Propagate and Plant: Cassowary Conservation

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Rainforest Rescue, I wanted to thank you very much for your continued support.  We have a very nice Project Report to share with you and we hope it will encourage you to donate again to this fine project and conservation effort.  Please know your help and your generous support is the life source of our operations and we mean it when we say that every dollar counts.  Please contact me anytime if you happen to have any questions on this project-- medicipj2@yahoo.com.  Thank you and I hope to hear from some of you soon.    

**Cassowaries in the Bingil Bay area have larger, safer and better connected habitat as a result of local residents clearing weeds and planting 500 trees on a council reserve.

Funding provided by Rainforest Rescue culminated in a tree planting event held on Sunday 17th February, managed by project implementation partner Terrain NRM, where nearly 40 locals planted 500 trees.

Around 40 volunteers from the local community planted 500 trees to expand habitat for Cassowary populations at Bingil Bay Reserve

The tree planting is the second to be funded by Rainforest Rescue in the Mission Beach area; the local Cassowary population is also benefitting from the planting of 1,900 trees, also managed by Terrain, in a Cassowary corridor at Cottonwood, near Wongaling Beach.

Bingil Bay resident Greg James, who planted trees on the day and is also a Rainforest Rescue supporter said, “Because of the pressures around here, this is an area that needs attention, every little bit counts.”

This year’s site was specifically chosen because it is known that Cassowaries use this particular reserve for both habitat and as a corridor.

“This corridor links Clump Mountain with Brookes and Garners Beaches and at least six different cassowaries have been seen using this corridor,” said Terrain’s Tony O’Malley.

The corridor provides a valuable wildlife link between Clump Mountain and Brookes and Garners Beach. At least six different Cassowaries are known to use this corridor.

Rainforest Rescue’s Erryn Stephens said, “Through Terrain we are achieving positive outcomes for local Cassowary populations and other threatened and endangered species that rely on the rainforest for survival.

“This collaborative approach to rainforest restoration would not be possible without the wonderful support we have received from the Mazda Foundation, Taronga Conservation Society, GlobalGiving donors, Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, North Queensland Wildlife Trust and Amuse Australia, along with donations from the general community.”

The site is part of a network of reserves managed by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council in the Bingil Bay area.

This particular tree planting event builds on revegetation work that Terrain previously funded C4 to do to improve the landscape for this endangered species, on another section of the same site.

Local Siobhan Jackson said, “The community involvement is a great initiative. It gives people ownership of environmental care and an awareness of where the corridors are.”

“Bingil Bay is a special place where people live in the rainforest and share the same space as the Cassowary,” said Mr O’Malley.

Rainforest Rescue will also fund a contractor to manage weeds in the replanted site through the wet season.

Cheers,

Paul Medici

Dear Friends,

Sometimes, Rainforest Rescue purchases properties that are in need of some restoration work.  It's a good thing our Daintree Rainforest Nursery is in great hands.  Please see the story below:

When it comes to taking credit for the Daintree Rainforest Plant Nursery’s extraordinary outputs, Nursery Manager Edie Beitzel shies away from the spotlight. But Edie and her small band of volunteers must be doing something right – they propagated 6,000 rainforest plants last year growing up to 165 different rainforest species.

“We have 10 volunteers on the books doing various tasks, and about four come along regularly each week. They come for an enjoyable afternoon. They like to see the progress, from the seed stage, through to when they are planted in the ground.

On a typical day, I prepare the volunteers essential afternoon tea, move stock out to make space for new propagations, update the database, it’s pretty varied and planting.

It’s a challenge to keep up the diversity of species.

For example, some species might only fruit every two years – so it’s timing things for when we need them. We have to ensure there are enough species for projects, keep enough balance. For Cassowaries, it’s supplying the trees that they need, so that there’s always something fruiting.

I’ve been doing this job for a bit over two years. It’s interesting, flexible, there is always something surprising… I love learning about the rainforest and working with the volunteers. I also have three kids and they love being part of it too.”

Thank you friends.  We value your support and if you're in a position to give a Year-End Tax-Deductible donation to the project, we would greatly appreciate it.  There is a lot of work to be done, but having your support is a blessing.  Happy Holidays!

Cheers,

Paul