

Mr Salmon said this stands them in good stead to gain future employment in the industry.

"I think some of the participants have a really good chance of getting work after this," he said.

"They show potential, they are keen and they want to learn, and there's a bit of passion there."

If you are aged between 17 and 24 and would like to participate in upcoming Green Army projects, phone EnviTE Environment on 6627 2800 or email [e-mail].