ANL Launches New Sustainability Initiative Rebuilding Koala Habitats, Ensuring Koalas Are Here To Stay
Environment
- ANL launches new sustainability initiative ‘Rebuilding Koala Habitats’ in collaboration with Koala Clancy Foundation
- Supporting the establishment of a wetland and koala habitat in Victoria’s Western Plains, Australia
- ANL, as part of the CMA CGM Group is continuing to ‘act for planet’ on home soil
ANL, a shipping company under the CMA CGM Group that specialises in moving cargo to and from Oceania and beyond, announces today, in line with National Tree Day their new sustainability initiative – Rebuilding Koala Habitats.
This initiative involves the collaboration with Australian non-for-profit Koala Clancy Foundation. The Koala Clancy Foundation is an organisation focused on supporting the wild Koala population of the Western Plains of Victoria, they seek to do this by protecting and enhancing the natural environment. This project aligns with The CMA CGM Group’s continuous commitment to ‘Act for Planet’ and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 - ‘Life on Land’ through ANL’s planned investment of time, people and support into Rebuilding Koala Habitats.
The Plight of Victorian Koalas
Over the last 13 years the koala population in the Western Plains of Victoria has decreased drastically, as observed by the Koala Clancy Foundation. This population loss is largely due to the Millenium Drought and further drought between 2017- 2020, large numbers of Koalas were lost to these high temperatures. The heat has also caused many mature trees in the region to die, resulting in the loss of Koala’s habitat and source of food in the area.
From germination, it can take 2 years for a eucalyptus tree to be able to support a koala. In light of the habitat and food source losses seen in the last several years, much support is needed.
Partnering with Koala Clancy Foundation to rebuild Koala’s habitats
With guidance from the Koala Clancy Foundation, community involvement and generous landowners, 3400 trees are being planted at a site in Victoria’s Western Plains. These 3400 trees will help regenerate the environment to a natural state, alleviate loss of habitat issues, build homes for future koala populations and bridging existing ones together, aiding biodiversity.
This project will play a part in Koala Clancy Foundation’s mission to plant 300,000 trees by 2030. This milestone will likely save the Koalas of Victoria’s Western Plains from extinction.
The Koala Clancy Foundation operates across the following pillars:
- Re-establishing and maintaining koalas’ and other native wildlife natural habitat through tree planting, removing weeds from the area
- Educating the community regarding the conservation of koalas’ and other native wildlife natural habitat as well as aiding research regarding koalas and their habitat
- Promoting biodiversity through planting native flora species in areas in which they are no longer found
Tree planting to make a difference
This initiative focuses on the establishment of a koala habitat in Gnarwarre, near Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Acting for planet is not just something the ANL team says, a number of team members have spent hours, literally getting their hands dirty, to see these trees in the ground.
Through the expertise of the Koala Clancy Foundation, team members revegetated a newly created wetland area with varying trees, shrubs and groundcover species. It’s expected that as the planting area matures, fauna will begin to move into the area, with luck koalas will migrate to these trees in 2 - 5 years.
Shane Walden, Managing Director ANL & CMA CGM Group Agencies Oceania said, “ANL has a very proud history in Australia and with it, an affinity for the koala – a national icon. This native species has existed for a millennia, and it’s so important that we take action now, in order to ensure koalas continue to be a lasting piece of our country for generations to come.
Our sustainability approach is about action, seeking out the best ways to achieve impact and for ANL, being able to see this in our own backyard makes this even more valuable. This project, a collaboration with the expert team at Koala Clancy Foundation allows us to make decisive steps now that will have a lasting impact.
I look forward to watching our team and the community’s efforts, literally grow, into the future.’
Janine Duffy, the president of the Koala Clancy Foundation stated that, ‘The Koala Clancy Foundation was thrilled when ANL reached out to help us progress our mission of creating new homes for the koalas in the You Yangs area near Melbourne, Victoria. I admire their commitment to real environmental action - koalas need trees in the ground, not boxes ticked or papers signed - and ANL came to us with real action as their primary aim. Through this partnership, not only are we planting trees but also nurturing a future where koalas can thrive in their natural habitat. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the conservation of these beloved animals and the overall preservation of their ecosystem.’
Media enquiries:
Kristen Richardson | Head of Communications & Sustainability
