Professor Steve Williams, director of the Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change at James Cook University, said that the white lemuroid possum was identified as highly vulnerable five years ago.

“It only takes four or five hours of temperatures above 30C to kill this highly vulnerable species,” he said.

“They live off the moisture in the trees in the cooler, high-altitude cloud forests and, under extreme heat, they are unable to maintain their body temperature.”

He said record high temperatures in the summer of 2005 could have caused a massive die-off.

“Prior to 2005 we were seeing a lemuroid every 45 minutes of spotlighting at one main site at Mt Lewis,” Professor Williams said.

“But, in three years, in more than 20 hours of intensive spotlighting, none has been sighted.”

Favoring certain vegetation types that occur in the high canopies of the rainforest, the species has only ever been found above 500 meters and 1000 meters on the Atherton and Mount Carbine Tablelands, respectively.

Scientists believe that the disappearance of the possum is the most significant case of extinction since the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger.

To help Rainforest Rescue protect rainforests forever, please phone +61 2 6684 4360 or visit http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au

Explore a little of the ‘Big Scrub‘ from Byron Bay to Lismore. Julie Olsen unearths a treasure trove of local rainforest delights. If you’re into rainforest, Byron Bay and Lismore offer the perfect base from which to explore the little-known beauties of northern New South Wales.

Get ready to be swept off your feet as you meander along cute country roads between Byron Bay and Lismore.

Locals affectionately refer to these stunning rainforests as “the Big Scrub” and as far as self drives go, this is one of those secret little gems you won’t find in any guidebook. Plus there’s something extra special about touring pockets of rainforest saved by the sweat, blood and tears of caring locals.

For starters, it clears your mind and gets you thinking.

Breakfast in Byron Bay is a great way to start the day and once you’ve checked out the surfing action on the beach, it’s time to wind down the window (for some fresh air of course) and follow Old Bangalow Road for the narrow, scenic ascent to the top of the range.

The Hayter’s Hill rainforest remnant skirting both sides of the road offers a glimpse of the rainforest to come. But stay in your car. There are no walking tracks and the barbs of the native lawyers vines will leave you with no doubt as to why they’re called ‘wait-a-whiles’.

With stunning views across the bay, this country has to be heaven on earth. Nature converts, Neil and Erica Holland, have views to die for as well as seven acres of magnificent regenerated rainforest. Not a bad effort for a couple of beef cattle farmers. In fact, their remnant is so precious it was recently nominated for inclusion in the register of the National Estate. Neil’s eyes light up when he tells you about the wildlife. He sees plenty of platypus as well as rare birds galore. Little wonder their cabins have become a runaway ecotourism success.

If you’re a visitor to the region, you’ll probably agree that Byron Bay Farmstay would make the perfect base camp for this drive. Just make sure you book ahead.

Check out the couple’s remnant as you drive past. It’s on the left just past Hayter’s Hill.

Next up is Booyong Nature Reserve.

Head for the delightful town of Bangalow and follow signs off Bangalow Road until you reach the little blip known as Booyong.

You’ll find the 18.62-hectare reserve tucked away to the right, just under the bridge. The noisy squabbles of the local fruit bat colony should alert you to the start of the walking track and the information board offers a great read. The short walk towards the river is a must for any true blue tree-lover but cover up and take care to avoid the lawyer vines.

More than 150 plant species have been recorded in this reserve, along with some rare and fascinating creatures like the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly. If you’re ready for a cuppa, there’s a quaint little picnic spot just a short walk away, up the road on the left. Here, you can marvel at the Giant Water Gum. They don’t come much bigger than this beauty.

Alstonville is the next port of call.

It’s a pretty drive to get there and from the car, you can sneak a peak at the Willowbank remnant on the left. As soon as you arrive, park opposite the rainforest remnant at Lumley Park - this is an essential stop for anyone who has ever given the bush a helping hand. It’s also a good toilet stop.

Rainforest regeneration work commenced here in 1934, making it one of the earliest regeneration sites in Australia. Check out the old croquet clubhouse and enjoy an easy stroll through the rainforest.

Taking Wardell Road, continue south towards the most southern remnant of the Big Scrub - Victoria Park. It’s well worth keeping aside some loose change for the $6 permit as well as the fruit and vege stalls dotted along the roadsides. Limes, pumpkins, avocados and macadamias are just a few of the goodies available in season.

As you get nearer, the park is signposted. Plenty of picnic tables and a barbecue are provided on the edge of this little wonderland but the real treat is the 300m boardwalk through the rainforest. As well as boasting strangler figs and a monstrous tree propped up by huge buttress roots, this 17.5 hectare reserve is a haven for pademelons, potaroos, mountain possums and bizarre creatures like the land mullet. Bird watchers, too, can have a field day here spotting Wompoo fruit doves, noisy pittas and other rainforest residents.

