The Daintree Rainforest is still in loads of trouble and a local company, Byron Bay Coffee, is doing their bit to help out.
Rainforest Rescue is currently fundraising to protect Lot 46 Cape Tribulation Road in the Daintree, which they call their Cassowary Conservation Reserve. Lot 46 is a 27-hectare property that was highly degraded due to agricultural use and neglect.
Rainforest Rescue entered a loan agreement to purchase the property in 2010 for $350K and subsequently received funds from business partners and nearly half a million dollars from the previous federal government to restore the property.
The restoration is complete with the final 2,000 (of 37,000) trees to be planted at a community tree-planting event in May and the endangered Southern Cassowary has returned to the property, regularly inspecting the work. Fundraising to repay the loan continues and Byron Bay Coffee is a local business partner who has responded to the call to arms.
‘The Daintree rainforest is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot,’ says Dr Robert Kooyman, internationally recognised rainforest scientist and Rainforest Rescue’s expert adviser.
‘Rainforest Rescue’s work in the Daintree is inspirational. They preserve and protect this incredibly important area through the support of individuals, and business partners like Byron Bay Coffee Company.’
Byron Bay Coffee is going to match dollar-for-dollar donations received in donation boxes at local cafes they supply, including the Byron Beach Café, Aquarius and Treehouse until they can protect a hectare of the Daintree forever.
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