Rainforest: Building Resilience in Ecosystems of the Wet Tropics

BUILDING RAINFOREST RESILIENCE

RAINFOREST RESILIENCE IN TARGETED AREAS

Overview

We are improving rainforest habitat in priority areas that are home to the endangered southern cassowary and to Mabi forest and littoral rainforest – both critically-endangered ecological communities.

Background

In Australia, the southern cassowary is only found in North Queensland, while Mabi forest is unique to the Atherton Tablelands. This region is also home to Australia’s most extensive littoral rainforest. This project builds on work undertaken by Terrain NRM over a number of years to protect these and other endangered species.

It is helping to restore and reconnect rainforest in agreed priority areas through revegetation, weed management and habitat protection.

Solutions

Working with threatened species recovery teams to identify the most important locations for investment.
Providing resources to willing land owners and managers in priority areas to protect existing habitat, plant native trees and manage invasive weeds.
Working on better ways to reduce cassowary deaths and injuries on our roads.

Achievements so far

250 landholders invited to apply for grants each year
Provided 41 grants to landholders, community groups and other recovery team members for on-ground work in revegetation, weed management and habitat protection for agreed priority locations.
13 hectares of revegetation
234 hectares of weed management
260 hectares of habitat protection/landholder agreements
Supporting scientific and community input to the design of cassowary road crossings in vehicle strike hotspots

Location

The Wet Tropics region

Partners

Terrain NRM works with the Cassowary, Mabi Forest and Littoral Rainforest Recovery Teams. These teams include Traditional Owners, community group representatives, landholders, scientists and representatives of local, state and federal government agencies. As part of this project, Terrain has established a Rainforest Recovery Network to bring together all three recovery teams to share knowledge and support other emerging recovery groups such as the Spectacled Flying Fox.

Funders

This four-year project is supported by Terrain NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Cassowaries image: Rob Onnis PHiMAGES