Daintree Rainforest

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 1

Daintree Rainforest

Title Page PG 1

Contents Page PG 2

Location PG 3

Flora and Fauna PG 4

Threats PG 5

Conservation and Preservation PG 6

Bibliograpy PG 7

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 2

Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is located in Queensland, Australia, north of Cairns. The Daintree is the biggest rainforest in Australia, taking up around 1200 square kilometers. 75 percent of the Daintree is protected by the World Heritage List. The Daintree is named after Richard Daintree.

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 3

Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest contains 30 percent of frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia, 65 percent of bat and butterfly species, and 18 percent of bird species. There are over 12000 species of insects, and 430 types of birds. The Austrobaileya Scandens and the Idiospermum Australiense (more commonly known as the Idiot Fruit) are both native to the Daintree. The Idiot Fruit was founded in 1970. The Daintree contains many species of Fungi, like the Maiden veil fungus, and also various orchids. 12 of the 19 plant families on Earth are found in the Daintree. The Daintree has many types of animals that live in the water, and many. There are Snake-necked turtles, found in the rainforest waterways, Turtle Tucker, Eels, found in just about every rainforest creek, shellfish (yabbies and crays), and also prawns. The daintree contains many rare and endangered species, such as the newly found masked white-tailed rat. Unique species include Bennett’s tree kangaroo, Thornton Peak Medlomys, spotted-tail quoll and also the Daintree River Ringtail Possum. Many of the animals are nocturnal, so going there in the day is probably not a good idea.

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 4

Daintree Rainforest

There is not much threat of deforestation in the Daintree, as it is protected by the World Heritage List, but the Queensland Forestry department cuts down the trees and sells the timber for high prices. Tourist visits are a big threat on the Daintree. The accessible lowlands have most of the endangered forest types and that area receives almost all of the tourist visits. More than 400,000 people travel to the Daintree every year, and with them comes thousands of buses, 4WD and other types of vehicles drive through and pollute the forest. There is a lot of pressure to clear the area for private homes. One threat that has not yet become active is mining. Tin mining leases are held over parts of the Daintree, and if the mining goes ahead many plant and animal species will be lost.

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 5

Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest covers only 0.2 percent of Austrailias total land mass. 75 percent of the rainforest is on the World Heritage List, which the Daintree was added to in 1988. Rainforest Rescue has been helping the Daintree by raising money to buy back that are threatened by development and high in conservation value since 1988. Rainforest Rescue have already bought 11 properties and are close to buying another one. All of these properties are protected and conserved forever. The WLT (World Land Trust) is also involved with this.

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 6

Daintree Rainforest

http://www.therainforests.info/landscape/daintree.htm, The Daintree Rainforest, 28/2/2010

http://austrop.org.au/ArchiveOldSite/DaintreeRescue/daintree_threat.html, Daintree Still Under Threat, 28/2/2010

http://www.solarwhisper.com/Daintree_Solar_Whisper_Flora.htm, Daintree Flora and Fauna, 25/2/2010

http://www.daintree-rec.com.au/daintree.html, Daintree Rainforest Centre, About the Daintree, 28/2/2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daintree_Rainforest, Daintree Rainforest, 23/2/2010

Anthony Fisher History and Geography 7