MEDIA RELEASE - January 2026
Tourism Noosa’s Tread Lightly Trees for Tourism program continues to grow as a powerful example of regenerative tourism in action, with the latest community tree planting seeing 600 native trees planted in Cooran along the Noosa Biosphere Trails network.
Located behind the Cooran township shops, the revegetation site will not only provide much-needed shade for walkers and trail users but also improve habitat connectivity for local wildlife, including koalas, while enhancing the long-term resilience of the landscape.
More than 40 volunteers, tourism industry operators (including RACV Noosa Resort, Yo-Chi, The Social Deck and Drop Bear / Kgari Fraser Island Tours) and community representatives came together for the planting day, along with Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton, Mayor Frank Wilkie and Deputy Mayor Brian Stockwell, demonstrating the shared commitment to regenerating the natural environment that underpins Noosa’s visitor economy and lifestyle appeal.
Delivered in partnership with Noosa & District Landcare, the Tread Lightly Trees for Tourism program supports Tourism Noosa’s broader regenerative tourism approach, encouraging visitors and industry to contribute positively to the destination while helping preserve the region’s unique natural assets for future generations.
Since the program launched in 2019, the Tread Lightly Trees for Tourism initiative has now seen 9,357 trees planted across the region, with an estimated 1,160,315 kilograms of CO2 forecast to be sequestered over the trees’ lifetime. The program has also raised more than $121,000 to support local revegetation and regeneration projects.
Tourism Noosa CEO Sharon Raguse said the initiative reflected the destination’s long-standing commitment to balancing tourism with environmental stewardship.
“Noosa’s natural environment is at the heart of our destination appeal and programs like Trees for Tourism demonstrate how tourism can actively contribute to the protection and regeneration of the places people love to visit,” she said.
“Importantly, this program creates meaningful opportunities for our industry, visitors and local community to come together in giving back to the destination, helping restore habitat, support biodiversity and strengthen Noosa’s position as a leading regenerative tourism destination.”
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Susan Ewington, Tourism Noosa 0412 692 961 or susan@tourismnoosa.com.au
