Koala Clancy Foundation creates habitat across region

Meet Janine Duffy, the region’s koala queen who is the driving force behind tens of thousands of trees planted across the Geelong region.

Janine Duffy from Koala Clancy Foundation among growing trees north of the You Yangs. Picture: Brad Fleet

On a sprawling Little River property at the base of the You Yangs, Janine Duffy stands among growing trees planted with purpose.

The paddocks surrounding her are home to thousands of trees planted by volunteers to support the koalas of the neighbouring mountain range.

Ms Duffy is the president of the Koala Clancy Foundation, which she established in 2015 with the aim of enhancing habitats.

She had loved koalas since she was as a child, but a strong interest in the native animals began while she was working as a bush walking guide in the Brisbane Ranges in the 1990s.

A koala at the You Yangs. Picture: Supplied by Koala Clancy Foundation

“They just stole my heart,” Ms Duffy said.

“There was this one koala who just was always in this one area.

“I started looking for him – I called him Scruffy.

“I just loved him, he was just so special.

“I realised I knew nothing about koalas … so koala behaviour started to interest me.”

Janine Duffy founded the Koala Clancy Foundation, which has planted thousands of trees at the Little River property pictured. Picture: Brad Fleet

Ms Duffy said concerns over declining numbers pushed her to launch Koala Clancy Foundation which began planting trees in 2016.

“I’d been monitoring the You Yangs koalas since 2006 and the decline is really massive,” she said.

“I just couldn’t sleep at night thinking about their future and not do something about.”

She said she believed the You Yangs were a microcosm reflecting what was occurring with koalas more broadly.

“Climate is going to affect them and probably is already affecting them … I believe that’s the cause of the problem in the You Yangs,” she said.

“It’s temperature, heatwaves, drought.

“But it’s also declining nutritional quality of the leaves because of the CO2 in the atmosphere.”

The foundation aims to bolster koala populations by growing habitats, which Ms Duffy said would help protect the animals from events including drought, fires and extreme heat.

A Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) spokesman said the You Yangs Regional Park was a protected area managed by Parks Victoria.

“The park provides a range of habitats for wildlife,” he said.

“More than 200 species of birds have been recorded and koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, brush-tail possums, echidnas and lizards can be found.”

Koalas are widespread throughout eucalypt woodlands and forests in lowland Victoria.

It’s understood, compared to northern Australian states where koala numbers are declining, Victoria has a large koala population.

In some areas of the state, they can occur at very high densities and can over-browse the habitat.

DEECA is developing a new Victorian Koala Management Strategy (VKMS).

The statewide strategy will inform long-term approaches to koala management with the objective of ensuring Victoria’s koala populations and habitat are secure, healthy and sustainable.

Actions in the VKMS include surveys of koala populations to better understand the genetic diversity across Victoria and develop monitoring programs to improve knowledge of distribution, abundance, and population trends, including in areas like the You Yangs.

Since 2016, Koala Clancy Foundation has planted about 73,000 trees in the Geelong region across about 25 private properties.

It has also planted about 22,000 trees in East Gippsland.

Ms Duffy said it started with 100 trees in the first year, and this planting season, which happens in winter, anticipates planting close to 30,000.

In 2022, the foundation attracted about 700 volunteers to tree planting sessions.

“They’re coming from everywhere – corporates, schools, Geelong locals,” Ms Duffy said.

“We are getting so much interest from farmers in the Geelong region … it’s so exciting.”

The foundation, which is based at Staughton Vale, has done work around the Little River and the Barwon and Moorabool rivers.

Tree planting has occurred in areas including in Lara, Gheringhap, Stonehaven, Gnarwarre, Balliang, Little River and Teesdale.

“We have such an opportunity around Geelong,” Ms Duffy said.

A koala at the You Yangs. Picture: Supplied by Koala Clancy Foundation

“We set our selves a target to completely make koala habitat all the way along (the Little River) from the town to the Brisbane Ranges and we’ve already done a quarter of that.

“It’s not just good for koalas.

“It’s good for the river, it’s good for the locals, it’s good for all the biodiversity.

“The farmers are so proud of it”

“We can use the same model for the Barwon and the Moorabool … (and) create some super good koala habitat.”

The foundation plants flora including wattles and various types of eucalypts, which can also attract animals like birds.

Ms Duffy said being near rivers would help koalas in heatwave conditions.

“There’s also other koalas in the future to think about who are all heading for Geelong,” she said.

“Climate is pushing them south and east and towards the coast.

“Geelong with a bit of extra planting could become a bit of a mecca.”

Trees planted in the foundation’s early days are now large enough for koalas and the creatures have been sighted at their tree sites – something of a full circle for moment for Ms Duffy.

“It helps me sleep,” Ms Duffy said.

How information on how to volunteer: www.koalaclancyfoundation.org.au

Originally published as Koala Clancy Foundation creates habitat across region