In July 2026, 25,000 locally native seedlings went into the ground at Raukkan. It was the first major planting in a long-term land restoration project led by the Ngarrindjeri community, and now you can see it for yourself. Our second film picks up where the first left off, showing how a shared vision has become work on Country.
Where is Raukkan?
Raukkan sits on Ngarrindjeri Ruwe (Country), on the shores of Lake Alexandrina within the Coorong, a wetland of international importance in South Australia. Raukkan means ‘meeting place’ in Ngarrindjeri. It was once a thriving landscape of woodlands, wetlands and abundant wildlife. Decades of agricultural use have degraded more than 2,000 hectares of culturally significant Country, leaving little habitat for native species.
Land restoration led by community
This project began with the Ngarrindjeri community, and it stays with them. Elders have set a clear priority: restore Country in ways that strengthen culture, create meaningful on-Country employment and build pride and purpose. The vision is for Raukkan to become a self-sustaining Conservation Community.
Regenerate Australia works alongside the Aboriginal Lands Trust Raukkan Rangers, the Raukkan community and The Forktree Project, founded by our Patron Tim Jarvis AM. Rather than arriving with a fixed design, our role is to support a plan created by the community.
From vision to planting: 25,000 seedlings
All 25,000 seedlings were grown by The Forktree Project from locally collected seed. The planting has two parts:
• 23,500 seedlings to begin the long-term restoration of 20 hectares of degraded Mallee Eucalyptus woodland.
•1,500 seedlings in a Community Pocket Forest, designed with the Raukkan community. Elder Aunty Betty Sumner sketched the design, inspired by the Ngarrindjeri shield.
The Rangers will care for the new plantings as they establish, with monitoring each year to track survival and growth.
Why land regeneration matters in the Coorong
Land regeneration means helping a landscape recover its natural systems: native vegetation, healthy soil, habitat and the species that depend on them. In the Coorong, land clearing, wetland drainage, soil degradation and a changing climate have put fragile ecosystems under intense pressure. Restoring a biodiverse mix of local species, chosen for ecological value, cultural significance and resilience, gives wildlife a place to return to.
Regeneration at Raukkan is also about people. First Nations people are almost twice as likely to be outside the labour force as non-Indigenous Australians, and the gap is wider in regional areas. Restoration work here provides training and long-term jobs for young Ngarrindjeri men and women caring for their own Country.
Recognised nationally
In September 2026, the Raukkan Conservation Community Project won a Bronze Award for Nature at the Australian Geographic Awards for Nature, one of five projects recognised nationally. The $20,000 prize is supporting further planting and restoration of wetland and woodland.
Watch the full story
Start with our first film to hear the community’s vision, then watch the second to see the land restoration begin. Both are on the Raukkan project page, along with progress updates as the site grows.
What comes next at Raukkan
This is the first step in a long journey. Next stages include more planting each winter, care for the Community Pocket Forest, nursery and seed capacity so the community can grow its own seedlings, and more training and mentoring for Rangers.
