Landcare Restoration

Since 2020, Country Road and Landcare Australia have partnered on The Biodiversity Project to improve biodiversity value on cotton farms. The Biodiversity Project is currently focused on the Namoi and Macquarie Valley regions, areas identified as priority for biodiversity enhancement by the 2019 Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) report ‘Management of Biodiversity in the Cotton Landscape: Iconic and Threatened Species’.


With funding raised through the sale of the iconic Country Road Verified Australian Cotton Heritage Sweats, Landcare Australia’s Restoration Team has collaborated with five farming families, providing support with weed control, site preparation and planting in riparian areas. Additional project plantings are planned for 2025 and beyond. These efforts will enhance biodiversity and habitat connectivity, support vulnerable and iconic fauna species while also providing benefits in sustainable farming.  
A fish friendly river crossing is being constructed at one of the project sites, which will allow for native fish species including Murray cod and golden perch to move further into the upper reaches of the Mooki River and will provide additional refuge and food sources for these species. 


In the first four years, The Biodiversity Project has planted 18,300 seedlings along 14.4 km of riverbank in the Namoi Valley, rehabilitating 102.6 hectares of native vegetation.  In addition to tracking these outputs, Landcare Australia conducts biodiversity assessments at each project site, with the aim of measuring future biodiversity improvements over time.