Protect a Rainforest

Recent developments in the Daintree have marked an important step forward for rainforest restoration, but also highlight the challenges that still remain.

At the end of March, Douglas Shire Council made a decision on Rainforest Rescue’s proposal to restore the Daintree Oxbow floodplain—an area of nationally significant wetland and former agricultural land.

The outcome was a partial approval.

This means that restoration can now begin in some areas of the Oxbow, allowing native rainforest to be replanted on parts of the landscape. At the same time, other areas were not approved for restoration, reflecting ongoing tensions between traditional land use and emerging conservation opportunities.

Why This Matters

This decision represents real progress.

For decades, large areas of lowland rainforest in the Daintree have been cleared, fragmented, or converted to agriculture. Now, as industries like sugarcane decline in the region, there is a rare opportunity to return these landscapes to functioning ecosystems.

Rainforest restoration at the Oxbow has the potential to:

• Reconnect rainforest, wetlands and mangroves
• Improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef
• Create habitat for threatened species
• Support a new, nature-positive local economy

Even partial approval allows this work to begin, demonstrating what is possible.

From Protection to Restoration

Rainforest Rescue’s Protect a Rainforest project focuses on purchasing high conservation value rainforest blocks and protecting them forever.

This work has already helped secure dozens of properties and restore critical wildlife habitat, reconnecting fragmented ecosystems across the Daintree landscape.

The Oxbow represents the next evolution of this approach—moving from individual property protection to landscape-scale protection and restoration.

Building Momentum: Lot 3

At the centre of this vision is Lot 3, a key floodplain property within the Oxbow.

Securing this site will:

• Protect a critical link between rainforest, river and mangroves
• Enable large-scale restoration to begin
• Safeguard habitat in perpetuity

Thanks to the support of our community, we are now around one-third of the way towards our $987,000 goal to purchase and protect this property.

Looking Ahead

The recent council decision shows that change is possible—but it also makes clear that progress takes time.

Rainforest Rescue will continue working with landholders, partners and decision-makers to expand restoration opportunities across the Oxbow and beyond.

At the same time, we remain focused on what we can do right now: securing land, protecting it forever, and restoring rainforest wherever possible.

Thank You

Every step forward—whether it’s a land purchase, a restored hectare, or a policy shift—is made possible through your support.

Together, we are not only protecting rainforest, but helping shape what its future can be.

We’ve attached a link to our 2025 Annual Report if you’d like to explore the broader impact of this work.

Links:

• Watch the full council meeting, Tuesday 31 March 2026
• Rainforest Rescue's 2025 Annual Report