Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group (GULG) is hopeful more native trees can be planted if the regular rain continues.
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The volunteer group lost many of the trees it has planted in previous seasons in areas like Pensioner's Hill, Blackjack Road and Cushan's Reserve on the Namoi River.
"We've lost a percentage but it actually could have been worse," GULG chair Mark Kesby said.
"It's probably more mature trees that have been lost, whether planted or naturally regenerated, but that will probably start showing up more as things start greening up.
"It would appear that some species have been more affected than others so it's going to need regeneration. The most obvious way is natural regeneration and it's going to take two or three good seasons to get that under way, not one."
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Mr Kesby said the group was looking into do some replanting to replace the trees that hadn't made it through the drought and said while about 80 per cent survived on Blackjack Road, only about 20 per cent of trees survived at Cushan's Reserve.
"For them to survive, we'll need good rain over winter," he said.
Tamworth ecologist Phil Spark said it would be difficult to fund the replacement of the "hell of a lot of trees" that have been lost across the state from drought.
"I can't see that ever being a priority because it's very expensive," he said.
"The [government's] Save Our Species program cost $95,000 to achieve 30 hectares of planting, so that scale of planting to address tree loss, I just can't see it happening."
Mr Kesby said while native trees were vital to the survival of koalas, it is not always a lack of trees that was the problem but the "lack of quality".
The team found several dead koalas and all 31 koalas captured for a temperature study were in bad condition from the drought.
At the time, zoologist Dr Valentina Mella said she was "terrified that the next time we go out there, they'll all be dead".
"Koalas need the trees and the trees are dying," she said.
"They're literally starving. There are no leaves for them to eat ... those animals had barely any food in their bellies."
