SA Bushfire Recovery

Date posted: 23 January 2020

We are deeply saddened by the devastating effects of the bushfires across Australia, and offer our sympathy for the loss of life, injury, livelihood and stress to people, pets, livestock and wildlife.

We thank the emergency services, local communities, volunteers and our own staff and colleagues who have dedicated their time and efforts to manage the fires and their after effects.

If you need help

You can seek information on recovering from the bushfires at the Department for Human Services website:

• Bushfire recovery
• Emotional recovery

If you would like to help

You can donate to a number of funds set up to help the recovery effort, including:

• SA Bushfire Appealto raise funds for people directly affected by bushfires in South Australia.

• Wildlife Recovery Fund to help re-establish habitat for wildlife in SA’s bushfire affected areas. This fund is a collaboration of Nature Foundation SA and the state’s National Parks and Wildlife Service.

You can also take part in Cleland Wildlife Park’s special fundraiser day on Monday 27 January, where 100% of funds will go directly to the Wildlife Recovery Fund.

Enjoy music and entertainment, children’s yoga, tasty food and much more. You don't need to enter the park to enjoy the event so drop by to show your support.

The future

Staff here at the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium are currently working with colleagues in the Department for Environment and Water and our science partners, people directly affected by the bushfires, and other experts to develop a comprehensive recovery plan. This includes ongoing assessment of the impacts on native vegetation and threatened species and the best way forward.

Through our work at the State Herbarium, Seed Conservation Centre and State Flora, we will actively contribute to recovery efforts.

We are also working with the Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens Inc, who have issued this statement about assisting ecosystem restoration in response to the bushfires.

As time goes on, we may be able to suggest hands-on ways that our supporters can help, in particular with the re-introduction of appropriate native plants, including threatened flora, and the removal of weeds.

In the meantime, we encourage visitors to use a botanic garden or park as a place for reflection and recuperation. Being in naturally beautiful surroundings can instill a sense of hope and thoughts of regeneration.

“Healing country heals ourselves, and healing ourselves heals country.”
– Prof. Judy Atkinson – Jiman / Bunjalung woman