Another block in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest has been protected forever at Lot 21 Camelot Close at Cape Tribulation.

While we’ve purchased and protected more than a dozen properties in the last two years, this block, is something quite spectacular.

Lot 21 Camelot Close at Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest 

Kelvin Davies is the Founder of Rainforest 4 Foundation, and he described the rainforest on Lot 21 as “something to be seen to be believed.”

“This is one of the best examples of undisturbed Lowland Tropical Rainforest in Australia,” he said.

And now, thanks to hundreds of generous donors and supporters of HalfCut 2021, we’ve been able to buy this block to ensure it is never cleared for housing development. Settlement on the purchase can now occur on the 18th of October 2021. 

“This old-growth rainforest remains largely undisturbed by human activity. It is also set back from the coast and has not been impacted by cyclones,” Kelvin added.

“It has a very tall canopy with enormous trees throughout the block,” Kelvin said.

Kelvin Davies on Lot 21 Camelot Close in the Daintree Rainforest

The block’s many enormous tree specimens include Papuan Rosewoods, Cassowary Satinash, Cairns Hickory, Cairns Pencil Cedar, Tulip Oak, Spur Mahogany, Damson Plum and Northern Silky Oak.

Native Nutmeg dominates the mid-canopy with the understorey layer having many Walking Stick Palms, Glossy Laurel, Rambling Spearflower, Tapeinosperma, and the ubiquitous Rattan (Calamus spp.) thickets.

You can read more about the special plants and animals on Lot 21 Camelot Close here.

Lot 21 also has many examples of Hope’s Cycad. This species of Cycad is the largest growing in the world and was once utilised by Aboriginal people as a food source. It has evolutionary links dating back some 200 million years.

Hope's Cycad on Lot 21 Camelot Close in the Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is a living museum and Lot 21 Camelot Close is an important refuge for biodiversity. The undisturbed rainforest provides excellent habitat for the rare Bennetts Tree-kangaroo and there have been a number of sightings in recent years on or near the property. The property also provides excellent habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary.

While surveying the property our ecologist encountered a Boyd’s Forest Dragon (Lophosaurus boydii). This reptile is a species of arboreal agamid lizard only found in rainforests in the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland, Australia. Boyd's Forest Dragon spend the majority of their time perched on the trunks of trees, usually at around head height. Boyd's forest dragons are sit-and-wait predators, catching prey that they spy from their perches, although once on the ground, they will frequently move over a wider area, catching prey as they go.

 Boyd's Forest Dragon on Lot 21 Camelot Close in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

Jimmy and his partner Jess are the founders of HalfCut, and they said they were proud to be fundraising for such a significant rainforest block.

“We started HalfCut to raise awareness about the fact that half of the world’s forests have been destroyed,” Jess said.

“When we heard that Lot 21 had some of the most intact and undisturbed Lowland Rainforest in Australia, we knew we had to help ensure it was never cleared.”

“People assume that the Daintree is already protected, but that’s not the case. We’ve seen properties being cleared for houses every time we’ve visited. We can’t allow that to continue to happen.”

Jimmy HalfCut on Lot 21 in the Daintree Rainforest 

In 1988 the Daintree National Park was expanded and was included in the Wet Tropics Work Heritage Area. This should have seen the rainforest at Lot 21 Camelot Close protected forever. However, two-thirds of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the land between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation had been carved up for a rural residential subdivision in 1982 and was excluded from World Heritage listing. 

With the help of HalfCut and their thousands of donors, we’ve now ensured that Lot 21 Camelot Close and its special plants and animals are protected forever. Lot 21 is the 14^th property we’ve protected in the Daintree over the past two years.

It’s not just this block’s immense beauty and undisturbed nature which made it a priority for purchase and protection.

A survey is to be undertaken to document the cultural values of the Traditional Owner, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. The property will also be added to the Daintree National Park estate to be managed by the Jabalbina Rangers on behalf of the Traditional Owners.

“We cannot thank donors and supporters enough for this huge contribution to rainforest conservation and support for the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people,” Kelvin said.

Lot 21 Camelot Close at Cape Tribulation will be protected and managed as part of the Daintree National Park estate. This will occur through our established process, whereby the properties acquired by the Rainforest 4 Foundation are then transferred to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Land Trust where they are managed by the Traditional Owners, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji as part of the Daintree National Park and Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL) estate. 

In 2007, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji signed a series of Indigenous Land Use Agreements with the Queensland Government. These agreements recognise Eastern Kuku Yalanji's rights to be custodians and managers of their traditional country. Under these agreements, Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will be involved in managing Daintree National Park. The Queensland Government provides funding to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation to co-manage the Daintree National Park and this includes the properties acquired through our buyback program.  

Lot 21 Camelot Close in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

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