We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions for the purchase and protection of Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road at Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road at Cow Bay
Isn’t the Daintree protected as a National Park and World Heritage Area?
Please, donate now and help purchase Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest. Your donation will help purchase and protect essential cassowary habitat. Please donate now.
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A developer created 1,136 blocks in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Why is the Daintree important?
The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is the oldest rainforest on Earth, having existed continuously for over 120 million years. It holds exceptionally high biodiversity and conservation value and is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest remaining in Australia. Rainforests once covered much of Australia, however, as conditions became drier the rainforest contracted to remnants along the east coast. The flora of the Daintree contains an almost complete record of the evolution of plant life on Earth, including extremely ancient flowering plant families found nowhere else. The Daintree Lowland Rainforest also provides a refuge for many unique species of fauna including the southern cassowary, Bennett’s tree-kangaroo, and musky rat-kangaroo.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature had this to say about the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. “Within the region, the Daintree River to Cape Tribulation coast has a special status. It is the last surviving, essentially intact, tropical lowland rainforest in Australia. It has one of the highest diversity of plant families anywhere in the world. Its rarity, fame and superlative beauty make it one of the foundations of the region’s economy. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Areas meet.” - IUCN
In November 2021, the Australian Government listed the lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics ecological community, in the endangered category under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The listing is effective as of Friday 26 November, 2021 and includes the Wet Tropics of North Queensland, from near Ingham (just south of the Cardwell Range) in the south to north around Cape Tribulation. While now listed as endangered, the Daintree Lowland Rainforest is still not fully protected. The freehold properties in the Daintree lowland remain at risk from rural residential development.
What are the threats to the Daintree Rainforest?
Since the 1980s, there has been constant pressure applied to further develop the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. This includes calls for a bridge over the Daintree River, upgrading of roads, and the supply of mains electricity. This would only create conditions supportive of further inappropriate development. In 2020, we identified 207 undeveloped freehold properties in the Daintree lowlands that we now aim to purchase and manage for conservation. Building more houses on these properties would further fragment the rainforest and for that reason, further buyback of land is needed.
Recovering from the impacts of fragmentation
Fragmentation occurs when forests are reduced in area through deforestation, road building, or other developments, dividing the forest into smaller blocks and creating what is known as the edge effect. The impacts of the edge effect have been thoroughly documented over several decades and show the significant detrimental effects on biodiversity. The rural residential subdivision in the Daintree lowlands created 1,136 freehold properties and resulted in the construction of approximately 50km of roads. This divided the rainforest into smaller areas, meaning that a significant percentage of the remaining lowland rainforest now occurs within 100m of the rainforest edge.
Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road at Cow Bay
How are the properties assessed for acquisition?
Properties are assessed by a trained ecologist who has tertiary qualifications in horticulture, botany, and rainforest science. Our target list of properties has been developed by an ecologist who holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) specialising in Wildlife Ecology and Threatened Species Management. Each property we negotiate to purchase has been given a priority acquisition score based on regional ecosystem classification, biodiversity status, protected area connectivity, canopy coverage, corridor function, proximity to settled lots, settlement risk, the existence of encroachments and encumbrances, likelihood of being added to Queensland’s Protected Area Estate and value for money in the current market. We are also mindful of the cultural significance of the land and how it complements the broader landscape. We only purchase properties freely offered to us for sale or that are available on the open market.
Reversing the impacts of development
Fulfilling our vision of the conservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest requires the buyback of all undeveloped freehold properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and their management for nature conservation. Not only do we want to see no further development, but we also want the negative impacts of the rural residential subdivision to be reversed.
It's necessary to buy back all undeveloped freehold land for several reasons, it prevents further development and fragmentation it enables the potential closure of roads, brings more land under the one management regime, and ensures the highest level of protection by including land in the Daintree National Park (CYPAL) estate.
The buyback of land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest by non-profit organisations began in 1992. The Douglas Shire Council, Queensland, and Australian governments have all contributed financially to the purchase of freehold land aimed at preventing further development and winding back the impacts of the subdivision.
