In cities and towns across the country, local leaders are transforming underused public spaces into fast-growing native microforests.
What is a microforest?
A microforest is a dense, native forest planted in a small urban site—often as small as a tennis court—that grows rapidly to deliver big benefits for people, nature, and climate.
Six microforests created
To date, selected local leaders have delivered six microforests — four in the ACT and two in NSW — with new sites now progressing in Victoria.
Nearly 10,000 trees and plants
More than 9,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted across these sites, restoring habitat, cooling streets and strengthening local places.
Locally led, system backed
Each microforest is led by capable locals using our approvals, templates and delivery system — ensuring projects are high quality and built to last.
Who can be a local leader?
Local leaders are ordinary people who care about where they live — young parents, working professionals, long-time locals. Most had never led anything like this before.
You don’t need free time or special skills. What matters is that you’re willing to take a steady, supported project from A to B. The commitment is real, but it’s structured and finite — and you’re not carrying it alone.
We give you the approvals pathway, templates, tools and guidance. You bring the care, the consistency and the local connection.
You don’t do it alone. But you do lead it.
Donate today
Your support makes new microforests possible.
Equip local leaders
You fund the tools and system that help leaders deliver a microforest from start to finish.
Get projects moving
Your donation kickstarts new sites and helps unlock council and partner support.
Create more community green spaces
Your support turns underused land into places for shade, habitat and local connection.
FAQs
Where does my donation go?
Your donation strengthens the system that helps capable locals deliver high-quality microforests — from early approvals to planting day.
We don’t build microforests for people. We make it possible for more communities to build them themselves — in schools, suburbs and regional towns.
Your support helps us:
- equip local leaders with design, budgeting and delivery tools
- keep the organisation lean by using shared tech and templates
- unlock sites with councils, schools and landholders
- streamline approvals, insurance and planning so projects can proceed
You’re not funding one planting day. You’re helping unlock the next hundred by making the pathway workable for anyone with the commitment to lead.
What are the benefits of leading a microforest project?
- You transform an overlooked patch of land into a living public space people actually use.
- You meet neighbours, families and local businesses who start to recognise and trust you.
- You grow as a leader — holding momentum, coordinating others, and making real decisions.
- You work within a clear framework: templates, approvals maps, comms packs, budgets, insurance. The pathway is set; you bring the drive.
- You take on a defined challenge that fits around a busy life.
- Planting day is a peak moment — hundreds of hands, real energy, a shared sense of “we built this.”
- The forest can become part of your daily life — a lasting place you can walk past knowing you made it possible.
How does the Microforest Collective fund its work?
We’re a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, currently applying for charity status and DGR endorsement with the ACNC.
The organisation is 100% volunteer-run — including our executive and board — and we intend to stay deliberately lean as we grow. Our national model is built on impact, not overhead, with a long-term goal of operating at roughly 1.5 FTE.
We fund our work through three aligned streams:
- Public donations
Individuals who believe in community-led microforests help fund the systems, tools and support that make projects possible. - Valued partners
Values-aligned organisations and institutions are starting to support us financially to expand nationally and embed microforests into urban development, education and climate action. - Project contributions (from 2026)
As we provide crowdfunding infrastructure, financial governance, accounting, templates, mentoring, marketing and reporting, projects contribute 5% of donations and 10% of grant income. This is standard for grant auspicing and community crowdfunding, and it keeps the platform viable for future leaders.
We are investing in impact reporting so donors, partners and communities can see the environmental, social and civic value microforests create over time.
Who qualifies as a 'local leader'?
A local leader is someone with the commitment and follow-through to take a microforest from idea to planting day. It’s not about qualifications. It’s about whether you can hold momentum, work cleanly with others, and finish what you start.
People who lead microforests well usually want:- to shape their neighbourhood in a visible, lasting way
- the satisfaction of delivering something real, not theoretical
- clarity, structure and a defined project they can own
- a chance to use their strengths — coordination, communication, problem-solving
- the experience of building something that outlives their effort
- they stay accountable when things get difficult
- they communicate clearly with councils, schools and neighbours
- they divide roles with a co-leader and don’t rely on large volunteer teams
- they follow through on tasks — consistently, not occasionally
We select leaders who show the commitment, reliability and care needed to carry a microforest from start to finish.
Most leaders are busy people — young parents, working professionals, community volunteers. They step in anyway because the impact, the growth and the sense of connection are worth it.
We provide the system, tools and approvals pathway. You provide the leadership. The project succeeds because someone like you decides to carry it.
I have a site but I can't lead. Can you help?
Yes — but every project still needs local leadership.
We provide the platform that makes microforests possible: approvals, tools, systems, community engagement, and governance. The work on the ground is led locally.
If you represent government or a developer
We can assess the site and outline what a microforest would require. Because these projects need an existing or emerging resident community, timing matters. If the site is viable, we can partner with you to engage future residents and form a local leadership team. This work can be delivered by us as a funded engagement phase.
If you’re a private landholder
We can look at whether the site is suitable and what community benefit it could deliver. If you don’t want to lead the project yourself, we would need a financial contribution to engage the local community and establish a leadership team.
If you’re a community member with a public-site idea
We’re happy to assess it and add it to our priority list. Once a local leader or team comes forward, we support them through the platform.
We provide the system. Local leaders deliver the project. That’s how microforests stay community-owned and built to last.
Hear from the people building the movement
Stories, talks and interviews from the leaders shaping Australia’s microforest approach — on design, people power and making local change stick.
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