Lot 505 Cedar Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, is now protected forever thanks to the generosity of donors from around Australia and the wonderful fundraising success of HalfCut 2021.

Kelvin Davies celebrating the protection of Lot 505 Cedar Road

The Rainforest 4 Foundation, working collaboratively with Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and non-profit partner HalfCut is delighted to be purchasing Lot 505 Cedar Road for conservation as it was a very high risk of being cleared for development.

HalfCut led the way with its annual challenge - HalfCut 2021. Everyday people from across Australia have shaved, braided, or cut half their hair to send a strong message that we need to protect the world’s rainforests – half of which have been cleared.

Thanks to these HalfCut Heroes we are investing $120,000 to purchase Lot 505 Cedar Road at Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.

Because this property is freehold land, it is a very high risk of clearing for rural residential development, which is exactly what has happened to many other nearby blocks in this area (one only a few hundred metres away). This is why we moved to secure Lot 505 as quickly as possible.

Kelvin Davies, the founder of the Rainforest 4 Foundation said "only now that funding has been secured can the purchase be finalised. Thank you to all the wonderful donors". 

Lot 505 Cedar Road in the Daintre Lowland Rainforest

“Lot 505 is covered in important vegetation, listed as being ‘of concern’, and it is known habitat for the endangered Cassowary.”

“With HalfCut’s contribution we will protect this block from clearing. That means we can eventually hand it back to Traditional Owners who will see that it is managed as part of the Daintree National Park estate.”

“We’re so thrilled that HalfCut has thrown their weight behind our efforts to buyback land in the Daintree Lowlands to be managed by its rightful owners, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.”

“Together we can ensure that the evolutionary processes that began in the Daintree 4.5 billion years ago continue undisrupted.”

Please see over 50 photos of Lot 505 here. 

HalfCut founders Jessica and Jimmy

Jimmy HalfCut and his partner Jess founded the non-profit that raises funds for rainforest projects in the Daintree.

“More than 50% of the world’s forests are gone,” Jimmy said. “We urgently need to save the other half.”

“Rainforests give us clean air, a stable climate and plants that produce medicine. They’re also home to thousands of unique animals that depend on their protection for survival.” 

“I’m thrilled that so many Australians have committed to go HalfCut this month and I’ve even more thrilled that our partnership with Rainforest 4 Foundation and Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation has ensured the protection of Lot 505 forever,” Jimmy said.

When we identify a lot at risk of development in the Daintree, we engage a professional ecologist to survey its conservation values. By doing so we ensure we are protecting the most significant plants and animals in this area.

Ecologist Kristopher Kupsch undertook a comprehensive survey on Lot 505 just two months ago. Kris quickly identified that this special block contains vegetation that has never experienced clear felling since European colonisation. He also identified some 117 native plant species. 

Daintree Foambark (Jagera madida) is one of those special plants found on site. A local, endemic tree, the Daintree Foambark occurs only in the lowland rainforests between Julatten (southwest of Port Douglas) and Bloomfield. It is identifiable by its pinkish, ferny new grown and often by its single, straight stem which seldom branches. Its trunk is often completely covered in lichen of various shades of grey.

The endemic Daintree Foambark (Jagera madida)

In addition, 12 species of native Laurel are found on the block. These trees produce fleshy fruits which are favoured by Cassowaries and many other bird species.

A feature of the property is the many large trees including, Grey Teak (Gmelina dalrympleana), Red Beech (Dillenia alata), Porcelain Fruit (Fagraea cambagei), Native Gardenias (Atractocarpus fitzalanii and A.sessilis) and Alligatorbark (Calophyllum sil).

As well as protecting the special plants and animals that live on Lot 505, this purchase also ensures connectivity across the landscape. Increased urbanisation around Cow Bay will further disrupt natural processes in the region by fragmenting habitat and creating edge effect. The core to edge ratio of the rainforest patches is integral in maintaining sound functioning forests.

Thanks to the incredible contribution of HalfCut’s growing community of rainforest champions, we’ve ensured Lot 505 is protected forever.

The settlement on the purchase of Lot 505 Cedar Road will occur on 18 of November 2021 in the name of the Rainforest 4 Foundation.

Stronger together - Three organisations are working to protect the Daintree Lowland Rainforest 

Please see over 50 photos of Lot 505 here. 

It will then 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.  

With the help of thousands of people, in Australia and around the world we've raised the funds needed to purchase 12 properties since June 2019. Now we are ready to save Lot 213 Teak Road in Cow Bay from the threat of development and all that is needed is your support.

Please, join me and make a donation to purchase and protect Lot 213 Teak Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.

For the Daintree Rainforest,

Kelvin Davies

Founder

Rainforest 4 Foundation

Phone: 0437 423 119

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

Lot 505 Cedar Road is located at Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. 

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