How Barbara’s grassroots efforts triggered the return of koalas, rare owls and black cockatoos in the Clarence River region
In the lush landscapes of the Clarence River catchment in northern New South Wales, one conservation project is quietly rewriting the story of nature-revival. Spearheaded by passionate local advocate Barbara Linley, a habitat-restoration initiative has already produced sightings of the elusive glossy black cockatoo, the return of koalas and encounters with rare owls — a remarkable win for biodiversity and grassroots action.
In the lush landscapes of the Clarence River catchment in northern New South Wales, one conservation project is quietly rewriting the story of nature-revival. Spearheaded by passionate local advocate Barbara Linley, a habitat-restoration initiative has already produced sightings of the elusive glossy black cockatoo, the return of koalas and encounters with rare owls — a remarkable win for biodiversity and grassroots action.
Barbara’s journey began in earnest when she turned her gaze to a patch of threatened forest in the Clarence Valley, recognising that fragmentation, fire damage and habitat decline were pushing native wildlife to the edge. Through her work with groups such as Wildlife Preservation Clarence Valley Ltd and community supporters, she helped re-connect fragmented habitat corridors and restore native vegetation — laying the foundation for wildlife to return.
The urgency of the task became stark when a project by Envite Environment documented major habitat gaps for the Koala in the region and the need to rebuild interconnected corridors for safe movement and feeding. Envite Environment With this data in hand, Barbara’s local restoration work gained momentum: targeted planting of koala food trees, reduction of weed-infested zones and working alongside First Nations custodians and landholders to safeguard key sites.
One of the most compelling early outcomes of the restoration project has been new sightings of the glossy black cockatoo (locally known in Gumbaynggirr language as “Biliirrgan”) — a vulnerable species whose habitat in the region was devastated by the 2019-20 bushfires. Environment and Heritage+2Clarence Valley Independent+2 Barbara reports that in the protected corridors she helped establish, southern NSW’s only black cockatoos with red tail panels have been observed drinking at dusk and flying into newly restored she-oak stands. These sightings are powerful signals that the ecosystem is beginning to heal.
Equally encouraging is the return of koalas. Collaborative efforts to map sightings and restore feeding habitat have meant that previously isolated populations are again able to move, feed and reproduce in safer, connected space. Environment and Heritage+1 Barbara’s work helped bring local landholders into the fold — planting food trees like forest red gum and tallowwood, and encouraging community reporting of koala presence, all of which build a deeper, long-term understanding of koala resilience in the Clarence Valley.
And then there are the rare owls. Though less frequently sighted, the appearance of owls — including hollow-dwelling species dependent on mature trees — reinforces the value of habitat restoration that maintains trees with hollows, a key but declining resource in many degraded landscapes. Barbara has recorded reports from neighbours and volunteers of nocturnal calls and owl movements in the restoration zone, evidence of the renewed functioning of the woodland ecosystem.
What stands out in Barbara’s approach is the blending of science, culture and community. She has helped facilitate workshops, citizen-science recording programs and community planting days, bringing together Traditional Custodians, landowners and local volunteers. This model mirrors the “community-centred conservation” approach documented by Envite Environment in their Clarence Valley koala habitat restoration project where community ownership and engagement were central to success. Envite Environment
It’s not just about trees planted or species counted — it’s about learning to live within the landscape and rebuild trust with nature. Barbara often emphasises: “When the habitat heals, the wildlife returns — but only if people feel part of the process.” The growing local network of volunteers, school groups and landholders watching for cockatoos, koalas and owls is a testament to this collaborative spirit.
Of course, the challenges remain formidable. Habitat loss, fire risk, climate change and land-use pressure continue to threaten these species. But the positive signs in the Clarence Valley demonstrate that well-targeted restoration, backed by community effort, can turn the tide. What Barbara and her network have achieved is a template for how biodiversity recovery can be done — locally, meaningfully and inclusively.
For the team at BEATS.org, Barbara’s story is a beacon. It shows how individual passion, community involvement and ecological science can combine to produce real outcomes: koalas moving through safe corridors, glossy black cockatoos drinking at restored watering spots, and hidden owls calling in the night sky.
If you’d like to support this work — whether by volunteering, reporting sightings or contributing to habitat restoration funding — your help matters. Join us and help ensure that the Clarence Valley continues to become a thriving sanctuary for Australia’s native wildlife.
? Get involved with BEATS today to be part of this extraordinary biodiversity revival — in the Clarence Valley and beyond. Use the contact form below:
