Ecosystem Restoration Australia Project #9790

Purchase and Protect Forever Endangered Rainforest

by Rainforest Rescue

Purchase and Protect Forever Endangered Rainforest

Project Report | Dec 14, 2012
Small Nursery, Big Results

By Paul Medici | Project Development

Daintree Rainforest Nursery

Dear Friends,

Sometimes, Rainforest Rescue purchases properties that are in need of some restoration work. It's a good thing our Daintree Rainforest Nursery is in great hands. Please see the story below:

When it comes to taking credit for the Daintree Rainforest Plant Nursery’s extraordinary outputs, Nursery Manager Edie Beitzel shies away from the spotlight. But Edie and her small band of volunteers must be doing something right – they propagated 6,000 rainforest plants last year growing up to 165 different rainforest species.

“We have 10 volunteers on the books doing various tasks, and about four come along regularly each week. They come for an enjoyable afternoon. They like to see the progress, from the seed stage, through to when they are planted in the ground.

On a typical day, I prepare the volunteers essential afternoon tea, move stock out to make space for new propagations, update the database, it’s pretty varied and planting.

It’s a challenge to keep up the diversity of species.

For example, some species might only fruit every two years – so it’s timing things for when we need them. We have to ensure there are enough species for projects, keep enough balance. For Cassowaries, it’s supplying the trees that they need, so that there’s always something fruiting.

I’ve been doing this job for a bit over two years. It’s interesting, flexible, there is always something surprising… I love learning about the rainforest and working with the volunteers. I also have three kids and they love being part of it too.”

Thank you friends. We value your support and if you're in a position to give a Year-End Tax-Deductible donation to the project, we would greatly appreciate it. There is a lot of work to be done, but having your support is a blessing. Happy Holidays!

Cheers,

Paul

Edie and Joe

Peanut, cassowary chick

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Nov 28, 2012
A "LOT's" at Stake

By Paul Medici | Project Development

Sep 13, 2012
Twin Daintree Rainforest Properties Saved!

By Paul Medici | Project Development

Fan palms in the Daintree Rainforest

Twin Daintree properties protected forever

Two new rainforest properties have been purchased as part of Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project. Lot 83 Rosewood Road settled 19th January, 2012 and Lot 82 Rosewood Road settled 16th May, 2012. This brings the tally to 16 rescued properties.

"These blocks are located in Cow Bay, an area that we’ve been working towards protecting for more than a decade, and now it’s all coming together,” says Rainforest Rescue CEO & Founding Director Kelvin Davies.

"It's not only a win for the local wildlife and rainforest; it’s a win for our supporters. These people and businesses have given not only their time and money, but their trust. They’ve shown faith in our motivations and strategies for purchasing properties. They’ve trusted us to make decisions in the best interest of the Daintree Rainforest and future generations of Australians.”

Both properties purchased this year were ear-marked for development, but will now be protected forever.

"So what’s happened is, we’ve safeguarded an existing wildlife corridor from future development and fragmentation. Lots 82 and 83 connect with five other properties already purchased by Rainforest Rescue and increase the size of the Baralba Corridor Nature Refuge.

This corridor provides a vital link between two isolated parts of the Daintree National Park / World Heritage Area. It allows for the movement of wildlife such as the Endangered Cassowary… and it connects populations of plants, among them three vulnerable and 11 rare plant species,” says Kelvin.

Assigned by local Aboriginal people, the kuku yalanji, the name Baralba means ‘wildlife track’. “The biodiversity here is amazing,” says Kelvin. “I have seen Cassowaries in this area. It is a real hotspot for Cassowaries.”

Rainforest Rescue carefully chooses the properties it purchases andprotects following careful research into the conservation gains to be obtained. By strategically acquiring properties alongside one another we provide the habitat required for essential corridors for Cassowaries and other wildlife.

With each block purchased, regardless of size, further settlement in the Daintree is impacted; and it’s the settlement pressures of increased infrastructure, dogs and traffic that prove most devastating to local Cassowaries.

People settling in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest also bring garden plants that can invade the rainforest and become environmental weeds. We work to clear up these ‘garden escapees’ and keep on protecting more properties so that integrity is maintained and less settlement disturbs the Daintree.

The suite of native plants and animals on Lots 82 and 83 is diverse and well worth protecting. A fauna and flora study revealed the presence of over 137 different species of plants on the properties including locally significant rare and threatened species Haplostychanthus sp. Cooper Creek (rare), Normanbya normanbyi, Endiandra microneura (rare), Cleistanthus myrianthus (rare) and Hernandia albiflora. Both properties are classified as essential habitat for the Endangered Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999. Thanks Mates!! We're doing the work that needs to be done and we hope you will tell yourfamily and friends about our work. Take care!

Rainforest Rescue purchasing and protecting

No mailboxes here, just rainforest

A great cassowary

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