What is fragmentation? And why is it detrimental to the Daintree?
Development at Lot 26 Ronald Road fragmented the rainforest.
When blocks are cleared for development in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the oldest living rainforest on the planet becomes fragmented and divided into smaller pieces.
This fragmentation disrupts the ecology of the surrounding rainforest and creates challenges for wildlife traversing the landscape.
Which is why, when looking to purchase freehold rainforest blocks for protection in the Daintree, we prioritise their potential to enhance or preserve rainforest connectivity.
Development at Lot 26 Ronald Road fragmented the rainforest.
Have you heard of the 'edge effect'?
Fragmentation of the landscape increases what is known as the ‘edge effect’, which details the changes in biodiversity that occur inside the space surrounding the shared edge of two or more distinct ecosystems. Thoroughly documented over several decades, anthropogenic edges (created by human activity) have been shown to have significant detrimental effects on biodiversity in rainforest environments.
The more fragmented an ecosystem is, the more unstable it becomes, making it harder for many plants and animals to survive. Fragmentation can also make it more difficult for species to traverse the landscape safely.
Roads can increase the edge effect and create further barriers to safe passage for animals like the endangered Southern Cassowary.
By purchasing multiple blocks in the Daintree lowlands, rather than just one larger one, we can have a greater effect on reducing fragmentation. Each of the properties we have successfully purchased for protection in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest is helping to retain the integrity of the Daintree landscape, and buffering the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area.
A better future for the Daintree
Despite its incredible biodiversity many freehold properties in the Daintree Rainforest are currently zoned for rural residential development by the Douglas Shire Council.
Thank you to everyone supporting the purchase and protection of at-risk land in the Daintree Rainforest.
An affordable gift every month is the very best way to support the work of the Gondwana Rainforest Trust and help Save the Daintree. Make your monthly pledge today.