First dedicated as a public reserve in 1898, this magical spot is a tribute to the hard work of local community groups.

Next up is Lismore and a patch of urban rainforest. You can either follow the main drag or, like us, take the backroads through lush macadamia farming country. If you like vegetarian food, Henry’s Bakery on Keen Street serves up a great selection and you can steal away to the serenity of Rotary Park - six hectares of dry rainforest just three kilometres from the CBD. It’s worth picking up the pamphlet for the rainforest walk, available from the Lismore Visitor Information Centre, corner Ballina and Molesworth Streets.

Follow the boardwalk and check out the huge Moreton Bay Fig, believed to be 300 years old.

As an alternative, you might prefer to push on to Boat Harbour Nature Reserve, about five kilometres north of Lismore, another relaxing spot with toilets, picnic areas and gentle walking. Once you’ve checked out the fascinating old photos on the information board, take the short walk to the viewing platform overlooking the river. At dawn or dusk, and providing you don’t make a sound, the waters below are said to come alive with platypus. From this pleasant vantage, it’s easy to see why Boat Harbour was a popular swimming and fishing spot in days gone by.

Make sure you leave plenty of time to explore Rocky Creek Dam because it’s the kind of place that leaves rainforest lovers wanting more. It’s a great drive north and the charming rural scenery will have you oohing and ahhing at every turn. The dam lies at the base of the rugged Nightcap Range at the southern extremity of the Mount Warning Caldera. You can tell this is one part of Australia that receives plenty of rain. When full, the dam holds 14,000 megalitres which supplies some 100,000 consumers on the far north coast of New South Wales.

But what strikes you most about this place is the natural beauty. Local water authority, Rous Water, has gone to extraordinary lengths to restore and extend the rainforest surrounding the dam. As well as planting local native species, they’ve assisted natural regeneration by removed weeds like lantana. Catchment manager, Anthony Acret, works closely with the community on ecological initiatives, the idea being to promote good water quality and a healthy catchment. On show are some farming innovations, like planted lots of local native cabinet timber.

To soak it all up, there’s the option of a couple of short, easy strolls and those with energy to burn can take a longer walk across the spillway to the Big Scrub and back. (Be prepared to get you feet wet). The picnic facilities are hard to beat and there’s a great children’s playground.

If you’re into landcare, you may be back before you know it because Rocky Creek Dam is the site of the Big Scrub Rainforest Day - the largest annual landcare education event in Australia. Keep Sunday 7th September free for this mega event that includes everything from stalls, guided walks and kids activities to bush dancing and yoga in the rainforest. It’s all free and you can get hold of a program by phoning (02) 6627 0120.

For those who can’t help but linger, watching the sunset over the mountains at Rocky Creek Dam is a great way to top off a full day of rainforest exploration. It’s nice just to sit by the water, spell-bound by the reflections, and do a bit of your own reflecting on the inexplicable beauty of nature.

In this magic part of the world, these stunning pockets of rainforest offer special glimpses of what this part of northern New South Wales was once like. In its heyday, the Big Scrub was the greatest single stand of subtropical rainforest in the world. It covered a whopping 75,000 hectares; an area the size of metropolitan Sydney. Just imagine. An endless sea of rainforest encircling what is now Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.

Today, less than half a percent remains and local community groups pour their hearts and souls into keep these remnants viable. But it’s a labour of love. These surviving forests offer the only refuge for hundreds of species of rainforest plants and animals, so many in fact that collectively, the Big Scrub remnants boast the third highest terrestrial ecosystem biodiversity in Australia. But you’ll just have to explore a little of the Big Scrub for yourself.

To support local efforts to restore the Big Scrub Rainforest, you can make a donation to the Big Scrub Restoration Project at the Rainforest Rescue web site or phone (02) 6684 4360. Rainforest Rescue is a not for profit, non-government organisation committed to saving Australia’s rainforests for current and future generations.

The Lismore Visitor Information Centre can assist with a range of maps and brochures for the region (phone 1300 369 795). For starters, the ‘Byron Lismore Ballina Hinterland - Gateway to the Forests’ brochure and ‘Bush to Beach’ brochure that covers National Parks, State Forests, Nature Reserves on the Far North Coast of NSW are both recommended.

“We always wanted to create unique, sustainable agriculture and we’ve planted thousands of rainforest tress on our property. Our support for Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Buyback and Protect Forever Project is just another step towards closing the sustainability loop,” said Brookfarm co-owner, Martin Brook.

Since Brookfarm’s humble beginnings in 1988, Pamela & Martin Brook planted over 30,000 rainforest and eucalypt trees on their Macadamia Farm at St Helena, near Byron Bay, Northern New South Wales. Today Brookfarm is regarded as Australia’s leading producer of Gourmet Macadamia products.

