We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions on the purchase and protection of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road, Diwan in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
A developer created 1,100 blocks in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Isn’t the Daintree protected in a National Park and World Heritage Area?
Two-thirds of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest was excluded from inclusion in the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area that was declared in 1988. In the mid-1980s a pro-development Queensland State Government rezoned leasehold and freehold in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, enabling a developer to subdivide it into 1,137 blocks. This resulted in the building of over 50 km of roads and the clearing and development of high conservation value rainforest for housing. The freehold land between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation has World Heritage values and should be protected in the Daintree National Park.
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Why is the Daintree important?
The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is the oldest rainforests on Earth, having existed continuously for over 120 million years. It holds exceptionally high biodiversity and conservation value and is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest remaining in Australia. Rainforests once covered much of Australia, however, as conditions became drier the rainforest contracted to remnants along the east coast. The flora of the Daintree contains an almost complete record of the evolution of plant life on Earth, including extremely ancient flowering plant families found nowhere else. The Daintree Lowland Rainforestalso provides a refuge for many unique species of fauna including the Southern Cassowary, Bennett’s Tree-kangaroo, and Musky Rat-kangaroo.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature had this to say about the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. “Within the region, the Daintree River to Cape Tribulation coast has a special status. It is the last surviving, essentially intact, tropical lowland rainforest in Australia. It has one of the highest diversity of plant families anywhere in the world. Its rarity, fame and superlative beauty make it one of the foundations of the region’s economy. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Areas meet.” - IUCN
What are the threats to the Daintree Rainforest?
Since the 1980’s there has been constant pressure applied to further develop the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. This includes calls for a bridge over the Daintree River, upgrading of roads, and the supply of mains electricity. This would only create conditions supportive of further inappropriate development. There are currently 207 undeveloped freehold properties with development rights in the Daintree lowlands. Building more houses on these properties would further fragment the rainforest and for that reason, further buyback of land is needed.
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Reversing the impacts of development.
To fulfill our vision of the conservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest requires the buyback of all undeveloped freehold properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Not only do we want to see no further development, but we also want the negative impacts of the rural residential subdivision to be reversed. We aim to purchase as many properties as we can and add them to the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area, as this will provide the highest available level of protection.
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What about Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road?
Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road is a freehold property created through the subdivision of land in the 1980s. The current owner is an Australian living overseas and they approached the Rainforest 4 Foundation in July 2020 expressing an interest in selling the property and negotiations on the price and terms and conditions then commenced. We are grateful that they have given us an option to purchase this land so we can add it to the Daintree National Park. Buying and protecting Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road will be a fantastic outcome for conservation as several other nearby properties have already been purchased for conservation including Lot 155 Cape Tribulation Road.
It will also support the Traditional Owners of Daintree Rainforest, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama (people). Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation represents the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama and they employ rangers who manage Indigenous Protected Areas and work in partnership with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on national parks management. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Rainforest 4 Foundation are reducing further ecological and cultural degradation of country in the Daintree Rainforest and consulted on the acquisition of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road. This property will be of benefit to Bama as it will provide a site for meetings and cultural activities. The purchase of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road will help Bama address concerns including - Not being on Bubu (Country), Culture losing strength (not being passed on), Kuku (language) losing strength, Cultural heritage sites jirmbal, not being protected, Inappropriate development and Visitors not respecting Bubu and Bama.
Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest - Pic Steven Nowakowski
Natural values of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road
Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road has exceptional natural values. Ecologist and botanist Kristopher Kupsch surveyed Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest over two days in September 2020. He found 270 species of native plants on the 8.0937 hectares.
Twelve plant species found on Lot 157 are listed on the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (NCA) 1992 and one species is on both the NCA and the National Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).
Significant species found during survey:
- Mueller’s Oak (Austromuellera trinervia) NCA 1992: Near Threatened
- China Camp Laurel (Beilschmiedia castrisinensis) NCA 1992: Near Threatened
- Native Spiral Ginger (Cheilocostus potierae) NCA: Endangered
- Russell River Lime (Citrus inodora) NCA: Vulnerable
- Dioclea (Dioclea hexandra) NCA: Vulnerable
- Cooper Creek Walnut (Endiandra cooperana) NCA: Endangered, EPBC: Endangered
- Gray’s Walnut (Endiandra grayi) NCA: Vulnerable
- Noahs Walnut (Endiandra microneura) NCA: Near Threatened
- Climbing Pandanus (Freycinetia percostata) NCA: Vulnerable
- Daintree Mesua (Mesua larnachiana) NCA: Vulnerable
- Daintree Ryparosa (Ryparosa kurrangii) NCA: Near Threatened
- Forest Flame (Strongylodon lucidus) NCA: Near Threatened
There are two vegetation types on Lot 157 which reflect two different soil types.
