Before we set out to purchase and protect a rainforest property, we first confirm its value for nature conservation. At the Possum Ridge property a survey by our botanist and ecologist provided the answers we were looking for - pristine old-growth tropical rainforest, and Striped Possums!
Possum Ridge - 93 hectares of tropical rainforest.
Stepping onto the Possum Ridge property, we immediately knew we'd found something special - 93 hectares of intact tropical rainforest that rivals the adjacent Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
With our ecologist and botanist we undertook a vegetation survey that identified 210 native plant species, including six listed as threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. We also found evidence of the Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata), and decided to name to the property Possum Ridge.
Possum Ridge lies 50 km South of Cairns, on the Eastern flanks of Mount Bartle Frere and Mount Bellenden Ker - Queensland’s tallest peaks and among the wettest regions in Australia. Rainfall here can exceed 8,000 mm annually, enabling the development of high-diversity rainforest.
The property borders Wooroonooran National Park and contains headwaters that flow into the Mulgrave–Russell River catchment, ultimately draining into the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef.
Threatened species identified by our botanist: The Bellenden Ker Laurel.
Possum Ridge lies within one of Australia's most important regions for biodiversity and endemism. The land complements the values of the broader Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and is a vital climate refuge for endemic wildlife.
The property meets five key biodiversity criteria - rated as High or Very High importance:
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Lower slopes of Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker: refugia, disjunct populations, species richness, relictual taxa, ecosystem variation, and climate change refuge.
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Flora richness mapping: species richness.
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Wet Tropics World Heritage Area Outstanding Universal Values – Relictual and Important Evolutionary Areas: presence of relictual taxa.
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Wet Tropics World Heritage Area Outstanding Universal Values – Habitats for Conserving Biodiversity and Rare and Threatened Species of Flora and Fauna: recognised refugia and high species richness.
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Local core refugia: important microhabitats for native species.
The purchase of Possum Ridge will enable 93 hectares to be managed as an essential refuge for endemic mammals and birds.
Securing this important habitat helps ensure the long-term survival of many species. By purchasing and protecting Possum Ridge, we are safeguarding a vital climate refuge. That’s why we’re acting now - its value as a critical wildlife corridor and permanent refuge is truly priceless.
Every $1 you donate will purchase and protect 1 sqm. Please, donate now to help save Possum Ridge.
Untouched rainforest at Possum Ridge.
Threatened, Rare and Endemic Species
The Striped Possum is a shy, solitary animal that emerges at night to feed on flowers, fruits, beetle larvae, and pollen. By day, it rests on a bed of leaves inside a tree hollow, or nestles within a clump of ferns. The Striped Possum is found only in the lowland and upland forests of the Wet Tropics region of North Queensland. It is easily recognisable by its bold, skunk-like appearance, with remarkable black and white stripes along its body and a distinctive white tip on its tail. Its elongated, slightly furred toes are another unique feature. The old-growth rainforest on the property is rich in tree hollows and nesting sites - and many trees showed evidence of where Striped Possums had been feeding.
Every $1 you donate will purchase and protect 1 sqm. Please, donate now to help save Possum Ridge.
The Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata).
During the survey, six plants listed as Threatened species under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 were recorded on the property. These include:
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Russell River Lime (Citrus inodora): An understorey tree restricted to the Mt Bartle Frere–Mt Bellenden Ker foothills and the Cape Tribulation area.
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Babinda Tamarind (Diploglottis harpullioides): An understorey tree with a patchy distribution between Innisfail and Cooktown.
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Bellenden Ker Laurel (Endiandra bellendenkerana): An understorey tree restricted to the North Johnstone River to Harvey Creek, Bellenden Ker.
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Black Walnut (Endiandra globosa): An understorey tree with a restricted and highly disjunct distribution—one population in far SEQ–NENSW and another in the Wet Tropics. The Wet Tropics expression of this species is subtly different to the subtropical population, though they are taxonomically the same. The Northern population is confined to the upper reaches of the Liverpool River, North of El Arish, and reaches its Northern limit near Harvey Creek at Bellenden Ker.
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Endiandra anthropophagorum: An understorey tree restricted to the Mt Bartle Frere–Mt Bellenden Ker foothills and the Cape Tribulation area.
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Native Pepper Vine (Piper mestonii): A large-leaved, native pepper vine restricted to the Innisfail–Bellenden Ker region and extending West to the Eastern edges of the Atherton Tableland, where it is often common.
Mountain Cassowary Plum.
Other regionally endemic plants include:
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Mountain Cassowary Plum (Cerbera inflata): A tree restricted to the Atherton Tablelands and adjacent areas. The occurrence at this site represents an especially low-altitude record.
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Wyvuri Canary Beech (Monoon patinatum): A tree restricted to the Tully–Gordonvale area.
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Johnson’s Haplostichanthus (Polyalthia johnsonii): An understorey shrub restricted to the Bartle Frere–Bellenden Ker region.
Two rainforest types dominate the landscape. The first, RE 7.12.1a, is a complex vine forest, growing on granite soils. It supports high species richness and is recognised as habitat for threatened plants, such as Citrus inodora and Piper mestonii. The second type, RE 7.12.40a, occurs on exposed ridgelines and is shaped by repeated cyclone damage. This system is defined by dense, tangled vines, and an open canopy that reflects ongoing natural disturbance.
Together, these ecosystems make Possum Ridge an important climate refuge and a critical ecological buffer to the surrounding World Heritage rainforest.
Every $1 you donate will purchase and protect 1 sqm. Please, donate now to help save Possum Ridge.
High biodiversity at Possum Ridge.
Wildlife Habitat and World Heritage Values
Possum Ridge lies within mapped essential habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary, and is expected to support a range of other significant fauna. Species listed as endangered or vulnerable under state and federal legislation - such as the Spotted-tailed Quoll, Waterfall Frog, Common Mistfrog, and Tapping Green-eyed Frog - are either known to occur on the property, or are considered likely to inhabitant it.
Possum Ridge provides habitat for the Spotted-tailed Quoll.
Managing Threats and Restoring Balance
Although the rainforest is largely intact, some areas of edge disturbance were noted near sugar cane fields and along the lower slopes. Weeds were observed in disturbed margins, while feral pigs pose a significant ecological threat across the site.
Conservation recommendations for the property include targeted weed suppression, and the restoration of rainforest edges. Feral pig control and monitoring should be prioritised to reduce soil disturbance and protect native flora and fauna. We also recommend working with neighbouring landholders to improve vehicle access, coordinate weed control, and reduce erosion risks along shared boundaries.
We will seek a declaration of Possum Ridge as a registered Nature Refuge under the Queensland Government’s conservation framework, ensuring it is protected in perpetuity.
With your help, we can purchase and protect Possum Ridge, and ensure that this extraordinary refuge continues to provide sanctuary for threatened plants and animals well into the future.
The purchase and protection of Possum Ridge will mark a significant achievement for rainforest conservation in Queensland.
Every $1 you donate will purchase and protect 1 sqm. Please, donate now to help save Possum Ridge.
Founder of Gondwana Rainforest Trust, Kelvin Davies at Possum Ridge.
FAQs
Looking for more information? We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about the purchase and protection of Possum Ridge here.
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