Thanks to the wonderful contribution of our supporters another piece of the World Heritage value Daintree rainforest has been protected forever.

A 10th property purchased through the Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project was completed on the 6th of May 2008. The property is situated on the Bailey’s Creek section of the Cape Tribulation Road and is very strategically located. It is bounded on two sides by the Daintree National Park and its purchase prevents another housing development impacting on the surrounding area, which is classified as “essential habitat for the endangered Cassowary”. This section of the Cape Tribulation Road is recognised Cassowary crossing point and there have been two recent sightings.

The vegetation type is described as wet to very wet vine forest with emergent large-fruited red mahogany, having a rainforest understorey merging into simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest. The biodiversity values of this latter ecosystem type are described as being “very species rich”.

Lofty clumps of locally endemic fan palms and black palms grace the northern sector of the property whilst two species of cycad and numerous ferns abound in the denser southern part. These include the King Fern, which, with fronds up to 5 metres long, is reputed to be the largest of all ferns. It is as a primitive plant, very similar types having been around for 300 million years.

The purchase not only saves this precious rainforest, it also does away with one further development in the Daintree. Settlement brings with it a host of threats – clearing of and fragmentation of the rainforest, introduction of domestic predators (cats and dogs), increased traffic and road kills, greater demand for services (further development) and the introduction of weed species – all of which contribute to the degradation of the Daintree’s rainforest ecosystems.

We once again thank everyone who has made this purchase possible. Your continued support will help us to secure property number 11 and to protect the Daintree forever.

Visit www.rainforestrescue.org.au to make your donation to help save the tenth property in the Daintree.