Much of the vegetation on Lot 157 is classified as Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10a “Mesophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. This vegetation type is categorised by the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management as primary habitat for the Southern Cassowary. The Queensland Government indicates a pre-clearing extent of 60,000 hectares existed and today 14,000 hectares remain of RE 7.3.10a. Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10a is listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.
The Queensland government specifically states that this vegetation type has “Special Values” being: “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 second vegetation type occurring in the western undulating portions of Lot 157 is RE 7.11.24c: Areas of mesophyll to notophyll vine forest suffering from extreme wind damage where at least half the canopy has been destroyed. Foothills of coastal metamorphic ranges (excluding amphibolite), often steep and exposed. This forest type RE 7.11.24c is also listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999. The Queensland government indicates there is 6,000 ha hectares remaining in 2017.
The Queensland government specifically states that this vegetation type has “Special Values” being: “Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Austromuellera trinervia, Endiandra microneura, Euodia pubifolia”. Both A.trinervia and E.microneura were identified on Lot 157.
The high diversity ~270 species and the presence of 12 species listed on a state conservation legislation and 5 species which are locally significant, highlights the refugial endemism of the rainforest on Lot 157.
The flora survey also identified 23 exotic species on Lot 157. They will be removed once the property is acquired and managed for conservation.
The Southern Cassowary was observed during the survey with a Male and two recently hatched chicks seen walking through the rainforest. Many food plants for the Cassowary are present on the lot in the form of Laurels (Lauraceae), Mahogany (Meliaceae) and several species of Figs, Palms, and fleshy Myrtaceous plants.
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Rainforest stream at Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road
Will I be able to visit the property?
Yes, we want donors and supporters to see the rainforest they are helping to purchase and protect. We will provide more information on visitation once we've purchased the property.
The Douglas Shire Council has approved this property as a commercial picnic ground and in the past, it was visited by a tour company. The guests had lunch under the marquee and experienced the three 20 minute rainforest walking trails:
- River loop circuit
- Cycad forest trail including a 17 metre Hopes Cycad
- Cascading waterfall and rock pool trail
This infrastructure will be retained and this will enable us to provide opportunities for donors and supporters to visit the property.
- Canvas marquee, cyclone rated picnic shelter (galvanised with colourbond roof), picnic tables and water tank and guest composting eco-toilets
This property is zoned for commercial and residential development (subject to development approval from the Douglas Shire Council) and its purchase will prevent it from being inappropriately developed for housing or redeveloped for commercial use. We will keep the existing low key infrastructure.
What about neighboring properties?
Number 2223 Cape Tribulation Road, Diwan, Queensland, Australia. Lot 157 RP 738595. Diwan is approximately 15 kilometers north of the Daintree River (Forest Creek) and 21 kilometers south of Cape Tribulation. Some of the freehold properties at Diwan were created thought the 1980s rural residential subdivision including Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road, while other properties were farms that were carved out of the rainforest in the 1960s.
Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road and nearby properties at Diwan
How are the Traditional Owners involved?
The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people (Bama) are the owners of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Their country (Babu) runs along the East Coast of Far North Queensland and it includes land and sea between Port Douglas and just south of Cooktown. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji has a rich cultural identity and strong spiritual connection to Daintree Rainforest.
In 2007, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people signed a series of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) with the Queensland Government and other bodies. These agreements recognise Eastern Kuku Yalanji's rights to be custodians and managers of their traditional country. Under one of these ILUAs Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will be more involved in managing Daintree National Park.
The Indigenous peoples on Cape York Peninsula and the Queensland Government are negotiating the ownership and management of national parks. Since commencing in 2008, the Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program has handed back almost 3.5 million hectares of land to an Aboriginal Corporation or Land Trust and there are now 26 jointly managed national parks on Cape York Peninsula. Discussions with Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama commenced in 2017.
Key features of jointly managed national parks include:
- National park land is owned by an Aboriginal land holding entity (either an Aboriginal Corporation or Land Trust).
- Decisions about park management are made jointly by the Aboriginal land holding entity and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
- Work on the park is undertaken by the Aboriginal land holding entity in partnership with QPWS.
The Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program may result in the Eastern Kuku Yalanji and Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation managing the Daintree National Park and Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road in the future.
The Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation has added additional information on the Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program here.
The Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation represents the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama in the management of Bubu. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and the Rainforest 4 Foundation have a partnership agreement to purchase and protect land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation has an established relationship with the Queensland Government and manages the acquisition of land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and the transfer of the title to the Queensland Government for inclusion in the Daintree National Park.
Please make a donation now online.
Kuku Yalanji Bama with Kelvin Davies of Rainforest 4 Foundation | Photo by Steven Nowakowski
Who will own the land?
