The Southern Cassowary, a keystone species of Australia’s rainforests and listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, is increasingly threatened by habitat fragmentation. This project aims to restore essential habitat for the survival of this iconic species.
Rebuilding safe rainforest habitat for the Southern Cassowary
in the Daintree Rainforest
EPBC:
EndangeredIUCN:
Least ConcernThreats:
Project Location:
Cow Bay, QLD
The Project
This project focuses on a crucial site, the former airstrip property at Cow Bay, which serves as a key wildlife corridor in the Daintree Rainforest, with recent cassowary sightings in its reforested areas. However, around seven hectares remain as a barren stretch – the old runway – that disrupts the otherwise connected rainforest habitat. Restoring this area is essential to reestablish ecological continuity and support the region’s diverse wildlife.
Why we need to act
Rainforest Rescue is working to enhance conservation efforts in several key areas. They are increasing wildlife corridors, creating safe and connected habitats for rescued and restored wildlife across properties.
In-depth monitoring of the Southern Cassowary population in the Daintree is underway, aiming to expand knowledge of this unique species by collecting solid data through the team's efforts. Additionally, increasing tree plantings across restoration sites is helping to naturally filter sediments from waterways, improving water quality and reducing turbidity for the Great Barrier Reef.
These plantings also contribute to climate change mitigation, as trees absorb carbon and create a protective buffer for the Daintree’s core rainforest, safeguarding it from the impacts of a changing climate
Solution & Approach
Rainforest Rescue’s dedicated and highly skilled nursery and land management teams aim to restore this land by cultivating and planting approximately 24,500 trees. By reuniting these two rainforest sections, we’ll create a continuous, safe, and healthy habitat that will protect the Southern Cassowary and numerous rare and endangered species unique to the Daintree – securing this biodiversity for generations to come.
Planting is expected to continue for this project until the end of 2025.
Collateral Beneficiaries
This project will also support a number of collateral beneficiary species.
Critically endangered fauna:
Beautiful Nursery-frog (Cophixalus concinnus), Armoured Mistfrog (Litoria lorica), Northern Tinker Frog (Taudactylus rheophilus).
Critically endangered flora:
Crepidomanes aphlebioides, Hymenophyllum whitei, Thornton Peak Stink Bush (Zieria madida), Bubbia whitean.
Endangered fauna:
Spectacled Flying-fox, Spotted-tailed Quoll (northern subspecies) (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis), Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus), Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus), Tapping Nursery Frog (Cophixalus aenigma), Waterfall Frog (Litoria nannotis), Common Mistfrog (Litoria rheocola).
Endangered flora:
Noahdendron nicholasii, Endiandra cooperana, Lindsaea terrae-reginae, Carronia pedicellate.
Endemic possums and gliders:
Lemuroid Ringtail Possum, Herbert River Ringtail Possum, Green Ringtail Possum, Daintree River Ringtail Possum.
Endemic fauna:
Daintree Rainbow Fish, Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo, Musky Rat Kangaroo.
Migratory birds:
Shining Starlings and Torresian Imperial-Pigeon.
Armoured Mistfrog photo courtesy Eric Vanderduys
Project partners and additional information
FAME is partnering on this project with Rainforest Rescue and will work in Partnership with
Traditional Owners, Jabalbina Aboriginal Yalanji Corporation (JYAC).
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