Daintree Buyback Lot 155 Purchase and Protection

Lot 155 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest

Purchase of Lot 155 Cape Tribulation Road 

Thank you to the generous donors who funded the purchase and protection of this Daintree Rainforest Property. We identified this freehold property in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest as one that should be included in the Daintree National Park and we negotiated directly with the owner to obtain a suitable price and terms and conditions. Fundraising for this property commenced in June 2020 and was achieved in August. 

Much of the vegetation on Lot 155 is classified as Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10a “Mesophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. Lowlands of the very wet and wet zone” with the eastern area of Lot 155 having Regional Ecosystem 7.3.28a “Open water within natural non-tidal rivers. Rivers and creeks. Riverine wetland or fringing riverine wetland”.

RE 7.3.10a is listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999. This vegetation type is categorised as Primary habitat for the Southern Cassowary by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM QLD).

A comment on the special values of Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10a by The Queensland Government: “Small areas on the very wet lowlands, especially between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, harbour plant species which are extremely restricted and uncommon. Many areas of this ecosystem are considered refugial in nature and are local centres of endemism. Many representatives of primitive families of flowering plants are present, including the monotypic family Idiospermaceae. The ecosystem is the habitat for many threatened plant species”.

The Queensland Government indicates a pre-clearing extent of 60,000 ha existed and today 14,000 ha remains of RE 7.3.10.

Regional Ecosystem 7.3.28a is also listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999. This vegetation type is dominated by ponded water. The Queensland Government indicates a pre-clearing extent of 8,000 ha existed and today 7,000 ha remains of RE 7.3.28

Kristopher Kupsch surveying the plants in the Daintree Rainforest - Pic by Steven Nowakowski

Kelvin Davies with the Archidendron - Pic by Steven Nowakowski

The Archidendron or Lace Flower (Archidendron ramiflorum) grows as a slender understory tree. It is endemic to North East Queensland and produces white powder-puff flowers from the trunk. This one was found while surveying plants on Lot 155 Cape Tribulation Road.

You can learn more about our project Land Purchase to Save the Daintree here. 

Please make a donation now to help purchase the next Daintree Rainforest property.