Friday 11 February 2011

4 million cyclones for Daintree

: The rainforest and its inhabitants have endured millions of cyclones over its long history.

by Prue Hewett
Director Cooper Creek Wilderness

Our Daintree Rainforest is open, albeit wide open in some areas as severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi delivered a three metre haircut!

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect is the enduring quality of old-growth rainforest. The pioneer vegetation on the outside of the forest was battered beyond recognition while performing its usual function of absorbing the full shock of the gales and protecting the rainforest giants that are hidden from view.

This is a lesson for visitors to the Daintree Rainforest - “you can’t judge a book by its cover”, nor can you appreciate the marvels of the world’s oldest rainforest from the outside.

Newcomers to Port Douglas may not know that there are freehold landholders in the Daintree whose land was included in the World Heritage Area listing in 1988.

This was the first acknowledgment by the Australian Government that high biodiversity on freehold and other off-reserve land is as important to conservation of the environment as National Parks.

Sustainable eco-tourism has provided the necessary funding for the management and protection of this unique piece of paradise.

We like to show visitors to Port Douglas and Daintree the resilience and perseverance of our 135 million-year old rainforest. During this period, at the estimated rate of three cyclones per century, more than 4 million cyclones have bombarded the Daintree Coast.

We have been noting the return of wildlife including cassowaries, musky rat kangaroos and Boyd’s forest dragons. Now we need tourists to return to contribute to the conservation of the Daintree Rainforest.

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Prue Hewett, 26-05-11 08:56:

Hi Stephen Wilkinson, The evolution of the angiosperms (primitive flowering plants) occurred 135 million years ago. This was ascertained through fossils in the earth's strata. Not being an archeologist I don't refute these figures that have been obtained through research. There are 19 families of primitive angiosperms in the world. Daintree Rainforest has 12 of the 19. This is the basis for claiming that this is the world's oldest rainforest, because no other forest comes close to the old world forest at the base of Thornton Peak in the Daintree, in terms of numbers of primitive flowering plants. You should come for a rainforest walk with me at Cooper Creek Wilderness and you will experience a very different forest.

Mark Thatcher, 12-05-11 17:38:

The Daintree Rainforest is a special place and should be looked after for generations to come,When you visit this lovely spot take away memories and photos and leave only foot prints (not rubbish).And slow down on the roads as the Cassowaries call it home and cross the road sometimes.
Once you visit this place you'll want to come back again and again, as there is a lot to see, beautiful clean beachs, fresh air(no smog)and not millions of people at once, so you will have some beachs all to your self.The Rainforest looks good for over 135 million years old..

stephen wilkinson, 11-05-11 17:04:

Its absolutly absurd to say the forest is 135 million years old, if that was the case the top soil would be 100s of feet deep this is pure assumption and as usual the national parks "mantra" becomes fact, it would be better if one said 'we think'however because main streem science {most of whom are 'repeaters'& have done no real reserch} we still follow charles'servival of the fittest' darwins THOERY, however if its not mainstreem it dosnt get a look in, the skeptics sosiety have made sure of that.Only if it spews forth from the indoctranation centres{eg universities}will any other accoun or theory etc will be acknowleged.

Susan Lerigo, 14-02-11 21:53:

We visited the Rain Forest in November and we were thrilled what a beautiful place. Also went to Cape Tribulation and a ride on the Daintree no big Crocs x We stayed in Port Douglas and loved the place also Spent a week in Cairns and did not want to leave .