Australia has won the Best Community Restoration Award in the Lonely Planet Best In Travel 2021, for the response to the Black Summer bushfires and Echidna Walkabout’s koala tree planting project is one of the community recovery efforts recognised in the award.
Echidna Walkabout owner Janine Duffy spoke to the judges about her experience with the bushfires and determination to take this opportunity to save koalas.
“In summer 2019 /2020 we had the worst bushfires in human history, in koala habitat. After the bushfires we started a project to get travellers to plant trees adjacent to the bushfire zone,” Janine Duffy said.
“We figure if you’re going to a place to see the animals, you may as well help them while you’re there.”
“How would a traveller feel if they planted a tree, next year, and in 4 years came back and saw a koala in it, knowing they helped save this threatened species?”
“We have the perfect opportunity to really save koalas now, with so much local and international attention.”
“We love it when travellers come and help our wildlife, and we’re going to need them to plant all these trees.”
The prestigious Best In Travel global list, established in 2005, sets the tone for the upcoming year, and drives focus on a destination. The awards changed in 2020 to reflect the changes to travel due to COVID and to show that travel remains a force for good. The three new categories: Sustainability, Community & Diversity reflect important shared values of travel.
Travellers can get involved by joining one of Echidna Walkabout’s Koala Recovery Experiences, west of Melbourne or in Gippsland.
See video here https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel?c=community&id=restoration
