Mt Emily, VIC

90 minutes’ drive south-east from Melbourne, Mt Emily is located within the Strzelecki Ranges, an area made up of steep hills, deep valleys and winding creeks and rivers. Mt Emily borders the north-east edge of our Wurneet Laang Laang forest and sits at the upper catchment of the Lang Lang river. This property is made up of 38 hectares and Greenfleet’s work here will improve soil and water quality while sequestering carbon. 

Mt Emily is one of many Greenfleet projects delivering climate action through native reforestation in the Gippsland region. To see where some of our other native forests are growing, click here.   

The property at Mt Emily is growing eucalypts with the aim to support local koala populations and extend their habitat. The Strzelecki Koala is a species found in this area and is key to the survival of other populations in Australia. Koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT are now endangered, and Strzelecki Koalas are vital for research. 

Strzelecki Koalas descend from the original Victorian koala population, meaning they haven’t been translocated from other areas in Australia. Earlier this year, Greenfleet undertook genome testing on koala scat found in the connecting Wurneet Laang Laang Forest. We were thrilled when the results confirmed that Strzelecki Koalas were inhabiting eucalypts the Greenfleet had planted in 2016.   

A pair of breeding Wedge-tailed Eagles have been seen in the remnant forest at Mt Emily. This picture shows an existing nest in a tall Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). These magnificent predators are the largest bird of prey in Australia, and hold great significance for the Traditional Owners, who name them Bunjil in Boonwurrung language. 

Many other bird species have been recorded around Mt Emily, including kestrels, Australian Wood Ducks and endangered Gang-gang Cockatoos. You can read more about the area’s native bird populations here.   

Mt Emily is also home to wombats, as they make their burrows in the loose soil near creeks and gullies. The dam on the property also hosts a healthy and noisy frog population.  

Greenfleet uses the Full Carbon Account Model (FullCAM) to measure the carbon uptake at our revegetation sites. This model was developed by the CSIRO and is approved by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.   

The region of Gippsland where Mt Emily is located is known for its high carbon sequestration potential. This forest is expected to remove over 90,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere in its lifetime, which is the equivalent of what 20,930 average vehicles emit on Australia’s roads in a single year.  

The forest growing at Mt Emily is legally protected for 100 years and cannot be cut down for any reason, even if the land changes ownership. You can read more about our 100 year forest protection here.