Over the last two-and-a-half years the Mullumbimby based Rainforest 4 Foundation has had a mission to buy back parts of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest that were subdivided for sale in the 1980s.
They have now bought back 20 properties totalling 50ha or 500,000 square metres of the forest that were excluded from the Daintree National Park and World Heritage are to create the subdivision. Their mission has been supported by everyday people contributing towards buying back blocks of land from the development and they have worked Jimmy Halfcut from the not-for-profit HalfCut to help raise the money for the buybacks.
‘In just 2.5 years we’ve secured 20 blocks,’ said founder of Rainforest 4 Kelvin Davies.
‘That’s due to the passion and commitment of everyday Australians and people from around the world that love the Daintree and want to see it protected forever.’
When the blocks are bought back ownership is given to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, who then transfer the title to the National Parks estate. This removes the land from the risk of further development.
Just prior to the Festive Season three blocks came up for sale.
‘I was hearing from our supporters that they wanted us to do more,’ Kelvin said, ‘so when the opportunity to purchase and protect three blocks appeared I knew our donors would jump on board. The response really has been overwhelming.
‘Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors in two months we raised the funds to buy three blocks and in 2021 we were able to purchase 12 Daintree Rainforest properties.
‘Working with the Kuku Yalanji people through the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and with fellow nonprofit HalfCuthas been a key to our success,’ he told The Echo.
‘Having a partner like HalfCut has allowed us to reach this milestone much quicker than if we’d gone it alone as they reached out to even more donors. We truly are Stronger Together,’ Kelvin said.
To make a donation to purchase future properties in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest visit www.Rainforest4.org or call on (02) 8005 6995.
What a success, although such a shame that this has to be funded by ordinary taxpayers and not by government, or developers that tear up and destroy land. Good on yas.