Hero₂ is an Australian Rainforest Foundation project and an opportunity for all Australians to fight climate change and protect and extend Australia’s ancient rainforests.

Rainforests are home to some of the world’s richest plant and animal life and store millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide. This exciting new program is not just a tree-planting scheme – it is an environmentally responsible mix of activities that allow us to – PROTECT, EXTEND and RECOVER.

1. We must PROTECT old growth rainforests:

Australia’s remarkable and ancient forests are huge carbon sinks, tying up tonnes of carbon in their biomass – both above and below ground. Research from CSIRO indicates that the amount of carbon tied up in these forests is on average 295 tonnes per hectare.

2. We need to EXTEND our rainforests:

Planting the right tree in the right place is critical to extending our rainforests on land previously cleared of rainforest trees. These selected native species grow rapidly, adsorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere, releasing oxygen back into the air and storing carbon in their biomass.

3. And RECOVER rare, threatened and endangered species:

The rainforest relies on a range of native birds, bats and other creatures to distribute the seeds of the rainforest trees. Unfortunately many of these species are rare or endangered and this includes the Southern Cassowary. Investing in programs to help recover these essential seed dispersers helps our rainforests survive.