• Charles Sturt invites staff, students and Albury community to help plant vegetation in the habitat of the endangered Sloane’s froglet
• The event marks National Tree Day and will expand the habitat for the endangered species
• Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga, Port Macquarie, Dubbo and Bathurst will also host tree planting event

A small wetland at Charles Sturt in Albury-Wodonga is home to many of the region’s prominent species, including the Sloane’s froglet, which has just been recognised as a nationally endangered species.

The University invites students, staff and the local community to plant shrubs and grasses in an effort to help extend the Sloane’s froglet biodiversity area on campus and provide vital protection for the species.

CSU Green partnerships coordinator Ms Michelle Wilkinson said the University is fortunate to have access to the habitat of the Sloane’s froglet and will continue to undertake environmental initiatives to protect the species.

“Because our campuses are located in regional areas, each campus has designated biodiversity areas and ‘flagship species’, with vegetation plantings each year to enhance areas of biodiversity,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“We hope our planting initiatives will help to improve and expand the Sloane’s froglet habitat so the species can increase again.

“The froglet requires a specific seasonal waterway area and populations have been decimated by farming practices and urban expansion; by planting in the area, it will provide important shelter for this tiny frog.”

Charles Sturt sustainability project officer Ms Kym Witney-Soanes said National Tree Day supported Charles Sturt’s goal to allocate 20 per cent of University-managed land for the purposes of enhancing biodiversity.

“This falls under Charles Sturt’s Sustainability Statement launched on World Environment Day,” Ms Witney-Soanes said.

“Tree planting helps to establish, enhance and connect our biodiversity zones across the landscape.

“Trees also contribute to cleaner air and a healthy climate which aligns with the 2019 World Environment Day theme of reducing air pollution.”

The planting event is from 10am to 12pm on Friday 26 July and will take place at the Sloane’s planting area, located near the childcare centre on the University’s main entrance road in Albury-Wodonga.

Tree planting events are also taking place across other Charles Sturt campuses to mark National Tree Day and enhance local areas of biodiversity.

On-campus tree planting events are scheduled in Dubbo between 11am and 12.30pm on Thursday 25 July, and in Bathurst between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Friday 9 August.

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital will be the site for Charles Sturt’s tree planting event in Port Macquarie on Sunday 28 July between 10am and 3pm. A courtesy bus leaving from car park 1 on campus will be available on the day.

Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga will host a two-day tree planting event at the University’s farm at 9.30am on Friday 26 July and 10am on Saturday 27 July. Participants are asked to meet at the front entrance to Joyes Hall at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga.

For the two-day Wagga Wagga event, St Martin’s College will host a free barbecue on Friday and the Wagga Wagga Sikh community will provide a vegetarian lunch on Saturday.

To date more than 19,000 trees have been planted across Charles Sturt campuses.

Anyone interested in participating in the Charles Sturt tree planting events will need to bring their own hat, gloves, sunscreen and boots and RSVP to csugreen@csu.edu.au.