Tony Parkes dedicated three decades to restoring the Big Scrub rainforest in northern New South Wales, planting tens of thousands of trees and uniting various stakeholders in rainforest recovery efforts. The Big Scrub, once covering 75,000 hectares, had dwindled to just one percent remaining due to clearing and cattle grazing. Parkes' leadership in the Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy helped protect remnants, plant millions of trees, and make rainforest restoration a key part of the region's civic life. His approach involved bringing together landholders, scientists, donors, and volunteers to work towards a disciplined model of rainforest recovery. Parkes emphasized evidence-based conservation, genetic diversity, and resilience to climate change, leading to significant progress in restoring the landscape and preserving biodiversity.
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/06/tony-parkes-the-banker-who-replanted-a-rainforest/