Skase Property now a Protected Rainforest Reserve
October 29th, 2010Media Release 28 Oct 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A property formerly owned by Christopher Skase is now in the hands of Rainforest Rescue. The not for profit organisation has purchased the property in the Daintree rainforest in Far North Queensland to conserve and restore the tropical rainforest.
Between 1971 and 1983, a commercial plantation of oil palms was cultivated on part of the land. In 1980, the infamous entrepreneur Christopher Skase purchased the property and then removed most of the oil palms to Port Douglas for use in his Sheraton Mirage Resort, as well as lining the main entry avenue to the town.
Rainforest Rescue purchased this block, which is their 13th property to date in the Daintree rainforest, through its Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project.
“The land is now protected from development and we aim to fully restore the rainforest,” said Rainforest Rescue CEO, Kelvin Davies.
“We have named this property the Cassowary Conservation Reserve, to recognise the existence on the property of essential habitat for the endangered Cassowary”, he said.
“It’s been estimated that as few as 1,000 Cassowaries remain in all of Australia and the Daintree offers important habitat that must be protected and restored”, said Mr. Davies.
The Cassowary Conservation Reserve is Rainforest Rescue’s largest acquisition to date at 27.66 hectares and is being fully funded by individual donors and business supporters.
Rainforest Rescue chose to purchase and protect this specific property as it is part of the Coopers Creek precinct, one of the three highest priority precincts on the Daintree Lowlands for the conservation of endemic species. The vegetation is of high conservation value, containing endangered regional ecosystems. In addition, the Cassowary Conservation Reserve adjoins the Daintree National Park/World Heritage Area, effectively increasing the protected area available as habitat for endangered flora and fauna.
By purchasing the property, Rainforest Rescue has removed the potential for further development. However, in the 1960′s, it was partly cleared and some development for agriculture has occurred. Commercial crops of bananas and pineapples, as well as grazing by cattle have been carried out on the land and a number of oil palms persist.
Oil palms are an introduced species that have been identified as a potential environmental weed and the seed source of palms found in mangroves downstream in the World Heritage Area. Rainforest Rescue has therefore prioritised removing the remaining oil palms and other weeds from the property.
Rainforest Rescue is already working to replant the cleared area. The trees planted are local rainforest species, propagated in Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree rainforest plant nursery from seeds collected from the Daintree rainforest.
Rainforest Rescue is committed to protecting rainforests forever and is seeking funds for the purchase and protection of its next Daintree property. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.rainforestrescue.org.au, or phone 1300 763 611.
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CONTACT: Kelvin Davies, Rainforest Rescue CEO
Ph: (02) 6684 4360 Mob: 0427 662 913
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