Hindmarsh Island (Kumerangk)
A Model for Ecological Restoration
L’OCCITANE partners with the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) for the 5th year to restore an international biodiversity hotspot in South Australia.
A Global Biodiversity Hotspot at Risk
Australia is home to a staggering 85% of plant species that are found nowhere else on Earth. However, this incredible biodiversity faces a serious threat—Australia has some of the worst rates of extinction and land clearance in the world. As the only developed nation among global deforestation hotspots, the urgency to restore and reconnect ecosystems in key areas is clear.
The global commitment to restore 30% of all degraded ecosystems by 2030, under the UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework, underscores the importance of projects like the Hindmarsh Island and Lawari Conservation Park restoration. Locally sourced plants are being used to regenerate habitats, protect threatened species, and reconnect the fragments of vegetation that remain to strengthen genetic diversity and ecosystem health.
The Power of Partnerships: L’OCCITANE, FNPW and Landcare
L’OCCITANE has partnered with the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) and Hindmarsh Island Landcare to protect the species of the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Wetlands, a globally significant Wetland of International Importance. This partnership funds the restoration of land in the Lawari Conservation Park, returning the degraded ecosystem—once used for grazing—back to its natural state. By doing so, we are helping to protect numerous migratory bird species and threatened wildlife, such as the Orange-bellied Parrot and the Cape Barren Goose.
Hindmarsh Island’s (Kumerangk) Rich Biodiversity
Hindmarsh Island, known as Kumerangk to the Ngarrindjeri First Nations people, is a vital part of the Murray-Darling Basin. Its unique position, with freshwater on one side and saltwater on the other, makes it a globally significant ecological site. Spanning 45.5 square kilometers, the island is home to critical habitats for endangered species and nationally listed vegetation, such as the Coastal Saltmarsh community.
For the Ngarrindjeri people, this landscape holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. For 45,000 years, they have lived in harmony with its wetlands, grassy woodlands, and creeks. The cultural connection to this land runs as deep as the environmental importance we are working to protect.
The Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group
While the restoration of Hindmarsh Island is a global effort, it is also deeply rooted in local community action. Since 2001, the Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group has led the charge in restoring the island’s landscapes. Over 20 years, they’ve planted over 700,000 plants, working tirelessly to bring back native species and ecosystems.
Their commitment has transformed previously degraded areas into thriving habitats, with a special focus on the Lawari Conservation Park, which now covers 25% of the island. The group’s work has earned national recognition. It is an inspiring example of what community action can achieve.
The Heart of Environmental Restoration
The Hindmarsh Island Community Nursery, managed by the Landcare Group, is the powerhouse behind this restoration. Supported by L’OCCITANE and FNPW’s Landscape Resilience Program, the nursery produces thousands of native plants for restoration work. Currently, they are growing 30,000 plants, which are essential for stabilising soils and rebuilding ecosystems on the island and beyond.
Notable species propagated by the nursery include the endangered Mt Compass Swamp Gum and the Mt Compass Oak-bush, both vital to the restoration of grassy and coastal woodland habitats. Thanks to this effort, the island has seen the return of the endangered Western Beautiful Firetail, a species that relies on dense tree and shrub cover.
How Can you Support Environmental Restoration?
This restoration work on Hindmarsh Island isn’t just about preserving biodiversity. It’s about creating a resilient future for Australia’s ecosystems. The partnership between L’OCCITANE, FNPW, Landcare and the local community has already achieved successful outcomes for ecosystem restoration but there’s still more to be done.
Together, we can continue to protect endangered species, restore ecosystems, and leave behind a thriving natural world for generations to come.
