Restoring native habitat to 'ReBird the Ranges'

Photo: SA Western Whistler, Neale Dyster

The Minister for Climate, Environment, and Water, Hon. Susan Close MP, has recently launched ReBird the Ranges, a collaborative initiative dedicated to restoring woodland bird populations and their habitats across the Mount Lofty Ranges.

The Mount Lofty Ranges has some of the highest bird extinction rates and concentrations of threatened bird species in Australia. The region has faced severe habitat loss over the years, with around 90% of original woodland bird habitat cleared by 1980. Today, the populations of 78 species of woodland birds in the Mount Lofty Ranges are in decline, with some facing a risk of imminent extinction.

ReBird the Ranges has been created to address this crisis. By uniting skilled practitioners with researchers, and community members, ReBird the Ranges can access new funding aimed at restoring critical habitats for birds and other wildlife. The initiative aims to reverse decades of habitat loss and ensure a sustainable future for the region’s ecosystems.

As part of the launch, the ReBird the Ranges alliance unveiled its Action Plan – a detailed roadmap to tackle the loss of woodland birds. This plan includes an ambitious target: to restore cover to 30% of each native vegetation community across the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Photo: Rainbow Bee-eater, David Pearce

ReBird the Ranges Coordinator David Pearce emphasised that we already have a committed community, but the challenge lies in significantly scaling up our efforts. “I celebrate the work of every bush-carer, tree-planter and revegetation specialist across the Mount Lofty Ranges, however our habitat gains need to increase 6-fold per year to achieve our 30% target by 2100. We can do this with collaboration, continually improving techniques, and a host of new supporters deeply committed to ReBird the Ranges,” he said.

Mr Pearce also called on the community to get involved, stating, “Whether you're a landholder wanting to restore native birdlife on your property, an investor keen to fund critical habitat restoration projects, or a volunteer eager to get your hands dirty, we all have a vital role to play in meeting these targets.”

The launch of ReBird the Ranges and its Action Plan marks an important step for bird conservation in the Mount Lofty Ranges. By uniting expertise, resources, and grassroots efforts, the initiative aims to restore woodland bird populations and create healthy habitats that communities are working to recover and protect.

To access the Action Plan or learn more about ReBird the Ranges, visit rebirdtheranges.org.

Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu is a proud partner of ReBird the Ranges. Other partner organisations include: Trees for Life, Second Nature Conservancy, Bio-R, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, Greening Australia, Birds SA, Birdlife Australia, Nature Foundation, Landscape Boards of South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Service, local councils, Forestry SA, SA Water, the University of Adelaide and the Government of South Australia.