Managing the threats facing the - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Managing the threats facing the

Daintree Rainforest

BIODIVERSITY UNDER THREATSlide2

What do we know already about the Daintree Rainforest?Slide3

Tourism-

Worth 141.7 million Australian $ a year

Many

partake in destructive activities there- such as fishing, 4 wheel drive tours, walking, reef diving, horse riding

Ferry carries 700 vehicles across river daily

0.5 million visitors annually

Increased accommodation since 199170% of tourists visit independently- 30% with registered coach companiesRecent improvements- road tarmac increasing visitor numbersVisitors think there’s too much accommodation and enough walking tracks already in place

What are the threats to the Daintree?Slide4

Growth and change in Port Douglas

Population 4000

Large visitor numbers have led to decline in small local shops replaced by a small supermarket

Property

booms

2

new resorts just nearing completion, 2 underway and 2 more in process of planningSmall forest areas have been divided up and sold to developers- some have been built on and environmental concerns have been addressed others have been turned to cattle ranchesRed cedar became extinct in 2000 after builder removed allIf land clearing isn’t stopped 85 rare plant species stand to be lost

What are the threats to the

Daintree

?Slide5

Ferry capacity limits traffic, population and visitor levels

No Mains electric north of river- so people there have to generate own through RAPS, own generators or solar power

Local services only support small local population- no mains water or sewer disposal system

In 2000 planners gained permission for a McDonalds on site, but now it has been withdrawn- citing a destruction of local values and too much change as reasons

Limits to developmentSlide6

Began in late 1860’s to cultivate sugar cane production continued to early 1990s

Most clearance today, for pasture (86%), with remainder cleared for crops (10%), mining infrastructure and settlement (4%)

Shift from central to southern Queensland away from

Daintree

DeforestationSlide7

Add the threats faced by the

Daintree

to your case study

Which

threat/s to the

Daintree

do you perceive to be the biggest? Why?What are the causes of deforestation? Classify into social, economic and environmentalTasksSlide8

Who is

involved in the management? Key players

Wet tropics management authority

Douglas Shire Council (till2008) then Cairns regional council

Australian Rainforest Foundation

Wildlife preservation society of Queensland

Australian Tropical Research FoundationRainforest cooperative research councilManaging the DaintreeSlide9

Tasks

You will each be given a key player

You must research your position using the parrot book

Look at what strategies they have put in place

Why they are doing it

Have they been successfulSlide10

There are obviously conflicts in the ways different groups want to manage the Daintree

How far are the conflicts a case of economic v environment? Is anything as important? Why?

How would you manage it? Which ideas would you keep/ discard? Why? Other ideas? Sustainability?

TasksSlide11

Formed 1990

Based in Cairns, main functions-

Developing and implementing plans and policies

Researching and monitoring enhancing understanding of the importance of the heritage area- monitoring state of wet tropics

Developing management agreements with landholders and aborigines’

Providing education through visitor centres

Funding Promotion of the areaWet tropics management authoritySlide12

Aims were to gradually reduce population in Daintree

Increased ferry coasts to limit numbers, but numbers still increasing

Rejected plans for a bridge across river to replace ferry and rejected another ferry option- on grounds that extra visitors and pop. Would endanger rainforest

Douglas Shire councilSlide13

Community development-

12-1400 people to live in area and be involved in stewardship and conservation of land

Base employment on tourism, organic Farming, tropical horticulture and small business ops.

Settle about 600 blocks of land

Biodiversity conservation-

adopt settlement and land management practices on private land to protect the outstanding biodiversity

Identify biodiversity hotspots for conservation for no developmentIdentify threats from wild animals540 blocks remain unsettled

Rainforest cooperative research council

Report from 2000- found unless action was taken, area would

see increase in residential development, loss of biodiversity and

reduction in attractiveness to tourists. They implemented these

strategies to try to build a SUSTAINABLE future for the areaSlide14

Douglas Shire Council/ Cairns regional council-

Introduce planning controls for biodiversity conservation

Ensure settlement densities are sustainable

Electricity supply-

When settlement densities are at sustainable level, use underground cables to extend supply far north as copper creek

People north of copper creek remain on RAPS

Indigenous people-Recognise the rights of aboriginal peoples to own land and promote their culture within the forestWater supply and waste management- Keep water extraction from streams and underground supplies within sustainable limitsUse best available domestic tech for waste disposal

Rainforest cooperative research councilSlide15

Roads and ferry

Ferry to remain gateway to area as essential access

Improve tourist facilities south of river and recreation facilities north of

Reduce forest cut backs- the road to cap tribulation should be a green tunnel with windows through the forest to mountain and coast scenery

Tourism-

Increase tourist numbers to 550,000 to boost and maintain local economy

Increase no. of tourists staying for 7ral nights or more and revisiting areaMonitor tourist impacts and ensure sustainabilityFinancingUse ferry income to assist community services infrastructure and conservationEstablish Daintree Land trust to support land acquisition and pay compensation for lost landMeet cost of priority purchase and financial incentives for conservation

Subsidise electricity supply

Rainforest cooperative research councilSlide16

Not for profit organisation dedicated to education, research and habitat rehabilitation- involved in variety of projects-

Operation Big Bird- creation of 250km wide wildlife corridor to help protect the Cassowary- path will link Cairns too southern coast town of Cardwell- these help biodiversity by enabling species movement to feed, breed and colonise

Australian govt has funded ARF for range of conservation initiatives- including BUY BACK, process of buying back land from developers who previously purchased it to reduce development.

Encourages remaining developers to do so in an eco way through education

Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF)Slide17

Community based not for profit conservation group. Committed to a sustainable future for people and wildlife

Support ban on development in the area

Wildlife Preservation Society of QueenslandSlide18

Created 1993

Oversee operation of visitor centres and education facilities at the Cape tribulation tropical research station and the wet tropics visitor centre- highlight global importance of the tropical forest ecosystem

Australian Tropical Research Foundation