The time has well and truly come to heal the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and the land. 

For Australians, on January 26, each year our inescapable history resurfaces. For those of us who recognise the many injustices Aboriginal people have been subjected to since 1788, we are left asking how can we best respond.

Let’s give it back! Please, donate now to support the purchase and protection of Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest.

Healing the land, healing ourselves

For leadership most look to politicians, overlooking the potential we all have to create change. You and I can decide to heal the relationship both with Aboriginal people and with the land. We needn’t wait for politicians, nor rely on the processes they provide.

For Aboriginal people, connection to Country and the responsibility to care for Country is at the centre of their identity and when land is returned an enormous healing occurs. That’s why our purchase of land in the Daintree Rainforest for conservation has been planned to support the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.

Stronger Together - Protecting Bubu (Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country)

The Save the Daintree Rainforest program is achieved through a partnership with the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and fellow non-profit HalfCut. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation represents the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people, the Traditional Owners of the Daintree Rainforest. We recognise we are Stronger Together and have now acquired 20 Daintree properties to be protected and managed by the Kuku Yalanji people. This is how it works.

On the 29^th of September 2021 an historic handover of land occurred, seeing 160,108 hectares returned to the ownership of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. This included the Daintree National Park and the Ngalba-bulal, Kalkajaka, and Hope Islands national parks. In addition, an Indigenous Management Agreement was signed for the designation of these national parks as Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL). These national parks are now jointly managed by Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and the Queensland Government.

At the handover ceremony

The land we are purchasing for conservation is following the same process of being returned to Eastern Kuku Yalanji, added to Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL), and managed as part of the Daintree National Park. This ensures rock-solid, permanent protection of the land. The Queensland Government also provides funding for the employment of the Jabalbina Rangers and this ensures the properties we are acquiring are appropriately managed.

Let’s give it back! Please, donate now to support the purchase and protection of Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest. Read more about Lot 93 here. 

Our partnership was recognised in the 2021 Queensland Reconciliation Awards, winning the Premier’s Reconciliation Award and as winners in the Partnership category. The awards recognised our “unique partnership – the only formalised, non-Government program which purchases land for conservation to be owned and managed by its Traditional Owners”.

See the photographs of our Stronger Together partnership here.

2021 Queensland Reconciliation Awards

All environmental problems are based in the often troubled relationships we have with nature and with each other. Indeed, the harm we do to the natural world is preceded by the harm we do to each other.

We are now raising the funds necessary to purchase Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road at Diwan in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. This property has a 375 metre frontage with the exceptionally beautiful Hutchinson Creek. This will be the 21st property purchased for conservation through our partnership. Read more about Lot 93 here. 

We’ve taken many photographs of the property which you can see here.

This beautiful rainforest is deserving of protection. However, it was not included in the Daintree National Park declared in 1988 and it remains a freehold property zoned for development. Past governments have failed to protect this beautiful rainforest and now it’s up to you.

Let’s give it back! Please, donate now to support the purchase and protection of Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest.

Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest

Please, donate now to help purchase and protect Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Each $5.00 you donate will purchase and protect one sqm of the Lowland Daintree Rainforest.  

The time has well and truly come to heal the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and the land. 

Today, January 26^th 2022, I invite you to take your own personal step towards reconciliation. Be the change you want to see in the world.

To protect the Daintree Rainforest from the threat of development and heal the relationship with Eastern Kuku Yalanji and non-Aboriginal people, please support this important project to protect the rainforest at Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road. We’ve provided more information on our Frequently Asked Questions page.  

While others squabble and achieve little for reconciliation we needn’t let them distract us. By focusing on practical programs, we have saved 20 Daintree Rainforest Properties.

Please, donate now to support the purchase and protection of Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest.

Healing the land, healing our relationships. Please join us as we Save the Daintree Rainforest, for we are all Stronger Together.

Kelvin Davies

Founder, Rainforest 4 Foundation

P.S. If you have any questions about the purchase and protection of land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest or the Stronger Together partnership please see our answers to frequently asked questions or you can also call me during business hours at 0437 423 119.