COMPLETED PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Action: Purchase of Lot 70 Forest Creek Road (RP733653)
Location: Forest Creek, Queensland, Australia
Size: 2.07 hectares
Vegetation type: (1) Regional Ecosystem 7.11.1a Mesophyll vine forest.(2) Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10c: Mesophyll vine forest. Seasonally inundated lowland alluvial plains. Palustrine. Listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.
Threatened Species: Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii), China camp laurel (Beilschmiedia castrisinensis), climbing pandan (Freycinetia percostata), Noah's walnut (Endiandra microneura)
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
Target to purchase, protect, and restore this property: $249,750
UPDATE: Amazing news! Fundraising and settlement for this property was completed in July 2024. Thank you to everyone who made this great outcome possible.
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Lot 70 Forest Creek Road, Forest Creek
The owner of this Daintree Rainforest property contacted us directly. For years they loved seeing cassowaries when they visited and camped on the land. They didn’t want to see this habitat for cute northern brown bandicoots, giant pythons, and beautiful Ulysses butterflies lost to housing. But they couldn’t just give the asset away, so, we reached an agreement that gave us the first option to buy the land for conservation.
Old growth tropical rainforest on Lot 70 Forest Creek Road
Daintree Rainforest at risk of development
Development for housing in the Daintree results in fragmentation and degradation the worlds oldest rainforest. Settlement brings domestic dogs that attack wildlife and exotic plants that become environmental weeds.
Fragmentation occurs when forests are reduced in the 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.
With the purchase of this property, we will prevent further fragmentation of the Daintree Rainforest. We will also restore the part of the property damaged by unapproved development by a previous owner.
Noah's Walnut (Endiandra microneura) is listed as a threatened species.
Habitat for unique and threatened species
Climbing pandanus (Freycinetia percostata) was identified within paperbark dominated forest its southern limit is at the Daintree River thus this occurrence is at its geographical extreme. It is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The China camp laurel (Beilschmiedia castrisinensis) was identified on Lot 70 and it is listed as near-threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Overall, the vegetation on Lot 70 Forest Creek Road consists of two Regional Ecosystems. (1) Regional Ecosystem 7.11.1a Mesophyll vine forest. (2) Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10c: Mesophyll vine forest. Seasonally inundated lowland alluvial plains. Palustrine. Listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.
As well as protecting the rainforest and wetlands on Lot 70, the purchase of the property will ensure connectivity across the landscape. Increased urbanisation at Forest Creek will further disrupt natural processes by fragmenting habitat and creating an edge effect. The core-to-edge ratio of rainforest patches is integral in maintaining ecologically sound, functioning forests.
Lot 70 Forest Creek Road was offered for sale on the open market and could have been sold to someone wishing to develop the property. That's why we took action and exchanged a contract of sale and paid a deposit.
The rare Bennett's Tree-kangaroo
Endangered ecological community
The Daintree Lowland Rainforest itself has now been identified as part of an endangered ecological community. 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 was effective as of Friday November 26, 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.
Repairing historic subdivision damage
The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is one of the oldest rainforests on Earth and provides a refuge for wildlife and ancient flowering plants. It holds exceptionally high biodiversity and conservation value and is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest remaining in Australia.
In 1988, the Daintree National Park was expanded and included in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. However, two-thirds of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest - the land between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation - had been carved up for a rural residential subdivision of 1,136 freehold properties in 1982 and, as such, were excluded from World Heritage listing.
This subdivision created Lot 70 Forest Creek Road and many others in Forest Creek. Since then, roads and many houses have been built which have fragmented the rainforest. Occupation has also brought a number of other challenges for the rainforest and its inhabitants, including the damaging effects of domestic dogs and exotic plants.
With around 150 undeveloped properties remaining in private ownership, the future of the Daintree is yet to be determined. Will it be increased development and urbanisation, or the winding back of the disastrous subdivision to save the Daintree Rainforest?
The world's oldest rainforest is still for sale.
BUYBACK WORKS
Land buyback for conservation is the only action guaranteed to protect vital rainforest habitat, stem the development of the Daintree Rainforest and reverse the negative impacts of the rural residential subdivision. That's why fulfilling our vision for the Daintree Lowland Rainforest requires the buyback of all undeveloped freehold properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest for nature conservation.
Once purchased, properties are proposed for inclusion in the Daintree National Park, as this provides the highest available level of protection.
In the last 4 years, we have purchased 29 properties in the Daintree Lowlands (between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation).
The acquisition of Lot 70 Forest Creek Road will help fulfil our vision for the conservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. We’ve exchanged a contract of sale and paid a deposit. Now we must raise the funds to complete the purchase.
The endangered southern cassowary
Stronger together
Save the Daintree is built on a partnership between Gondwana Rainforest Trust and Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation. We recognise that we are Stronger Together and raise funds for the buyback of properties in the Daintree Rainforest and their management for conservation.
FAQs
We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions for the purchase and protection of Lot 70 Forest Creek Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest here.