Saving life on Earth

It’s wrong for humans to cause the extinction of other species. That’s one of our core beliefs here at Gondwana Rainforest Trust and it inspires us in everything we do. 

Every day we are confronted by the reality of the biodiversity crisis and climate change. Rather than despair we are empowered to build a community of likeminded people and take action. 

The recently released Queensland State of the Environment Report 2024 added 166 plants and animals to the Threatened species list. Our response is to purchase, protect and restore land with habitat where the highest number of threatened species are found. With the support of tens of thousands of donors we’ve now purchased 34 Daintree properties for conservation and we are working on the acquisition of three more.

The acquired properties are all safe and secure and every new acquisition is added to the Pathway to Protection process, made possible through an agreement between Gondwana Rainforest Trust, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, the Queensland Government and the Wet Tropics Management Authority. This has resulted in the transfer of the title of another 10 properties to the Queensland State government for inclusion in the national park and they will join Lot 107 Buchanan Creek Road which is already protected in the Daintree National Park (CYPAL). 

You will have also noticed we are raising the funds to purchase the 93 ha Possum Ridge property at Bellenden Ker, located 50km south of Cairns. This will be another property outside of the Daintree that has been purchased and protected. The contributions of donors have previously enabled the purchase and protection of Oakey Scrub, Cheelonga Cloud Forest and Maalan Cloud Forest. 

Keeping the carbon in the trees is an essential action to address climate change. Deforestation has released enormous amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Planting trees draws down that carbon and keeps it keeps it stored in the trees themselves. We’re busy planting trees and restoring rainforest in the Daintree Rainforest, on the Atherton Tablelands and in northern New South Wales. I’m thrilled to say that through our Rainforest Rangers program our tree tally has now increased to 217,442 with 8,620 trees having been planted since January this year.

It’s been a few years now however earlier contributions by our donors supported the closure of service roads in the Daintree rainforest and the planting of thousands of trees. 

Humanity depends upon the web of life. We are connected to the natural world. Addressing the loss of biodiversity and climate change is something that should concern and compel everyone into action. I am extremely grateful for the conscious and thoughtful contributions made by tens of thousands of people who want to save life on Earth.

Making an impact is what we’re here for. Last financial year these extraordinary outcomes for rainforest conservation were achieved, all thanks to supporters like you.

Your impact in 2024/25:

- Purchased another 3 rainforest properties for conservation.
- Protected over 125,000 sqm of critical rainforest habitat.
- Identified 16 threatened species on our purchased properties.
- Established 33,255 trees through the Rainforest Rangers program.

From purchasing critical habitat to restoring degraded rainforest, your support has created real, lasting impact that will protect threatened species and ancient rainforests for generations to come.

Thanks for helping save life on Earth.