“As farmers, we recognise the important relationship between the environment and the success of our business. By planting rainforest trees and attracting native wildlife, we’ve dramatically reduced the number of pests that affect our harvest,” said Mr Brook.

Despite widespread agreement that clearing rainforests is responsible for increasing greenhouse emissions and contributing to global warming, there are an estimated 200 properties in the Daintree that can still be cleared for residential development.

“Brookfarm is delighted that we can assist Rainforest Rescue in their important work in preserving Australia’s tropical rainforests. The protection of precious areas like the Daintree is so important in the fragile world we live in. This project is also a great way to involve our customers in important environmental issues, said Mr Brook.

With the support of individuals and businesses like Brookfarm, Mullumbimby based Rainforest Rescue has been purchasing rainforest properties in the heart of the Daintree that are under threat of being cleared since 2000.

Brookfarm will be promoting their partnership with Rainforest Rescue with a new range of products including their 3 Walkabout Mixes, blends of fine nuts, premium dried fruits and Belgian chocolate, and 2 varieties of oven baked Muesli bars.

“It’s fantastic to partner with successful businesses such as Brookfarm as we have first hand knowledge of how committed they are to good environmental outcomes,” said Lana Nancarrow, Rainforest Rescue’s Corporate Partnerships Manager.

To help Rainforest Rescue protect rainforests forever, phone 1300 763 611 or visit http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/ourprojects/save-a-rainforest-daintree.html

About Rainforest Rescue
Not for profit organisation Rainforest Rescue protects and restores rainforests in Australia and internationally. Rainforest Rescue’s projects re-establish rainforests through planting, maintenance and restoration programs, as well as purchasing and protecting high conservation value rainforest and preserving its biodiversity.

About Brookfarm
Brookfarm is Australia’s most awarded producer of Gourmet Macadamia products. Their range includes award winning Macadamia Muesli’s, First Cold Pressed Natural and Infused Macadamia Oils & Oven Roasted Macadamia nuts with Fine Sea Salts and Spices. All products are GMO free and are sold to quality retail outlets, hotels and airlines in Australia and exported throughout the world. In 2007 Brookfarm won the State & National Telstra Australian Business of the year.

Orangutans with respiratory problems and stinging eyes are being rescued from burning forests. Rita reports that the forest are being illegally cleared where Orangutans were known to live byr large companies trying to keep up with the developed world’s enormous appetite for palm oil for food, clothes washing detergents and soaps, provide fuel for cars and to produce electricity. It wasn’t until pressure from NGO’s that the company responsible for a lot of the land clearing admitted that it had violated its own development policies for plantations.

With Indonesia facing one of the highest rates of tropical rainforest deforestation in the world, the situation for the Orangutan’s is dire. We need your support to help stop illegal logging and provide local communities with sustainable alternatives to land clearing and creating more oil-palm plantations.

Rainforest Rescue protects rainforest habitat for the endangered Orangutan, only found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra (Indonesia). Our Habitat for Survival project protects habitat for the endangered Orangutan in Sumatra’s Bukit Tigapuluh National Park by preventing illegal logging and clearing.

Your support will ensure that staff can be employed to patrol protected areas and local communities can be supported in developing a livelihood that benefits from conservation. Make a dontion to Rainforest Rescue’s Indonesia Habitat for Survival project today.

Beilschmiedia castrisinensis, A ‘walnut’ first described from Chinacamp (Daintree National Park) now known from between Bloomfield to Daintree Rivers only. Tree to 30 m usually buttressed, fruit a drupe to 60mm wide, eaten by cassowaries. Scattered specimens found on the property and numbers of large ripe fruit (see left). Most fruit on Lot 14 found to have flesh gnawed, presumably by rodent.

Cleistanthus myrianthus Occurs Cooktown to Daintree. Bob reports the species is locally common on Lot 14. Tree or shrub to 12 m may be buttressed. Fruit a capsule to 14 mm wide.

Endiandra microneura, Noah’s Walnut. Tree to 30 m buttressed. Fruit a drupe, orange to 78 mm long and eaten by cassowaries. Occurs McDowall range south to Mossman. Photo from fruit found on Daly Rd Lot 14 from where Bob reports numerous specimens.

Freycinetia percostata, Veiny Climbing-Pandan Vine climber with adventitious roots, leaves to 800 mm, a multiple fruit, red segments on heads to 300 mm length. Rainforests and swampy forests from Heathlands NP to Daintree. Bob found it to be locally common in Lot 14, Daly Rd.

Haplostichanthus ramiflorus, (prev. Haplostichanthus sp. (Cooper Creek) Occurs Rainforests from Cedar bay NP south to Mossman. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14. A shrub to 3 m having an orange berry to 14 mm wide.