What about Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road?
Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road (RP738993) is a freehold property of 8.9 hectares (89,000 square metres) that was created through the subdivision of land in 1982. It is located on the corner of Cape Tribulation Road and Mangrove Road at Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. The Douglas Shire Council has Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road zoned for for residential land use. We are purchasing this property to prevent that happening and to ensure it is managed for conservation.
Conservation values of Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road
Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road offers significant habitat linkage across the landscape between the coast and the mountains. It is situated within the Hutchinson Creek catchment that drains north into the nearby Coral Sea. The vegetation is tropical rainforest, described as Regional Ecosystem 7.3.4 Mesophyll vine forest with Licuala ramsayi on poorly drained alluvial plains and alluvial areas of uplands. The vegetation has been subject to disturbance in the past (40 + years ago). The property has a high level of biodiversity. A survey by our botanist identified 189 species of native plants. Seven of these plants are listed as threatened species by the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.
What about neighbouring properties?
Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road adjoins the Daintree National Park (CYPAL) and World Heritage Area on two boundaries and on a third it adjoins a property we purchased in 2022 (Lot 93 Cape Tribulation Road). Its acquisition will consolidate a significant area of rainforest for conservation. We have also purchase eighteen other properties at Cow Bay for conservation.
Threatened plant species
The 7 plants listed as threatened species are:
Simple pauper orchid (Aphyllorchis anomala)
This leafless ground orchid was identified by 1 plant in the middle of Lot 92. It is only known from Rossville–Atherton and Conway and Finch Hatton in Far North Queensland.
Simple pauper orchid (Aphyllorchis anomala).
China camp laurel (Beilschmiedia castrisinensis)
This tree has large fruits dispersed by the southern cassowary. The species has a very restricted distribution, being the area between the Bloomfield and Daintree River in lowland rainforest below 660m.
China Camp Laurel (Beilschmiedia castrisinensis).
Gray’s walnut (Endiandra grayi)
This tree is has large fruits dispersed by the Southern Cassowary. The species is restricted to the area between Cape Tribulation and the Daintree River at altitudes up to 40m. This tree was identified as a handful of seedlings.
Gray’s Walnut (Endiandra grayi).
Noah's walnut (Endiandra microneura)
This tree is has large yellow fruit that are dispersed by the southern cassowary. The species is restricted to the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation areas below 250m. A small number of juvenile specimens were noted across Lot 92.
Noah's Walnut (Endiandra microneura) is a threatened species.
Climbing pandanus (Freycinetia percostata)
This climbing monocot was observed climbing a high tree on Lot 92. The climbing pandanus restricted mainly to the Daintree Rainforest and again on Cape York at Iron Range and overseas in Papua New Guinea. This climbing grass-like plant possesses unique leaves that trap water and thus provide habitat for invertebrates and frogs.
Climbing Pandanus (Freycinetia percostata)
Iron malletwood (Rhodamnia sessiliflora)
This small understorey shrub is listed as Endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. It is otherwise a common species within regrowth however is now susceptible to damage by the exotic fungus myrtle rust. Previous damage was noted on the species in the field.
Daintree myrtle (Rhodomyrtus effusa)
This small understorey shrub to 3m is listed as Endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. It is common in central parts of Lot 92. The exotic fungus myrtle rust threatens the species survival with active rust and previous damage noted on many specimens however some fruit was observed.
Other significant plants occurring on Lot 92:
Daintree foambark (Jagera madida)
This small tree is restricted between the Bloomfield and Julatten areas. A couple of specimens up to 6m were noted and several smaller seedlings were observed on Lot 92.
Cooper Creek haplostichanthus (Polyalthia xanthocarpa)
An understorey shrub restricted to the Mossman Gorge, Daintree-Cape Tribulation lowlands however is often locally abundant. On Lot 92, several specimens of this species were noted.
Daintree satinash (Syzygium monospermum)
The Daintree satinash is restricted to the lowland Daintree rainforests and was identified on Lot 92 as a mature fruiting tree around 8m tall. The large fruits of this tree are borne off the leafless trunk and are favoured by the southern cassowary.
Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii)
The vegetation on Lot 92 provides habitat for the endangered southern cassowary. The property has many native plants that produce fruits for cassowaries and other species of rainforest birds. The southern cassowary is listed as endangered in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.
How much will it cost?
Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road is 8.9 hectares (89,000 sqm). To purchase, protect and restore Lot 92 Cape tribulation Road we need to raise $445,000. That's a cost of $5 per sqm. This price includes the purchase of the land, removing weeds and restoring the native rainforest vegetation. We receive pro bono support for conveyancing and we are exempt from paying government transfer fees (stamp duty).
What happens if the target is exceeded?
All monies raised in excess of $445,000 will go straight toward the purchase of an additional property. There are another 150 properties in the Daintree Rainforest that we would like to purchase and protect.
If the fundraising target is not achieved what will happen to my donation?
All funds raised will be spent on Daintree land purchase and protection. We have been successful in purchasing land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest for conservation 32 times in the last five years. We feel confident in reaching the fundraising target for this property.
We want to be successful, now and in the future, so we carefully choose the properties we want to purchase for conservation. We have a plan to reach the fundraising target needed to buy each property. We purchase them one at a time, we space out the acquisitions and we give consideration to the total cost and the success of past fundraising. Of course, nothing is guaranteed and if we are unable to reach the target for a specified property purchase the donated monies will be used for a future land purchase in the Daintree Rainforest, or if necessary for other conservation projects in the Daintree Rainforest, for example, planting trees. The Gondwana Rainforest Trust is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and we are required to only spend the donations we receive on the cause as specified in our constitution.
Southern Cassowary at Cow Bay
Do you purchase properties that have regrowth rainforest on them?
Some of the properties we acquire have regrowth rainforest on them, others are a mix of regrowth and remnant rainforest. As of November 2021, the entire Lowland tropical rainforest of the Daintree was listed in the endangered category of the threatened ecological communities list under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act). This listing is reserved for ecological communities that the Commonwealth Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) considers to have a high or greater chance of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future or earlier. Revegetated or replanted sites or areas of regrowth are not excluded from this listed ecological community provided they meet key diagnostic characteristics such as soil type, rainfall, elevation, diversity, canopy features and structure. The members of the TSSC are appointed by the Minister for the Environment. As of February 2022, the TSSC consists of 12 experts from relevant academic fields.
What about feral animals?
The main feral animal problem in the Daintree is pigs. The Douglas Shire Council has a trapping program that removes 600 pigs per year. There are very few if any feral cats in the Daintree due to the number of large pythons that prey on them.
What about weeds?
There are 17 species of exotic plants on Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road. These plants will be removed once we have purchased the property.
Lantana (Lantana camara) is present within regrowth and is listed as a Class 3 weed under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and a Weed of National Significance (WONS).
Pond Apple (Annona glabra) is quite common in the regrowth and is listed as a Class 3 weed under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and a Weed of National Significance (WONS).
Singapore Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata) is present along the roadway and is listed as a Class 3 weed under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) is present on the site.
A small number of garden weeds were noted including Rose Apple (Syzygium jambos), Shoebutton Ardisia (Ardisia elliptica) and Heliconia psittacorum. Non-indigenous native palms were noted such as Carpentaria palm (Carpentaria acuminata) and MacArthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii) was noted identifying the need to monitor future weed risks on the site.
What about the risk of bushfires?
The risk of fires in this location is low as this is one of the wettest places in Australia and rainforest vegetation is less likely to burn. This is managed by removing exotic grasses and other flammable plants.
Who is managing this project?
This project to purchase and protect land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest is a partnership involving the Gondwana Rainforest Trust and the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation.
How are the Traditional Owners involved?
The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama (Bama meaning Rainforest Aboriginal people) are the Traditional Owners of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Their Country (Bubu) runs along the East Coast of Far North Queensland and it includes land and sea between Port Douglas and just south of Cooktown. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji has a rich cultural identity and strong spiritual connection to Daintree Rainforest.
The Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation represents the Eastern Kuku Yalanji in the management of Bubu. They employ the Jabalbina Rangers who work on Bubu.
Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, Gondwana Rainforest Trust, and HalfCut have a partnership agreement to purchase and protect land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. The properties acquired by the Gondwana Rainforest Trust will be managed by the Traditional Owners, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji as part of the Daintree National Park Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL) estate. At that time the Jabalbina Rangers will undertake all required management and restoration works.
Kelvin Davies (left) with Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners
Recognition
The partnership is the only formalised, non-Government program that purchases land for conservation to be owned and managed by its Traditional Owners. The partnership was recognised at the 2021 Queensland Reconciliation Awards, winning the Premier’s Reconciliation Award and the Partnership Award category.
2021 Queensland Reconciliation Awards
Who will own the land?
The properties are being acquired by Gondwana Rainforest Trust (ABN 49 628 358 323). We are registered with the Australian Government (ASIC) as a Company Limited by Guarantee (a non-profit organisation) and with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC). Our Constitution details that we must use all money raised for charitable purposes. Our constitution restricts our activities to rainforest conservation activities. We ensure the land has the highest level of protection and that they are managed for conservation. To achieve this the properties are assessed for inclusion in the Daintree National Park - Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL) estate.
We are working with the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to develop a more streamlined process for the transfer of properties into the protected area estate. The Department of Environment and Science and other key stakeholders are fully supportive of this outcome, however, it is a lengthy process that requires the cooperation of multiple stakeholders. Over 250 properties that have been acquired within the original subdivision in the Daintree Lowlands by government agencies and not-for-profit organisations have already been added to the Daintree National Park (CYPAL).
On the 29th of September 2021, a historic handover of land occurred seeing more than 160,000 hectares returned to the ownership of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. The Queensland Government delivered deeds of grant to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji People. The land includes the Daintree National Park and three other national parks on Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bubu (County). In addition, an Indigenous Management Agreement was signed for the designation of the Daintree, Ngalba-bulal, Kalkajaka, and Hope Islands national parks as Daintree National Park - Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL). These national parks total 160,108 hectares and will be jointly managed by Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and the Queensland Government.
These agreements recognise Eastern Kuku Yalanji's rights to be custodians and managers of their traditional country. Under these agreements, Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will be involved in managing Daintree National Park. The Queensland Government provides funding to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation to co-manage the Daintree National park and this includes the properties acquired through this program.
We will need to pay rates to the Douglas Shire Council up until the time properties are included Daintree National Park (CYPAL) estate.
Are properties with houses on them purchased as part of this program?
No, none of the properties acquired under this program have houses on them. This Daintree land buyback program only considers high conservation value properties for acquisition that remain undeveloped or unsettled and that are situated within the 1980s “rural-residential” style subdivision in the Daintree lowlands north of the Daintree River.
Can this land be used for Indigenous housing in the future?
No, the properties are purchased for conservation. We have an agreement with the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation that the properties acquired under this program will be protected and managed for conservation purposes. The project partners are currently developing a separate program for co-financing and joint management collaboration between key stakeholders to acquire established houses in the Daintree region to provide opportunities for Eastern Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners to reside on Country. This proposed program is aligned to support the outcomes of the land acquired for conservation and management.
Where is the Daintree Rainforest?
The Daintree Rainforest is a large area of tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland that extends from Mossman Gorge (80km north of Cairns) to Cape Tribulation (110km north of Cairns). It includes large areas of rainforest-clad mountains. Between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, the rainforest is continuous from the mountain to the sea and when many people speak of the Daintree, they are often referring to this area, which is known as the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Will I be able to visit the properties?
Yes, we want donors and supporters to see the rainforest they are helping to purchase and protect. It is quite easy to visit the Daintree Lowland Rainforest as tourism is established. You can make a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas or stay for as long as you like. There are many accommodation and tour operators in the Daintree Rainforest that you can find online. Self-drive tourism is also very popular and the land we are purchasing for conservation is easily accessed by a 2WD vehicle.
