Nestled in South Australia’s picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula, a formerly degraded 133-acre property is undergoing a remarkable transformation. The ambitious Forktree Project is breathing new life into the land and offers hope for environmental restoration and climate action.
Enter Tim Jarvis, whose dedication to pragmatic environmental solutions is driving the Forktree Project.
Tim Jarvis, recognised with the Order of Australia (AM) and named Conservationist of the Year by the Australian Geographic Society, created the Forktree Project, and leads the charge with unwavering resolve. His expertise and vision, coupled with the collaborative spirit of the Forktree Project, are setting a new standard for environmental restoration and sustainability.
His vision? To restore tens of thousands of native trees and shrubs, reviving the land to its pre-19th-century pastoral glory.
In an era where the global extinction rate has reached alarming levels – 10,000 times higher than natural rates – every step towards biodiversity conservation is crucial, according to Tim.
“This project is a showcase of what is possible, you might not save the world with one Forktree, but down the line, 10,000 revegetated plots of land will make a hell of a difference,” he added.
Australia is one of the countries bearing the brunt of biodiversity loss but also has a unique opportunity to make a significant impact and buy crucial time in the battle against climate change through revegetation projects like Forktree.
“We – in South Australia – are the most climate exposed state, in the most climate exposed country,” Tim said.
Tim says the project aims to tackle two big global issues, climate change and loss of biodiversity.
“If trees were planted on all the suitable spare land that existed globally, we could store over 200 billion tonnes of carbon and buy 20 years in the fight against climate change,” he said.
“But also it’s about restoring the habitat for native wildlife,” he added
Similar reforested areas, like the ImLal Biorich Plantation in Victoria, have seen a resurgence of wildlife, including phascogales, feathertail gliders, and the occasional koala.
While re-establishing natural habitats, the project aims to sequester tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon, an impressive feat considering the average Australian’s annual carbon footprint is around 25 tonnes.
Tim says the Fleurieu Peninsula plot is a perfect South Aussie location to focus on replanting, given the richness of its natural habitat and its proximity to the city.
“That area down there has beautiful dense soil and lots of rainfall, so before it was cleared it would have been a really good native animal and plant habitat with high biodiversity,” Tim said.
The Forktree Project, initiated in April 2019, came into existence almost by accident.
Tim says he discovered the property when he was looking for land to buy to build a space to stretch, be at one with nature and think.
“However, an initial search for a rural hideaway revealed something very different – a property, with a dramatic setting, that was crying out for help, denuded and exhausted after whole scale clearance of trees by 19th-century pastoralists,” he said.
Forktree is also a place for education and community engagement, with school, corporate and volunteer groups as well as politicians encouraged to pick up a shovel.
“Being close to the CBD, we get a lot people and groups come to visit,” Tim said.
“It’s only an hour door to door from the city.”
The Forktree Project Education Program is underpinned by a passionate belief in both the value of genuine, hands-on experiential learning and the importance of empowering young people to be part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crises through active involvement in habitat restoration.
“There’s nothing like seeing the tangible results,” Tim said.
“They get to plant a tree were they wasn’t one before and if you come back in a year you’ll see its grown. It’s really uplifting when you can see evidence of change coming from your efforts.”
The educational component of the Forktree Project is particularly exciting. Tim works closely with schools, showing 35 to 40 schools per year through the project, integrating hands-on learning experiences into the Australian Curriculum, SACE, and IB programs.
“It is so important to education the next generation, because they will inevitably inherit these problems,” he added.
Tim continues to work with state and federal governments to reform policies around climate change and responsible practices.
“A lot of the stuff I’ve learnt over the years helps the way I’m assist policy change,” he said.
“I’m currently working with the South Australian Government on a biodiversity act that I think will be really powerful when it’s legislated early next year.”
The Forktree project not only raises awareness about biodiversity and sustainability but also fosters a connection to nature to benefit mental health and community well-being.
In terms of corporate groups, Tim says “when they come down to plant trees, it gives them a taste of whats possible”.
“It changes the way they approach business and every day life,” he said.
The project also aims to make a difference on a broader scale by improving access to carbon funding for small and medium-sized landholders, encouraging more widespread habitat restoration.
They plant seeds and plants that are native specifically to the land, sourced from no farther than 20km.
They have converted an old shed into an interpretive centre to provide sustainability advice and have established a seed nursery for growing native plants and trees to restore local land, particularly those affected by bushfires.
The Forktree Project’s origins are as inspiring as its mission. The property, once a site of extensive deforestation and neglect, is now a canvas for renewal and hope.
The motto for the project encapsulates the simultaneous simplicity and ambition of Tim’s mission, “Re-wilding, it’s in our nature”.
The Forktree Project exemplifies how localised efforts can drive global change by embracing restoration, education, and innovation. This initiative is not just rejuvenating a piece of South Australia; it’s inspiring a movement toward a greener, more sustainable future.
Tim says the project is ensuring that future generations will get to continue to enjoy all the natural beauty South Australia has to offer.
“Yes people come and drink our wine, but they also love our nature, whether its Kangaroo Island or the Flinders Rangers, our coast or the Adelaide Hills,” he said.
“It’s so important to protect our natural assets.”
WHAT: Forktree Project
WHERE: 103 Whitelaw Rd, Carrickalinga SA 5204
Found out more: https://www.theforktreeproject.com/
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