The property will be acquired by the Rainforest 4 Foundation. We are registered with the Australian Government as a nonprofit organisation and our constitution restricts our purpose to rainforest conservation. We are also registered with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Once we acquire the property we will immediately commence working to transfer the property into the Daintree National Park. As the Daintree National Park is a World Heritage Area and this provides the highest available level of protection. We will need to pay rates to the Douglas Shire Council until the property is added to the national park. Negotiations with the Queensland Government on the inclusion of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road can only be conducted with the owners of the property. The Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation will assist us and manage the transfer of the title for the land to the Queensland Government. The process of purchasing the property and transferring it into the national parks estate will likely take up 12 months. At that time the property title will be rescinded.
Please make a donation now online.
Has this type of buyback been done successfully before now?
Yes, in the past twelve months, we have purchased six properties for inclusion in the Daintree National Park. The most recent purchase was Lot 155 Cape Tribulation Road at Diwan in November 2020.
Since 1992, non-profit organisations have purchased seventy-five properties for conservation. The Douglas Shire Council, Queensland, and Australian governments have all contributed financially to the purchase or ‘buyback’ of freehold land aimed at preventing further development and in reversing the impacts of the subdivision, however, now all three levels of government say they won't make any further commitment to supporting the purchase and protection of more freehold land, even though the threat of development remains.
Can you trust the Queensland Government to protect the Daintree National Park?
Many people are critical of the Queensland Government’s position on environmental issues, for example, their support for Adani’s Carmichael Coal Mine, and some have asked if the Queensland Government can be trusted to protect the land forever. While nothing is guaranteed we can be reassured by the Queensland Government’s track record related to the Daintree National Park.
In 1982 the Queensland Government approved a rural residential subdivision of 1,137 properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. At this time the National Party was in power in Queensland and the Premier was Joh Bjelke-Petersen. The demographics of the Queensland population has changed significantly since the 1980s' and an ultra-conservative pro-development government is unlikely to return as the gerrymander that kept the National party and Joh Bjelke-Petersen in power from 1967 to 1987 has now been abolished.
The Daintree National Park is a World Heritage Area, and this provides the highest level of protection for land in Australia. Since the declaration of the Daintree National Park in 1988, the Queensland Government has ensured land in the national park has been protected.
They have also made additions to the national park estate. The conservation of the properties we are acquiring aligns with the Queensland Government plan for the conservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. The land acquired for the Daintree National Park has been protected.
The current Queensland Government says they will not commit any more money to the acquisition of freehold land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, however, we can see the Queensland Government has contributed to the conservation of the Daintree in the following ways.
- In the early 1990s, the Queensland Government introduced a policy preventing the extension of mains electricity north of the Daintree River. This remains in place today.
- In 1993 the Australian and Queensland governments funded the Daintree Rescue Program providing $23 million. $11 million was used to purchase 83 properties totaling 1,640ha for their natural values. The remaining funds were used for management purposes such as visitor facilities.
- In 2004 the Douglas Shire Council placed a moratorium on development while a new planning scheme was developed. This ultimately placed limits on development in specified areas north of Alexandra Range and removed development rights from 350 freehold properties. Between 2006-2008 the Queensland State Government created the Daintree Buyback Scheme to purchase land impacted by the Douglas Shire Council planning scheme. Landholders were given the option to sell to the state government or be compensated for the loss of development rights. The Queensland government provided $15 million and 330 properties were acquired for the Daintree National Park estate.
The properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest will be acquired by the Rainforest 4 Foundation (ABN 49 628 358 323). We are registered with the Australian Government (ASIC) as a Company Limited by Guarantee (a non-profit organisation) and with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC). Our Constitution details that we must use all money raised for charitable purposes. Our constitution restricts our activities to rainforest conservation activities. Once we acquire the property we will immediately commence working to transfer the property into the Daintree National Park. As the Daintree National Park is a World Heritage Area and this provides the highest available level of protection. The Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation will assist us and manage the transfer of the title for the land to the Queensland Government. The process of purchasing the property and transferring it into the national park estate takes up 12 months. At that time the property title will be rescinded.
Please make a donation now online.
Daintree Lowland Rainforest | Photo by Steven Nowakowski
What about the risk of bushfires?
The risk of fires in this location is extremely low as this is one of the wettest places in Australia. The vegetation on Lot 157 is classified as Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10a “Mesophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. Ecologists for the Queensland Government have also made these fire management guidelines for Lowland tropical rainforest classified as regional ecosystem 7.3.10a Simple-complex mesophyll to mesophyll vine forest. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately.
How will it be purchased?
Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road will be acquired in the same manner as other freehold properties in Australia. A contract for sale has been exchanged, a deposit paid and a settlement date set. The purchaser and the seller will both have a conveyancer acting on their behalf.
