It is one thing trying to describe through words and pictures the beauty of Lot 46, Cape Tribulation Rd, the Daintree, and the spectacular, dinosaur-aged flora and fauna that make their home here, but it is an entirely different experience witnessing this land in the flesh. Smelling the air, pushing the rainforest seedlings deep into the earth for regeneration, spotting the striking blue Ulysses Butterflies, with even a visit from a curious southern cassowary. There is truly magic in the air here. This is BioPak’s Piece of Paradise.
BioPak was able to comprehend the uniqueness of Lot 46 from afar – they immediately accepted Rainforest Rescue’s call to arms as our first business partner to protect this land and the foresight that came with their decision has meant that they and by extension all their customers have protected an entire hectare of this Lot 46 forever.
What makes Lot 46 so special and worth saving? Located in the heart of the Daintree lowlands, Lot 46 holds ancient connections to Gondwana times and sits at the base of the spectacular Thornton Peak, providing an important link between the upland and lowland rainforest. Area surveys have recorded rare, endangered and vulnerable plant and animal species. And if that isn’t enough reason to protect Lot 46, it also provides critical habitat and connectivity for the endangered Southern Cassowary, and other species including the Pygmy Possum and Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo! The level of rainforest destruction here when Rainforest Rescue first purchased it in 2010 was unbelievable. Hard manual work by our Daintree crew has seen the removal of 180 tonnes of rubbish, including car bodies and derelict farm buildings and invasive species including 120 oil palms. And then of course we needed to replant the rainforest.
Not only did BioPak see the importance of protecting this land from destruction – they also understood the necessity to help regenerate it! They funded the planting of one thousand rainforest seedlings (between Lot 46 and also on the neighbouring Lot 96). They contributed to the grand total of 37,000 trees planted on Lot 46 including 146 different tree species.
As a result, a huge milestone has been achieved – Lot 46 has now been completely restored! We can now leave these 27 hectares over in seedlings to nature's work – in a few short years a canopy will develop and the rainforest will be back and functioning beautifully – leaf litter will cover the ground and birds and animals will begin dispersing rainforest seeds naturally!
Rainforest Rescue protects and regenerates the 'lungs of our planet' and over the last 15 years has bought back 26 properties returning them to their original rainforest state and protecting them from risk of development. So from everyone at Rainforest Rescue we say thank you so much to one of our longest and most loyal business partner BioPak and all your customers – we can’t wait for you to come visit your beautiful Piece of Paradise and we will continue to take great care with this amazing hectare for you. Watch thank you video.
By Kristin Canning, Rainforest Rescue
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To help protect Lot 46 visit Rainforest Rescue’s Lot 46 Appeal Page.
Read Land Manager, Joe’s Journal of Lot 46 click here.
Preview image: Kirstin Canning in the Daintree with a ByoCup
Image above 1 & 2: Wonderful volunteers planting Lot 46 © Rainforest Rescue, Images by Martin Stringer