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Project Snapshot
Action: Purchase Lot 137 Carbeen Road (Daintree Rainforest) and provide the highest level of protection.
Location: Diwan, Queensland, Australia.
Size: 1.019 hectares (10,190 sqm).
Vegetation type: Regional Ecosystem 7.11.1a (Mesophyll vine forest) and Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10c: Mesophyll vine forest.
Rare or Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii), Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis), Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus), Climbing Pandanus (Freycinetia percostata), Daintree Ryparosa (Ryparosa kurrangii), Noah’s Walnut (Endiandra microneura), and Bennett’s Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus).
Endangered Ecological Community: Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics ecological community is listed as endangered under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Map of Lot 137 Carbeen Road
Securing Lot 137 for conservation
Lot 137 Carbeen Road (RP738592) is a privately owned freehold property of 10,190 sqm created through the subdivision of land in 1982. Located at Diwan in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, it shares two boundaries with Daintree National Park and sits adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. We are purchasing Lot 137 Carbeen Road to ensure it is managed for conservation and given the highest level of protection.
The property is situated on the north-east side of Hutchinson Hill within the Hutchinson Creek catchment draining north into the nearby Coral Sea linking with the Cooper Creek drainage system to form a significant mangrove estuary. The location is within the very wet lowlands of the Diwan region and is clad in luxuriant lowland tropical rainforest, typical of much of the mountainous regions of the area.
The vegetation on Lot 137 Carbeen Road is old growth tropical rainforest. There are many examples of large canopy trees festooned with vines cascading from above. The Fan Palm (Licuala ramsayi) is another characteristic feature of the rainforest at Lot 137 Carbeen Road.
We are purchasing Lot 137 Carbeen Road to ensure:
- It is given the highest level of protection
- That the land at this location is consolidated under one management regime
- To ensure this high conservation value land is actively managed including appropriate consideration of threatened flora and fauna
- To help wind back the negative impacts of the subdivision created in the 1980s
The property provides habitat for a number of species listed as being Threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) or the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Including the following species:
Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii). NCA: Endangered.
It's estimated that there are only 4,400 Southern Cassowaries remaining in Queensland's tropical rainforests. The vegetation of Lot 137 Carbeen Road has been mapped as essential habitat and Cassowaries have been observed on the property.
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The Southern Cassowary
The Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis). NCA: Endangered.
The Spotted-tailed Quoll is mainland Australia's largest marsupial carnivore. They only live for less than 3-4 years and females rarely breed after the age of 3 years. This probably explains their threatened status as populations die out if recruitment (i.e. new animals born or moving into the population) is low for as few as 2–3 successive years.
Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus). NCA Endangered.
The Spectacled Flying-fox has experienced a significant decline in numbers due to climate change (heat waves) and due to the loss of their prime feeding habitat and secluded camp sites.
Three plant species found on Lot 137 are listed as Threatened on the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992
Daintree Ryparosa (Ryparosa kurrangii). NCA: Near Threatened.
Daintree Ryparosa is a medium-sized tree that only occurs in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest (between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation) and is very abundant on Lot 137. This species relies on the Southern Cassowary for seed dispersal and produces flowers and fruits directly from its trunk, a feature known as cauliflory.
Daintree Ryparosa (Ryparosa kurrangii)
Noah's Walnut (Endiandra microneura). NCA: Near Threatened.
Noah's Walnut is found on Lot 137 and its large yellow oblong-shaped fruits are dispersed by the Southern Cassowary. This species is only found naturally within the Daintree rainforests north of the Daintree River and south of Cape Tribulation. This tree is noticeable in the rainforest as it produces a vibrant display of limp red new leaves.
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Noah's Walnut (Endiandra microneura) is a tree bearing large yellow fruits
Climbing Pandanus (Freycinetia percostata) NCA: Vulnerable.
Climbing Pandanus is abundant in many areas of the Daintree lowlands, especially in wet places. It is restricted mainly to the Daintree 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) flowering.
The role of Lot 137 in a larger ecosystem
Lot 137 Carbeen Road plays a vital role in maintaining continuous vegetation across the landscape. It forms part of a significant and extensive tract of rainforest that stretches from the mangrove wetland delta of the Cooper Creek Wetland to Thornton Peak to the immediate west.
Positioned on the eastern side of Carbeen Road, Lot 137 shares two boundaries with Daintree National Park and is adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Once one of many freehold properties on Carbeen Road, most of the land adjoining Lot 137 has been purchased for conservation. Lot 137 is the last undeveloped freehold block in this section of Carbeen Road.
We are focusing our efforts on Diwan as scientists have identified this area as being a very high priority for conservation. It has some of the highest levels of biodiversity. It has the highest density of Southern Cassowaries in Australia and the Bennett's Tree-kangaroo and Spotted-tailed Quoll have recently been seen on or near the property.
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Founder of Gondwana Rainforest Trust, Kelvin Davies
How much will it cost?
To purchase and protect Lot 137 Carbeen Road we need to raise $50,950. The property is 10,190 sqm in size making the price $5.00 per sqm. We receive pro-bono support for conveyancing and we are exempt from government transfer fees (stamp duty).
The Douglas Shire Council does not currently have Lot 137 Carbeen Road zoned for development, however, Council could rezone this property at a future point in time and therefore, in our view, the property is not adequately protected. As the protection is limited, we want to add this property to the Pathway to Protection where it will be assessed and considered for inclusion in the Daintree National Park (CYPAL) estate. This will provide the highest level of protection available. This will also help to reverse the impacts of past development and improve the conservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
FAQs
Looking for more information? We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about the purchase and protection of Lot 137 Carbeen Road here.