Conservation PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Action: Plant 1,000 trees to revegetate Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road at Cow Bay
Location: Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road, Daintree Lowland Rainforest
Threatened Species: Southern cassowary
Habitat: Lowland tropical rainforest
Total project cost: $10,000
Why this project?
The number one threat to the endangered southern cassowary is the loss of its rainforest habitat. Past clearing has destroyed rainforest habitat and it is now classified as a threatened species.
With your help, we will restore areas of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest where clearing has occurred in the past. This will create a buffer for the Daintree National Park and increase habitat for wildlife, including the endangered southern cassowary.
This will occur at Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road, a property we purchased with the help of our donors and now manage for conservation. While the rainforest on this property was partially cleared, it has regenerated naturally except in areas where weeds have been dominant. This is where we need to plant trees.
The cost of growing, planting, and maintaining one tree is $10, so to establish 1,000 trees we need to raise $10,000.
Every $10 you donate, we will establish one tree for the endangered southern cassowary.
The Solution
We will establish 1,000 rainforest trees to restore the rainforest on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road as habitat for the endangered southern cassowary.
We will:
- Remove the weeds from Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road
- Plant 1,000 rainforest trees
- Then, for the next three years we will care for the trees to ensure they all survive. This will involve eliminating competition by removing weeds that germinate on the site.
Planting trees to restore the Daintree Rainforest is of direct benefit to the cassowary. Cassowaries are frugivores, and the fruits of tropical rainforest plants represent 98% of their diet (they also eat invertebrates and fungi).
Tree planting in the Daintree Rainforest will fill in the gaps
What type of trees are chosen?
The species of trees are chosen specifically for the tree planting site. Tree species selection is determined by an ecologist and botanist who chooses the appropriate native trees based on the forest type in the area, availability of sunlight, existing plant competition and presence of animals and insects. A mixed selection of native rainforest trees will be planted including many that produce fruits for the southern cassowary.
Every $10 you donate will establish one tree for the endangered Cassowary.
Have we done this before?
Rainforest Rangers has been actively involved in the revegetation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and have completed many successful projects.
Grass will make way for the planting of trees
Indigenous and local community involvement
The Jabalbina Rangers will help to prepare the site and maintain the trees, and we will invite local people to join us as volunteers in planting trees.
We will achieve the outcomes of this project through our partnership with the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation. They represent the Traditional Owners of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the Kuku Yalanji people.
Every $10 you donate will establish one tree for the endangered cassowary.
Successful revegetation in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest
Thank you HalfCut
Our nonprofit project partner HalfCut is joining us in restoring the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
