Lake Barrine - 1,000 Trees for the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Location: Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia

Action: Planting 1,000 rainforest trees at Barrine Park Nature Refuge, Lake Barrine

Threatened Species: Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo

Habitat: Tropical Rainforest

Total Cost of Project: $10,000

Fundraising update on the 29th of May 2023

Financial need: $10,000

Amount raised: $6,200

Remaining target: $3,800

Please donate now to keep this project growing. 

With your help, we will restore land on the Atherton Tablelands where clearing has occurred in the past. We will establish 1,000 trees to create a corridor between the Lake Barrine section of the Crater Lakes National Park and Wooroonooran National Park. The site where the trees will be established is the Barrine Park Nature Reserve.

The cost of growing, planting, and maintenance for one tree is $10 per tree, so to establish 1,000 trees we need to raise $10,000. 

Please donate now to get this project growing. Every $10 will establish one tree for the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo.  

Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo - Photo by Steven Nowakowski Panoscapes

The problem

The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau located in Far North Queensland that was once covered in tropical rainforest. Clearing for agriculture began in the late 19^th century and this has removed 50% of the rainforest. The remaining rainforest is broken up into small fragments, creating challenges for wildlife to travel across the landscape.

The Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo spends most of its life in the rainforest canopy. They can travel across open ground, however, this is difficult and they are vulnerable to attacks by domestic dogs.

Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo is now listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act as Near Threatened.

The Solution

We will establish 1,000 rainforest trees to restore the rainforest at Barrine Park Nature Refuge as habitat for the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo.

Starting in November we will:

• Remove the weeds from the tree planting site.
• 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.

Planting trees will provide a direct benefit to the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo as they are arboreal folivores (browsers), eating the leaves of tropical rainforest plants.

Please donate now to get this project growing. Every $10 will establish one tree for the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo. 

Linking Lake Barrine (Crater Lakes National Park) and Wooroonooran National Park

What type of trees are chosen?

The species of trees are chosen specifically for the tree planting site. Tree species selection is determined by an ecologist and botanist who chooses the appropriate native trees based on the forest type in the area, availability of sunlight, existing plant competition, presence of animals and insects. A mixed selection of native rainforest trees will be planted that provide habitat for the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo.

Please donate now to get this project growing. Every $10 will establish one tree for the Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo.  

Have we done this before?

Yes, we have been actively involved in the revegetation of the Atherton Tablelands with our partners Rainforest Reserves Australia and have completed many successful projects. 30,000 trees have already been established at Barrine Park Nature Refuge.

Successful tree planting funded by generous donors

Thank you HalfCut

The nonprofit project partner HalfCut is joining us in restoring the Daintree Lowland Rainforest through the Rewild Challenge. Thanks to Jimmy and Jess and all the HalfCut supporters for their help.