Ecosystem Restoration Australia Project #19157

Create a Nature Conservation Reserve on Lot 46

by Rainforest Rescue

Project Report | Aug 29, 2019
Thank you! Lot 46 Loan Paid Off!

By Kaley Morrissey | Donor Care Executive

Lot 46 looking back towards the Great Barrier Reef

A Vision Realized …

In August 2010 the Rainforest Rescue Board of Directors decided to take a risk and purchase a degraded property in the Low Land Daintree Rainforest – Lot 46 Cape Tribulation Road. In order to do this, a large financial commitment was made, in the form of a bank loan, and an epic restoration project was launched.

We have all read stories about transformations; of land, of people, and of places. The best transformation stories offer a truly uplifting end result. Lot 46 is just such a story - a time-lapse adventure packed with passion, humanity, education, science, intelligence, and a whole lot of hard work.

Most of our longer-term donors will remember us telling the sad history of abuse of this property; from clearing for agriculture and the growing of Oil Palms to being used as a dumping ground for waste. The 26.7-hectare property was purchased by Rainforest Rescue in 2010 and sits at the base of Thornton’s Peak, the highest point in the Daintree lowland rainforest. Some of you will definitely remember that it’s an important ecological crossover as it forms part of the Coopers Creek catchment and is a ‘habitat zone’ for important fauna.

Since 2010 extensive revegetation has been undertaken, with thousands of rainforest plants sourced from Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Rainforest Plant Nursery. Revegetation works have been carried out by our Daintree Land Manager, hundreds of volunteers, supporters and various staff over the years.

We’ve shared bits and pieces of the incredible transformation of this property over the past 10 years with pride and excitement. We always hoped that this enthusiasm would ignite your passion for rainforest restoration and inspire you to join us as rainforest rescuers. We believe it’s up to all of us to make a difference.

Now we can happily report that finally after years of hard work, sweat and tears, lot 46 is now fully restored and secured! Thanks to you and hundreds of other committed supporters, the loan that was taken out to secure Lot 46 has now been paid in full! A huge restoration and rescue success story that would never have been possible without your support and the support of hundreds of individuals who believed in this project.

We are incredibly proud of this project and we know that you are with us. It couldn’t have happened without supporters as passionate as we were. Together, we’ve nurtured and realized this jewel in the crown success story.

Next Steps – Not quite there: To finalize the process, we will need further support in order to strip all development rights from Lot 46 and ultimately apply for Nature Reserve Status. Once we achieve this, Lot 46, will proudly stand as part of the undeveloped lower Daintree Rainforest, becoming a significant habitat corridor for wildlife and biodiversity – Rainforest Protected Forever.

Rainforest Rescue supporter planting on Lot 46

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May 29, 2019
Lot 46 - the Land that Keeps Giving.

By Kristin Canning | Partnerships Manager

The reforested Lot 46 over time, from above

Everyone here at Rainforest Rescue doesn’t need any more proof that Lot 46 Cape Tribulation Rd, a 27 hectare (67 acres) property in the Daintree lowlands that is now reclaimed, restored and protected – thanks to YOU – is incredibly special.

However, it was quite wonderful to recently have a senior member of the Australian Government’s Department of Environment personally witness the comeback of this huge property at this year’s Tree Planting event in early May and comment on the tremendous success of this regeneration project. We removed so many tons of rubbish – from old cars and building materials to literally, rubbish – and put 50,000 trees in the ground to repair damaged rainforest. He said ‘everyone should be looking to this Project as a case study for regeneration…. it really is a remarkable contribution to the rainforest. More people should take your lead.’

We have pulled together the comparative images below to really highlight the impact that you have made – Thank You So Much! We are working to provide even more up to date aerial images, so we will be back in touch when we have them.

The images show the reforested area from above, over time and from the ground.

Just look at that rich, restored, thriving rainforest!

The support that you and others have provided for this project has been enormous, and year on year, we are so proud to show its progress to the world.

Recently attendees from the USA, from all across Australia and from the local community took a behind-the-scenes tour of Lot 46 with Rainforest Rescue’s Scientific Advisor, Dr. Robert Kooyman, as pictured below. Here Dr. Kooyman is pointing out different species within the restored property and as we toured the Land, Ulysses Butterflies fluttered through and there was abundant evidence of wildlife activity. Lot 46 is now home to many rare, endangered, vulnerable and threatened Daintree animals. And it is safe.

Thank you again for your support as we continue to foster the full restoration of this rainforest and achieve nature refuge status. Your ongoing support helps to make this possible.

We hope these progress reports make you feel great about the very real and tangible impacts you are having on protecting the unprotected Daintree lowland rainforest.

Warmest wishes for you and for the Rainforests,

The Rainforest Rescue Team

Lot 46's change from the ground

Dr Kooyman leading the tour on Lot 46

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Mar 4, 2019
Lot 46's Impact Reaches from Rainforest to Reef

By Kristin Canning | Partnerships Manager

The Daintree & GBReef - (c) Darren Jew

The Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef share a number of similarities, aside from their location. Both of these stunningly beautiful areas are blessed with significant levels of biodiversity. Both have life forms that exist nowhere else on the planet. Both are internationally recognised as remarkable and critically important ecosystems to protect – both for now and for the future.
We know that these two important ecosystems offer a great deal to the well being of their surrounding areas. But they also share a symbiotic relationship that is vitally important, and this relates to water - specifically to water quality. As Dr Robert Kooyman, Rainforest Rescue's Scientific Advisor states:

“Rainforest and reef are linked… by water. In the Daintree lowlands ancient trees hold aloft a continuous canopy that protects the land and soil… right to the fringe of stream and reef. Here, evolution is not a memory, it is alive and nurtured by clean, clear, water.”

On Lot 46 which YOU have helped us protect forever, there is a main creek that flows through to the Daintree River and then to the Great Barrier Reef.

The protection forever of this huge property and the fact that over 50,000 trees were planted here to regenerate this damaged land, continues to be a huge win not only for the Daintree lowands but also now, it is proven, to the Great Barrier Reef itself.

Recent water testing undertaken by Rainforest Rescue has found that by replanting trees to regenerate rainforest, we significantly reduce the amount of turbidity (sedimentation that flows from the property) when compared to neighbouring properties that are damaged and not restored. This is significant as turbidity measures the sediments in the water - which in turn stifle coral in the Reef.

So, your investment in Lot 46 has enabled yet another one of the Earth’s most beautiful ecosystems to be healthier as a result!

The growth of the trees at Lot 46 continues to be incredibly strong, and all seedlings and this property are safe despite major flooding in recent weeks.

Thank YOU so much for making this happen!

Dr Robert Kooyman in the Daintree

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