Arabic version: أستراليون أكبر سناً يعيدون الطبيعة إلى الحياة في التقاعد

According to The Guardian, a growing group of older Australians are using retirement to restore bushland, wetlands and coastal ecosystems, finding purpose in practical conservation work.

Susan Downes, 76, bought a 200-hectare farm near York, Western Australia, after seeing Mount Mackie, where ancient York gums and wandoos had survived roughly 150 years of grazing. With grants and volunteer support, she has helped plant about 45,000 native seedlings. Another 45 plant species have returned naturally from the seed bank across 120 hectares of her working farm.

Downes is placing the restored area under a conservation covenant so it cannot be cleared again. Friends of Mt Mackie has a core group of about eight volunteers, while more than 80 people take part in organised planting and seed-collecting days. Downes also works with Ballardong elders to find an Aboriginal name for Mount Mackie, where Ballardong women from York hold cultural healing sessions.

Landcare Australia’s 2026 national survey found that 80% of respondents were aged 55 or older. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggests roughly 290,000 Australians volunteer through environmental protection or animal welfare organisations. Landcare Australia chair Peter Garrett described older Australians as “the backbone” of the movement.

In New South Wales, Ken Hooper, 85, and his wife Jill, 82, have spent more than 20 years restoring 970 hectares at Moona-Bingel, 30km outside Deniliquin. Their work includes weed and feral-animal control, revegetation and flood management. Despite osteoarthritis and two replacement knees, Ken still uses a chainsaw, while the pair say they need more time to complete the work they envision.