The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is the oldest rainforests on Earth and contains exceptionally high biodiversity. This was confirmed once again by ecologist Kristopher Kupsch as he surveyed Lot 330 Cape Tribulation Road to ensure it was a priority for purchase and inclusion in the Daintree National Park. 

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Location: Daintree Lowland Rainforest, Queensland, Australia
Action: Road Closure and Revegetation

Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary, Bennetts Tree-kangaroo, between November 2018 and April. 
Habitat: Lowland Tropical Rainforest
Threats: Development, domestic dogs, weeds, illegal camping and dumping
Our Partner: Daintree Life
Total Cost of Project: $60,000

In the mid-1980’s the Queensland government approved an 1,100 lot rural residential subdivision in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest in Far North Queensland. This resulted in two-thirds of the rainforest being excluded from protection in the Daintree National Park and Wet Tropics World Heritage Area that was declared in 1988. The development that followed resulted in the construction of over 50 km of roads and the building of hundreds of houses. Through successful land buyback programs that began in 1992, some of these roads can now be closed as all of the surrounding lands have been purchased and added to the Daintree National Park.

Between November 2018 and April 2019, five service roads in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest were permanently closed and revegetated with the planting of 4,692 trees, This was supported by the Douglas Shire Council. The planting also helped heal gaps or ‘scars’ in the rainforest canopy and as the rainforest trees grow they'll provide habitat for wildlife including the Southern Cassowaries, Bennett’s Tree-kangaroos, between November 2018 and May 2019.  and Boyd’s Forest Dragons. 

Service Road 1 (DL043B south). Before: Site prepared and ready for planting in November 2018.

During. Volunteers planting out this service road.

After: 1,146 trees successfully established. 

 Service Road 2 (DL042A). Planted in January 2019 with 1,060 trees.

 Service Road 3 (DL042B) Planted in January 2019 with 760 trees.

 Service Road 4 (DL042D South). Planted in January 2019 with 181 trees. 

Service Road 4 (DLO43A North) Planted in January 2019 with 560 trees. 

Service Road 5 (DL042C). Planted in April 2019 with 985 trees. 

Threat to Wildlife, Climate People and Planet

The creation of a network of roads in the 1980’s to support development in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest was an ecological disaster. Settlement of some of these properties have fragmented the rainforest, introduced exotic plants that have become weeds and domestic dogs and traffic that are a threat to wildlife. Land purchase in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest for conservation has been occurring since 1993 and hundreds of properties have been acquired by nonprofit organisations and governments. The purchase of a significant number of strategically located properties has made some roads obsolete and we can now begin closing and revegetate roads that are no longer required and wind back these negative impacts of development. It will also restore rainforest habitat for wildlife including the Southern Cassowaries, Spectacled Flying-fox, Striped Possums, Bennetts Tree-kangaroos and Musky Rat-kangaroos. Other benefits from the road closure and revegetation include improved tourism amenity, cessation illegal dumping and camping and removal of the burden on Douglas Shire Council of costly maintenance.

The Solution

We are closing and revegetating unused service roads. This will help create a buffer for the Daintree National Park and increase habitat for wildlife. 

Project partners

Our partners, Daintree Life managed the planting of the trees and will also undertake maintenance for three years to ensure they survive and thrive. All of the trees are propagated from seeds sourced from nearby trees and the planting is designed to achieve canopy closure to exclude weeds.

The Douglas Shire Council has approved the closure of these service roads.  

Rainforest 4 Foundation and the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation are working together to ensure land purchased for conservation is protected in the Daintree National Park and will be managed by the Traditional Owners. 

LAND PURCHASE TO SAVE THE DAINTREE - LOT 124 Quandong Road

Location: Queensland, Australia
Action: Purchase of Lot 124 Quandong Road, Cow Bay
Area: 1 hectare

Price per hectare: $25,000 ($2.50 per sqm)
Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary,   
Habitat: Lowland tropical rainforest classified as regional ecosystem 7.11.1a Mesophyll vine forest

Threats: Development for housing, domestic dogs, weeds

PURCHASE OF LOT 124 Quandong Road, Cow Bay

Through the support of 271 amazing donors, we raised the $25,000 required for the purchase of the property on the 3rd of March 2020. Thank you to everyone who donated to ensure this special Daintree property is added to the Daintree National Park! You’ve joined with others to achieve a fantastic outcome for endangered wildlife. Lot 124 Quandong Road, Cow Bay is 1 ha in size and is covered by tropical rainforest. Buying and protecting this property is a fantastic outcome for conservation as it connects to the Daintree National Park and it provides vital habitat for the Endangered Southern Cassowary and the rare Bennetts Tree-kangaroo. 

The settlement on the purchase of Lot 124 Quandong Road occurred on the 24^th of March 2020. We've now begun the process to transfer the property to the Queensland Government for inclusion in the Daintree National Park will begin. The Rainforest 4 Foundation and the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation are working together to achieve this outcome. 

We launched this appeal with our friends at HalfCut, an organisation that reminds us that we’ve lost half of the world’s rainforest and we’ve got to save what’s left. Thank you, Jimmy and Jess and all of the team and supporters of HalfCut for the wonderful effort in raising funds for the purchase of Lot 124 Quandong Road.  

Lot 124 Quandong Road, Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

Thank you to the generous donors who funded the purchase and protection of this Daintree Rainforest property. Please learn more about our project Land Purchase to Save the Daintree here

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We asked if you wanted Lot 124 in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest added to the national park and your answer was yes! On the 10^th of January we began fundraising to buyback this special rainforest property and fifty-three days later we’ve reached the $25,000 target. Thank you!!

Thanks to the generosity of our donors we've purchased and protected Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. This will ensure the threatened species and incredible biodiversity are protected forever. This property purchase was funded by 220 donors and demonstrates that Australians are willing to put their money where their heart is to save the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.

Lot 124 Quandong Road has essential habitat for the Endangered Cassowary and needs to be purchased and added to the Daintree National Park!  

We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions on the purchase and protection of Lot 124 Quandong Road, Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.  

On the 24^th of November, we set out to raise the funds to buy Lot 390 Maple Road in Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of people in Australia and around the world we reached our goal of raising $25,000! Settlement on the purchase of Lot 390 maple Road occurred on Monday the 23rd of February 2020.