1. Managing the threats facing the Daintree Rainforest
BIODIVERSITY UNDER THREAT

2. What do we know already about the Daintree Rainforest?

3. What are the threats to the Daintree?
Tourism-
Worth million Australian $ a year
Many partake in destructive activities there- such as fishing, 4 wheel drive tours, walking, reef diving, horse riding
Ferry carries 700 vehicles across river daily
0.5 million visitors annually
Increased accommodation since 1991
70% of tourists visit independently- 30% with registered coach companies
Recent improvements- road tarmac increasing visitor numbers
Visitors think there’s too much accommodation and enough walking tracks already in place

4. What are the threats to the Daintree?
Growth and change in Port Douglas
Population 4000
Large visitor numbers have led to decline in small local shops replaced by a small supermarket
Property booms
2 new resorts just nearing completion, 2 underway and 2 more in process of planning
Small forest areas have been divided up and sold to developers- some have been built on and environmental concerns have been addressed others have been turned to cattle ranches
Red cedar became extinct in 2000 after builder removed all
If land clearing isn’t stopped 85 rare plant species stand to be lost

5. Limits to development
Ferry capacity limits traffic, population and visitor levels
No Mains electric north of river- so people there have to generate own through RAPS, own generators or solar power
Local services only support small local population- no mains water or sewer disposal system
In 2000 planners gained permission for a McDonalds on site, but now it has been withdrawn- citing a destruction of local values and too much change as reasons

6. Deforestation
Began in late 1860’s to cultivate sugar cane production continued to early 1990s
Most clearance today, for pasture (86%), with remainder cleared for crops (10%), mining infrastructure and settlement (4%)
Shift from central to southern Queensland away from Daintree

7. Tasks Add the threats faced by the Daintree to your case study
Which threat/s to the Daintree do you perceive to be the biggest? Why?
What are the causes of deforestation? Classify into social, economic and environmental

8. Managing the Daintree Who is involved in the management? Key players
Wet tropics management authority
Douglas Shire Council (till2008) then Cairns regional council
Australian Rainforest Foundation
Wildlife preservation society of Queensland
Australian Tropical Research Foundation
Rainforest cooperative research council

9. Tasks You will each be given a key player
You must research your position using the parrot book
Look at what strategies they have put in place
Why they are doing it
Have they been successful

10. Tasks
There are obviously conflicts in the ways different groups want to manage the Daintree
How far are the conflicts a case of economic v environment? Is anything as important? Why?
How would you manage it? Which ideas would you keep/ discard? Why? Other ideas? Sustainability?

11. Wet tropics management authority
Formed 1990
Based in Cairns, main functions-
Developing and implementing plans and policies
Researching and monitoring enhancing understanding of the importance of the heritage area- monitoring state of wet tropics
Developing management agreements with landholders and aborigines’
Providing education through visitor centres
Funding
Promotion of the area

12. Douglas Shire council
Aims were to gradually reduce population in Daintree
Increased ferry coasts to limit numbers, but numbers still increasing
Rejected plans for a bridge across river to replace ferry and rejected another ferry option- on grounds that extra visitors and pop. Would endanger rainforest

13. Rainforest cooperative research council
Community development-
people to live in area and be involved in stewardship and conservation of land
Base employment on tourism, organic Farming, tropical horticulture and small business ops.
Settle about 600 blocks of land
Biodiversity conservation-
adopt settlement and land management practices on private land to protect the outstanding biodiversity
Identify biodiversity hotspots for conservation for no development
Identify threats from wild animals
540 blocks remain unsettled
Report from found unless action was taken, area would
see increase in residential development, loss of biodiversity and
reduction in attractiveness to tourists. They implemented these
strategies to try to build a SUSTAINABLE future for the area

14. Rainforest cooperative research council
Douglas Shire Council/ Cairns regional council-
Introduce planning controls for biodiversity conservation
Ensure settlement densities are sustainable
Electricity supply-
When settlement densities are at sustainable level, use underground cables to extend supply far north as copper creek
People north of copper creek remain on RAPS
Indigenous people-
Recognise the rights of aboriginal peoples to own land and promote their culture within the forest
Water supply and waste management-
Keep water extraction from streams and underground supplies within sustainable limits
Use best available domestic tech for waste disposal

15. Rainforest cooperative research council
Roads and ferry
Ferry to remain gateway to area as essential access
Improve tourist facilities south of river and recreation facilities north of
Reduce forest cut backs- the road to cap tribulation should be a green tunnel with windows through the forest to mountain and coast scenery
Tourism-
Increase tourist numbers to 550,000 to boost and maintain local economy
Increase no. of tourists staying for 7ral nights or more and revisiting area
Monitor tourist impacts and ensure sustainability
Financing
Use ferry income to assist community services infrastructure and conservation
Establish Daintree Land trust to support land acquisition and pay compensation for lost land
Meet cost of priority purchase and financial incentives for conservation
Subsidise electricity supply

16. Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF)
Not for profit organisation dedicated to education, research and habitat rehabilitation- involved in variety of projects-
Operation Big Bird- creation of 250km wide wildlife corridor to help protect the Cassowary- path will link Cairns too southern coast town of Cardwell- these help biodiversity by enabling species movement to feed, breed and colonise
Australian govt has funded ARF for range of conservation initiatives- including BUY BACK, process of buying back land from developers who previously purchased it to reduce development.
Encourages remaining developers to do so in an eco way through education

17. Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
Community based not for profit conservation group. Committed to a sustainable future for people and wildlife
Support ban on development in the area

18. Australian Tropical Research Foundation
Created 1993
Oversee operation of visitor centres and education facilities at the Cape tribulation tropical research station and the wet tropics visitor centre- highlight global importance of the tropical forest ecosystem