Protect a Rainforest

Dear Rescuer,

Well, it’s already February—and 2021 is really picking up speed. 

Rainforest Rescue is growing and I want you to know what you are making possible.

When I jumped in as CEO just over two years ago, there was plenty to do if we were going to tune-up the organisation to be as effective and to have the kind of impact I knew was possible. 

In the time since, and with the incredible support of people like you, we’ve achieved so many things including:

• Rescued five more pristine rainforest blocks.
• Planted over 20,0000 trees.
• Replaced aging infrastructure and moved our computing operations into the cloud; this future-proofs our efforts and enables remote and COVID Safe working wherever our staff are.
• Rehired every position but one, increased staff capacity and revitalised our internal culture to be one of openness, accountability, compassion and vision for a greener future.
• Added new staff positions for better management of our supporter relationships, improved communications and more effective restoration and land management for better and more positive conservation outcomes.
• Renewed our general membership as part of our commitment to best practices in organisational governance, bringing in new energy and creating a stronger community of support.
• Built a powerful partnership that extends our reach and impact with Queensland Trust for Nature, with whom we rescued the largest block to date at almost 1,000 acres. They’ve also contributed to the rescue of Lot 27 last year and they provide us with extra capacity - help us be more efficient and effective.
• Strengthened and renewed our partnership with Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation, who will be sharing the work load at our new nursery and helping to identify and restore new rainforest properties. Their role in this new restoration program is central and essential and we are excited to be working together.
• Taken a leap, knowing that you have our backs, to plant more trees! This meant making a big push to both mitigate global warming by increasing carbon drawdown as well as grow the footprint of the Daintree by restoring more ravaged rainforest than ever. As an organisation we have committed to building a large-scale nursery that will ultimately supply as many as 150,000 trees each year. #TimeToGrow!
• Raised over $380,000 so far towards our initial nursery goal of $405,000! This is amazing – and testament to the importance of this new nursery and its future promise.

Seriously, it’s been quite a journey. It is only because of dedicated supporters like you, that we can achieve so much. 

With your ongoing belief in what we do and your stellar support, I am very enthusiastic about Rainforest Rescue, and I see an organisation that is growing and dedicated more than ever to the best outcomes for nature. 

In the year ahead, we’ve planned:

• More rescues – with not one but two rescues underway at this very moment. These will increase the area of an established wildlife refuge connected to the World Heritage Daintree National Park.
• More trees propagated – we’re planning for 75,000 trees by late this year end and a capacity of 150,000 Daintree Rainforest trees annually thereafter.
• More restoration at NightWings – restoring ex-cane fields back to rainforest again.
• New Nature Refuges certified and wildlife corridors further developed.
• And more…

It is a very exciting time—and we can only do this because you believe in us and continue to support with us. 

Thank you for being part of Rainforest Rescue!

Branden and the Team at Rainforest Rescue