Randia audasii, Daintree gardenia. Occurs Cooktown to near Atherton, 0-600 m. Flowers, white, fragrant, to 65 mm diameter. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14. Shrub or small tree to 8 m. Fruit a fleshy drupe, orange, shiny to 30×35 long with numerous small seeds to 4 mm long.

Rhodomyrtus effuse. Occurs from Bloomfield River to Julatten. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14. A shrub to 6 m. Fruits white, hairy to 14 mm long.

Rourea brachyandra, Water Vine A vine, stem diameter to 8 cm. fruit a follicle to 8 mm wide by 20 mm long. Bunches of white fragrant flowers, diam. of each to 10 mm. New leaves purplish copper colour. Photo of plant on Daly Rd showing colourful new leaves. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14.

Three Other Cassowary Food Plants Found

Acmena graveolens, Cassowary Satinash. Rainforests Cape tribulation to Tully. Tree to 35 m, buttressed, flying buttress may be present. Fruit pink to 60 x 60 mm, eaten by Cassowaries.

Several large specimens, freshly fallen fruit on ground and also several seedlings showing pink new leaves were found on Lot 14 (see right).

Most fruit on Lot 14 was found to have flesh gnawed, presumably by rodents.

Cryptocarya oblata, Tarzali Silkwood. Occurs from Cooktown to Tully, 0 to 1300 m. Tree to 35 m buttressed. Fruit to 44 x 53, orange red but colour quickly fades as rot soon commences, eaten by Cassowaries, Musky Rat Kangeroos and rodents. Fruit found on Lot 14 and also in a Cassowary dropping found on the property.

Doryphora aromatica, Scented or Northern Grey Sassafras. Tree to 40 m may be buttressed, at least one large specimen on the property.

Elaeocarpus bancroftii, Kuranda Quandong. Tree to 30 m buttressed, at least one large specimen on the property. E. grandis Silver Quandong plentiful on the property and E. grahamii also present. All eaten by Cassowries with the latter two being plentiful in the cassowary droppings found on the property. E. bancroftii fruits earlier in the year and is widely eaten by Cassowaries when there are relatively few other species fruiting and often make up the majority of remains found in their droppings during February - March.

More Information

• Daintree Buyback & Protect Forever Project
• Cow Bay Map of Properties Saved
• Cape Tribulation Map of Properties Saved
• Forest Creek Map of Properties Saved
• Daintree Critical Cassowary Habitat
• Daintree Buyback & Protect Forever FAQ’s

Rainforest Rescue has been protecting the iconic Daintree Rainforest since 1998 and with Huhtamaki’s support, the not-for-profit organisation recently purchased its tenth property in the Daintree ensuring the protection of critical habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary.

“Having purchased the tenth property without any government funding is a significant achievement for community conservation, proving that donations from individuals and businesses make a big difference,”

Through supporting Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Buyback and Protect Forever Project, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP) is helping to ensure the regions natural beauty that attracts more than one million national and international visitors each year, is protected forever.

This partnership will enable A&K to further embrace environmental conservation by contributing to the maintenance of delicate ecosystems, protection of some of the world’s oldest species of flora and fauna and reduction of accelerating climate change.
The goal of AKP is to provide long-term support for existing natural ecosystems to ensure that human populations, flora and fauna continue to survive and coexist successfully. In particular A&K Australia focuses on protecting our unusual habitats and vast biodiversity.

Jorie Butler Kent, Vice Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent Group and founder of A&K Philanthropy explains, “A&K has always believed passionately in adventures that both respect the natural environment and benefit indigenous peoples.  Our long held philosophy is governed in equal parts by this unswerving commitment to conservation whilst creating lasting travel experiences. It is this thinking that has lead to the establishment of A&K Philanthropy and the announcement of this initiative with Rainforest Rescue. We aim to make a difference whilst giving A&K travellers the most inspiring lifetime experiences.”

Carbon offset claims are coming under increasing scrutiny from the ACCC, which has already investigated a number of dubious claims made by some companies. Possibly the best-known of these is the pending Federal Court action concerning “green” claims used in a marketing campaign for Saab vehicles against GM Holden.

The ACCC has released a paper addressing Carbon offset claims and outlining some key concerns. They specifically look at marketing claims about the environmental benefits of products and services that claim to  include the ability to ‘neutralise’ the ‘carbon footprint’ of a product or service. The paper is available for download here.

Rainforest Rescue does not currently provide Carbon offsets as such but is investigating various options as part of develping it’s Carbon Offset Program. Rainforest Rescue continues to protect and restore rainforests for their biodiversity values while acknowledging that their are carbon storage and reduction benefits to the work that it does.