We have an opportunity to buy a Daintree Rainforest property for only $25,000. Lot 390 Maple Road, Cow Bay is 1 ha in size and is covered by tropical rainforest. Buying and protecting this property will be a fantastic outcome for conservation as it connects to the Daintree National Park. A survey by ecologist Kristopher Kupsch found it to be an ideal habitat for Cassowaries.  

FUNDRAISING FOR THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 2019 AND SETTLEMENT ON THE PROPERTY PURCHASE WILL OCCUR IN MARCH 2020. 

Project snapshot

Location: Queensland, Australia

Purchase of Lot 305 Cypress Road, Cow Bay

Area: 1 hectare 

Price per hectare: $25,000 ($2.50 per sqm)

Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary, Ant Plant, Noahs Walnut, Climbing Pandanus Thornton Aspen

Habitat: Lowland tropical rainforest with endangered Fan Palm ecosystem RE 7.3.7.

Threats: Development for housing, domestic dogs, weeds

Lot 305 Cypress Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest - Picture by Steven Nowakowski

Lot 305 Cypress Road, Cow Bay is 1 ha in size and is completely covered by tropical rainforest. Buying and protecting this property will be a fantastic outcome for conservation. It connects to the Daintree National Park, is in pristine condition and is vital habitat for the Endangered Cassowary.

Buying land in this location helps us to wind back the impacts of the disastrous 1980’s rural residential subdivision. We are focusing our efforts on Cow Bay as scientists have identified this area as being the highest priority for conservation. It has some of the highest levels of biodiversity and the highest densities of Cassowaries in Australia. 

Through our Land Purchase to Save the Daintree National Park project, we are buying land and adding properties to the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area and are helping to preserve critical Cassowary habitat. 

Following the purchase of this property, it will be gifted to the Queensland Government for inclusion in the Daintree National Park. 
Lot 305 Cypress Road is a freehold property that was zoned by the Douglas Shire Council as suitable for development. The property is 1 ha in size (10,000 sqm). With a purchase price of $25,000.

Prior to making a commitment to purchase of Lot 305 Cypress Road in Cow Bay we wanted to be reassured of its conservation values.

A vegetation survey was undertaken of Lot 305 Cypress Road, Cow Bay on the 2nd of September 2019 by ecologist and botanist Kristopher Kupsch. He found the vegetation to be remnant (not regrowth or disturbed) with a well development intact assemblage of 145 native species.

The vegetation Regional Ecosystem (RE) mapping by The Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Herbarium is mostly consistent with the site appraisal and much of the vegetation on Lot 305 is Fan Palm dominated tropical rainforest. This is classified as closed forest RE 7.3.7. and the Queensland Government has listed this vegetation type as “Endangered” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999. The Queensland government indicates “very little of this habitat (RE 7.3.7) remains” with an estimated 9,000 hectares prior to clearing and 1,000 hectares remaining in 2017. This Fan Palm dominated vegetation type solely occurs between Cardwell and Cape Tribulation and what remains, less than half is within reserves.

Thank you to the generous donors who funded the purchase and protection of this Daintree Rainforest Property.

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

Lot 305 Cypress Road in the Daintree Rainforest - Photo by Steven Nowakowski

Ecologist Kristopher Kupsch surveyed Lot 390 Maple Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and found an ideal habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary.  

You’ve answered our call to help buyback Lot 305 Cypress Road in the Daintree Rainforest! On the 14th of November, we launched our crowdfunding campaign and just ten days later we’ve reached the $25,000 target. 

The buyback of all undeveloped freehold properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest is needed to fulfill our vision. Not only do we want to see no further development, we want the negative impacts of the rural residential subdivision to be reversed.

When we grow more rainforest trees, we see better outcomes for wildlife, climate, people and the planet. This is second nature to Santos Organics, the environmental not-for-profit organisation who for 45 years has been empowering people and communities to live in a healthy and sustainable way.

Incredible Biodiversity at Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive revealed as ecological survey identifies 230 species of plants. 

Help save Lot 3 in the Daintree Rainforest for only $75,000

Please donate now. A donation of $25 will purchase and protect five sqm of the Daintree Rainforest. 

We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions on the purchase and protection of Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. 

On the 30^th of May, we set out to buy Lot 107 Buchanan Creek Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of people in Australia and a few from New Zealand, England, Canada, and the USA, we reached our goal of raising $25,000!!