Ecosystem Restoration Communities
Erasmus More Trees Now Project
And at the end of 2023, ERC Rocciaviva in Basilicata, Italy, and the Ecosystem Restoration Communities Foundation teamed up to launch RestorACTION, a pioneering project funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. This inspiring collaboration brought together Rocciaviva’s focus on environmental and social regeneration in the Basilicata region with ERC’s mission to equip local people with the skills and tools needed to restore their own ecosystems.
RestorACTION aimed to empower the local community in Basilicata, where farmers and landowners face growing challenges from land degradation, extreme weather, and declining soil fertility and livelihoods. The project engaged residents as citizen scientists, increasing their environmental literacy and training them to identify degraded areas and monitor ecosystem health. Using a simple smartphone app, participants collected reliable ecological data to establish baseline studies, enabling informed and effective restoration actions. By bridging the gap between restoration experts and local people, RestorACTION fostered a community-driven approach to reversing ecosystem degradation and securing a sustainable future for the region.
About the App
The new Monitoring App, developed through this project, enables restoration tracking by logging intervention plots and polygons, and a record of techniques used on the land. The app includes step-by-step methodologies and video tutorials, and enables access to data so that it can be analysed and widely shared across the network of earth restorers. Furthermore, low-connectivity support means you can collect data anywhere (even remote areas), and the data will automatically sync with the app when you are back online. Hit the link below to take a tour of the app.
Location
Jubilee Pocket, Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia
Main Biome
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Ha. Being Restored
0.2
Overview
This Ecosystem Restoration Community is based at Eco Barge HQ in Jubilee Pocket in the Whitsundays, Queensland, within the Great Barrier Reef catchment. The site sits along a riparian corridor that ultimately drains into coastal waters connected to the Reef. Historically, parts of the land were cleared and modified, leaving sections of the riparian zone degraded and vulnerable to erosion and sediment runoff. This has reduced native biodiversity and increased the risk of sediment entering waterways that flow to the Great Barrier Reef.
Established in 2025 as part of Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc.’s broader environmental mission, the initiative builds on years of community-driven conservation work in the region. Their vision is a thriving, biodiverse landscape where healthy land supports clean water and a resilient Reef. Eco Barge’s mission is to restore native habitat, reduce sediment runoff, and strengthen community stewardship through hands-on action and education.
Through this project, they have planted more than 700 native trees and understory species, hosted over 20 volunteer planting days, and engaged more than 150 individuals in practical restoration and learning activities. Working in partnership with Whitsunday Catchment Landcare and following local environmental management guidelines, the team is rehabilitating the riparian zone to stabilise soils, improve water quality, and enhance habitat.
Community involvement is central to their approach. They aim to host over 500 local residents, schools, community groups, and Eco Barge volunteers participate in planting days, workshops, and guided walks. Educational signage and an accessible walking trail will create an ongoing environmental learning space, strengthening awareness of the vital link between healthy land, clean water, and marine protection.
Impact Story
Over the past six months, a once-cleared stretch of land has begun transforming into a thriving riparian habitat and living classroom. What was bare ground is now home to hundreds of native trees planted by caring hands from across our community. Volunteers have worked side by side, while tour guests have discovered how local restoration connects directly to the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Now a core Eco Barge conservation program, the seeds planted today will continue to grow -stabilising soils, improving water quality, restoring habitat, and protecting the Reef for years to come.
Volunteer your time at Eco Barge Clean Seas, Australia
Please note: You will need to arrange your own travel visa, if one is required.
Achievements
To date, riparian restoration efforts have seen more than 700 native trees and understory species planted across a previously cleared and degraded site at Eco Barge HQ. Through 22 dedicated planting days, around 50 volunteers have contributed directly to on-ground restoration works, helping to stabilise soil, improve riparian health, and reduce sediment runoff into waterways that flow to the Great Barrier Reef. The program has also engaged and educated more than 150 people, including tour guests, fostering greater community understanding of the link between land management, water quality, and marine ecosystem protection.
Partners
Whitsunday Catchment Landcare
Restoration Activities on Site
Tree planting
Erosion control
Habitat creation
Community building
Volunteer Facilities on Site
Visualise this ERC's Impact
Many Ecosystem Restoration Communities are using platforms to show how the work they’re doing on the ground is having a positive impact on the land and local biodiversity. If a Restor or iNaturalist logo is visible below, click through to view their impact on that platform.