In October 2009 The Daintree Rainforest Foundation officially merged with Rainforest Rescue after many years of working together to protect the Daintree.

Two become one

Rainforest Rescue commenced working with the Daintree Rainforest Foundation in 2000 and maintained a close association resulting in developing a partnership to support the Daintree ‘Buy Back and Protect Forever’ Project. The Daintree Rainforest Foundation commenced fundraising for property purchase in 2000, both to achieve practical outcomes and to highlight the need for further buy-back of land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Initially, Rainforest Rescue provided the funds it had raised and the Foundation purchased the properties. More recently Rainforest Rescue has been purchasing the properties directly.

Based in the Lowland Daintree Rainforest the Daintree Rainforest Foundation was wholly managed by volunteers. As the energy of the volunteers of the Daintree Rainforest Foundation decreased in 2007 we commenced exploring the benefits of merging the two organisations. This led to a decision to wind up the Daintree Rainforest Foundation and for all assets to be transferred to Rainforest Rescue. The Daintree Rainforest Foundation was officially wound up in October 2009 with the combined resources of the two organisations being concentrated on the ongoing commitment to protect the Daintree rainforest from the impact of rural residential development.

Timeline and Achievements of the Daintree Rainforest Foundation

1994:

• Incorporated in Queensland, listed on the Commonwealth Register of Environmental Organisations, and granted Deductible Gift Recipient Status by the Australian Taxation Office.

1993 – 1995:

• Prepared and published a series of Research and Educational Publications related to the flora and fauna of the Daintree Lowland Rainforests.
• Provided input to the Daintree Planning Package (Brannock Humphries).

1995 – 1998:

• Provided financial incentive (rates subsidy) for landowners willing to enter into voluntary conservation agreements.
• Appointed as Conservation representative to the Daintree Planning and Co-ordination Group overseeing the implementation of the Daintree Rescue Package.

1998 – 1999:

• Made several deputations to Douglas Shire Council regarding Vegetation Protection and Management, ultimately resulting in the introduction of a Local Law for Vegetation Management.
• Provided input to the FNQEB Proposed Daintree Powerline Environmental Impact Assessment Study.
• Initiated a Membership drive, ultimately resulting in some 220 Members.

2000:

• Appointed Conservation representative on the Daintree Futures Study Steering Committee.
• Commenced fundraising for the Daintree Land Acquisition Program.

2001:

• Acquired Lot 90 RP738146 (Cow Bay) and entered into a Conservation Agreement with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to declare the property a Nature Refuge – Baralba Corridor Nature Refuge.
• Formed a Conservation Partnership with Parrotfish Lodge, a backpacker resort in Port Douglas.

2002:

• Acquired Lot 103 RP737399 (Cow Bay) and incorporated the property in the Baralba Corridor Nature Refuge.

2003:

• Acquired Lot 75 RP737399 (Cow Bay) and incorporated the property in the Baralba Corridor Nature Refuge.
• Provided financial support to Douglas Shire Council to acquire a property containing a fern previously classified as ‘extinct in the wild’.
• Provided extensive input to the Douglas Shire Draft Planning Scheme.
• Acquired Lot 117 RP738161 (Cow Bay) and incorporated the property in the Baralba Corridor Nature Refuge.

2004:

• Lot 97 RP738146 (Cow Bay) was donated to the Daintree Rainforest Foundation by Zainab Tawdrous, owner of Parrotfish Lodge, and the property was incorporated in the Baralba Corridor Nature Refuge.

2005:

• Acquired Lot 7 RP738430 (Forest Creek) and entered into a Conservation Agreement with EPA to declare the property Rainforest Rescue Nature Refuge.

2006:

• Acquired Lot 8 RP738430 (Forest Creek) and incorporated the property in the Rainforest Rescue Nature Refuge.
• Strongly supported the Douglas Shire Draft Planning Scheme for the Areas North of the Daintree River and the introduction of a Temporary Local Planning Instrument to place a moratorium on any further development north of the Alexandra Range.
• Awarded a Wet Tropics Management Authority Cassowary Award for Community Conservation.

2007:

• Acquired Lot 22 RP733182 (Cape Tribulation) and commenced negotiations with EPA to declare the property Kulki Anga Nature Refuge.

2008:

• The Daintree Rainforest Foundation members elected to enter into voluntary liquidation and transfer all assets to Rainforest Rescue.

2009:

• The Daintree Rainforest Foundation was officially wound up in October 2009