As a charity, we are providing the opportunity for people to make donations to support the purchase and protection of land. We are unable to structure an opportunity for people to be joint owners, to have a share, or to have their name on the title.
Matching Gift Challenge
Your donation to support the purchase of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road will be matched 100%.
Now you can save twice as much of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Thanks to a generous donor your gift to help purchase Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road will be matched dollar for dollar up to $200,000.
Please, make a donation now to double your impact and for the Daintree Rainforest.
How much will it cost?
The acquisition of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road will cost $404,685. With the matching gift, this represents a price of $2.50 per sqm and represents exceptional value for your investment in rainforest conservation. This includes all the acquisition costs such as conveyancing, and local government rates for two years by which time the property will be gifted to the Queensland Government for inclusion in the Daintree National Park and rates will not apply. We are exempt from government transfer fees (stamp duty).
Lot 157 is a similar size to Lot 155 Cape Tribulation Road which we purchased earlier in 2020, however, it has a higher purchase price. This is partly due to a large part of Lot 155 being inaccessible due to the presence of crocodiles and Lot 157 be of a slightly higher elevation. Lot 157 also has the infrastructure to support visitation as described above.
What happens if the target is exceeded?
All monies raised in excess of $404,685 will go straight towards the purchase of an additional property. There are another 170 properties we would like to purchase and protect.
If the fundraising target is not achieved what will happen to my donation?
All funds raised will be spent on Daintreee land purchase and protection. We have been successful in purchasing land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest for conservation six times in the past twelve months. We feel confident in reaching the fundraising target for Lot 157. If it did occur that we didn't reach the target of $404,685 for Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road we would use the money raised to buy a cheaper property and there is one available now for $110,000.
We want to be successful, now and into the future, so we carefully choose the properties we want to purchase for conservation. We have a plan to reach the fundraising target needed to buy each property. We purchase them one at a time, we space out the acquisitions and we give consideration to the total cost and the success of past fundraising. Of course, nothing is guaranteed and if we are unable to reach the target for a specified property purchase the donated monies will be used for a future land purchase in the Daintree Rainforest, or if necessary for other conservation projects in the Daintree Rainforest, for example, planting trees. The Rainforest 4 Foundation is registered with the Australian Charites and Non-for-profits Commission and we are required to only spend the donations we receive on the cause as specified in our constitution.
Please make a donation now online.
How can I make a donation to purchase and protect Lot Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest?
You can make a donation now online.
Ways to Donate
If you want to donate with a cheque/money order or through a direct deposit, please see our Ways to Donate page.
Cheque or Money Order:
You can donate by sending a cheque or money order made out to the Bunya Sustainability Fund to 27 Tuckeroo Avenue, Mullumbimby, NSW 2482.
PayPal:
You can donate using your PayPal account on our website.
You can send your donation to [email protected]
Direct Deposit: If you would like to donate by direct deposit, the account details are:
Bank: ANZ Bank
Account Name: Bunya Sustainability Fund
BSB: 012 742
Account No. 2093 50036
If you contribute by direct deposit, please send an email to [email protected] with the details of the amount and any preference you have for supporting a project. Please also provide your name and postal address so we can issue a receipt.
CASH DONATIONS:
You can make cash deposits at any branch of the ANZ Bank or their agents. The account details are:
Bank: ANZ Bank
Account Name: Bunya Sustainability Fund
BSB: 012 742
Account No. 2093 50036
If you contribute by a cash deposit, please send an email to [email protected] with the details of the amount and any preference you have for supporting a project. Please also provide your name and postal address so we can issue a receipt.
Where is the Daintree Rainforest?
The Daintree Rainforest is a large area of tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland that extends from Mossman Gorge (80km north of Cairns) to Cape Tribulation (110km north of Cairns). It includes large areas of rainforest-clad mountains. Between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, the rainforest is continuous from the mountain to the sea and when many people speak of the Daintree, they are often referring to this area, which is known as the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Please make a donation now online.
Can I visit the Daintree Rainforest?
Yes, it's quite easy to visit the Daintree Lowland Rainforest as tourism is established. You can make a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas or stay for as long as you like. There are many tour operators in the Daintree Rainforest tourism business that you can find online. Self-drive tourism is also very popular and the land we are purchasing for conservation is easily accessed by a 2WD vehicle.
Please make a donation now online.
About the Rainforest 4 Foundation
The Rainforest 4 Foundation is an Australian Company Limited by Guarantee (the legal structure of an Australian nonprofit organisation. We are registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (the Australian company regulator).
We are also registered with the Australian Charites and Not-for-profits Commission (the Australian charity regulator).
Australian Company Number (ACN): 628358323
Australian Business Number (ABN): 49628358323
If you have any questions about the purchase and protection of Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road please contact us or call Kelvin Davies on 0437 423 119.
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