1,000 Trees for the Endangered Cassowary

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Location: Daintree Lowland Rainforest, Queensland, Australia

Action: Planting 1,000 trees on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road, Cow Bay, in the Daintree Rainforest

Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii)

Habitat: Lowland Tropical Rainforest

Total Cost of Project: $10,000

Fundraising update on the 17th of July 2023

Financial need: $10,000

Amount raised: $5,300

Remaining target: $4,700

The Southern Cassowary is a Threatened species.

With your help, we will plant 1,000 rainforest trees for the endangered Southern Cassowary in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and restore habitat where clearing has occurred in the past. This will help the rainforest recover from the impacts of fragmentation and increase habitat for Cassowaries and other wildlife. The cost of growing, planting, and maintenance for one tree is $10, so to establish 1,000 trees we need to raise $10,000.

The Southern Cassowary is now listed as 'Endangered' under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Loss of habitat is the number one reason the Southern Cassowary is listed as Endangered and now only 4,000 individuals remain in our Wet Tropical rainforest.

If we'd taken action sooner the Cassowary wouldn't be on the brink. Now the situation is urgent and we have to rapidly restore habitat.

The best time to plant a tree for the Endangered Southern Cassowary was 20 years ago. The second best time is today!

Please donate now to get this project growing. Every $10 will establish one tree and restore habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary. $20 will plant two trees. $50 will plant 5 trees and $200 will plant twenty trees for the Endangered Southern Cassowary.

The problem

The Southern Cassowary is listed as a Threatened species. This has come about through the loss and degradation of its rainforest habitat.

In 1982 the Queensland government approved a 1,136-lot rural residential subdivision in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest in Far North Queensland. Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road is one of these properties. The rainforest on this property was partially cleared in preparation for the construction of a house. Fortunately, the development never occurred and we have purchased the property, however, a large clearing remains.

Please donate now to get this project growing. Every $10 will establish one tree and restore habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary.

The Solution

We will establish 1,000 rainforest trees to restore the rainforest to Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road for Southern Cassowary.

From December 2022 to March 2023 we will:

Remove the weeds from Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road
Plant 1,000 rainforest trees
Then, for the next three years will care for the trees to ensure they all survive. This will involve eliminating competition by removing weeds that germinate on the site

The Southern Cassowary is now listed as 'Endangered' under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Loss of habitat is the number one reason the Southern Cassowary is listed as Endangered and now only 4,000 individuals remain in our Wet Tropical rainforest.

If we'd taken action sooner the Cassowary wouldn't be on the brink. Now the situation is urgent and we have to rapidly restore habitat.

The best time to plant a tree for the Endangered Southern Cassowary was 20 years ago. The second best time is today!

What type of trees are chosen?

Tree species selection is determined by an ecologist who chooses the appropriate native trees based on the rainforest type in this location. A mixed selection of native rainforest trees will be planted including many that produce fruits for the Southern Cassowary. The fruits of tropical rainforest plants represent 98% of their diet. Through managing the vegetation and controlling weeds we expect natural regeneration to occur and this will complement the planted trees.

An estimated 1,000 trees are needed to fill the gap in the canopy on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road. If donations exceed the requirements for this site we will plant them in other locations in the Daintree lowlands.

Please donate now to get this project growing. Every $10 will establish one tree and restore habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary.

Tree planting on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road will fill in the gaps

Have we done this before?

Yes, we are actively involved in the revegetation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and planted 1,000 trees on Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road in April 2022. Please read about the outcome here.

Tree planting on a Daintree property acquired for conservation

Are Indigenous and local communities involved?

We will achieve the outcomes of this project through our partnership with the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation. They represent the Traditional Owners of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the Kuku Yalanji people. The Jabalbina Rangers will help us to remove the weeds, dig the holes and plant the trees. We will invite local people to join us as volunteers in planting trees.

The Southern Cassowary is now listed as 'Endangered' under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Loss of habitat is the number one reason the Southern Cassowary is listed as Endangered and now only 4,000 individuals remain in our Wet Tropical rainforest.

If we'd taken action sooner the Cassowary wouldn't be on the brink. Now the situation is urgent and we have to rapidly restore habitat.

The best time to plant a tree for the Endangered Southern Cassowary was 20 years ago. The second best time is today!