Has this type of buyback been done successfully before now?
Yes, in the last five years, we have purchased 32 Daintree Rainforest properties for conservation. Since 1992, non-profit organisations have purchased more than eighty properties for conservation. The Douglas Shire Council, Queensland, and Australian governments have all contributed financially to the purchase or ‘buyback’ of freehold land aimed at preventing further development and reversing the impacts of the subdivision, however, now all three levels of government say they won't make any further commitment to supporting the purchase and protection of more freehold land, even though the need for further conservation is high and the threat of development remains.
Protection of the Daintree National Park
The Queensland Government’s track record related to the Daintree National Park (CYPAL) provides confidence in its future management.
The Daintree National Park is a World Heritage Area, and this provides the highest level of protection for land in Australia. Since the declaration of the Daintree National Park in 1988, the Queensland Government has ensured land in the national park has been protected. They have also made additions to the national park estate. The conservation of the properties we are acquiring aligns with the Queensland Government's plan for the conservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
The Queensland Government has contributed to the conservation of the Daintree in the following ways.
- In the early 1990s, the Queensland Government introduced a policy preventing the extension of mains electricity north of the Daintree River. This remains in place today.
- In 1993, the Australian and Queensland governments funded the Daintree Rescue Program providing $23 million. $11 million was used to purchase 83 properties totaling 1,640ha for their natural values. The remaining funds were used for management purposes such as visitor facilities.
- In 2004, the Douglas Shire Council placed a moratorium on development while a new planning scheme was developed. This ultimately placed limits on development in specified areas north of Alexandra Range and removed development rights from 350 freehold properties. Between 2006-2008 the Queensland State Government created the Daintree Buyback Scheme to purchase land impacted by the Douglas Shire Council planning scheme. Landholders were given the option to sell to the state government or be compensated for the loss of development rights. The Queensland government provided $15 million and 330 properties were acquired for the Daintree National Park estate.
How will the land be purchased?
The properties are acquired in the same manner as other freehold properties in Australia. A contract for sale is exchanged, a deposit paid and a settlement date set. The purchaser and the seller will both have a conveyancer acting on their behalf. As a charity, we are providing the opportunity for people to make donations to support the purchase and protection of land. We are unable to structure an opportunity for people to be joint owners, to have a share, or to have their name on the title.
Carbon credits
Is the Daintree population decreasing?
We acknowledge and appreciate that local communities that support conservation have a very important role in the custodianship of biodiversity through the maintenance and enhancement of ecological communities and ecosystem processes.
Census data reveals that the number of dwellings increased in every locality north of the Daintree River up to Cape Tribulation between the census years of 2016 and 2021. Overall, the number of dwellings in these localities increased by 25% from 437 to 546 and the population increased by 11.4% over the same period.
Dwellings | Population | |||||
Census Locality | 2016 | 2021 | % Change | 2016 | 2021 | % Change |
Cow Bay | 154 | 189 | 22.73% | 202 | 220 | 8.91% |
Diwan | 104 | 132 | 26.92% | 153 | 169 | 10.46% |
Thornton Beach | 9 | 12 | 33.33% | 5 | 8 | 60.00% |
Cape Tribulation | 83 | 96 | 15.66% | 118 | 123 | 4.24% |
Kimberley | 16 | 26 | 62.50% | 33 | 28 | -15.15% |
Forest Creek | 71 | 91 | 28.17% | 103 | 136 | 32.04% |
437 | 546 | 24.94% | 614 | 684 | 11.40% | |
Are short-term rentals an issue?
AirDNA (https://www.airdna.co/) shows that there are over 90 short-stay accommodation options in the above localities, 76 of which are entire homes. This accounts to approximately 20% of the housing stock in some areas.
How can I make a donation to purchase and protect land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest?
Please, donate now and help purchase Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree Rainforest. Your donation will help purchase and protect essential cassowary habitat. Please donate now.
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