DAINTREE RAINFOREST

WHAT IS THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST

The Daintree Cape Tribulation Rainforest in North Queensland Australia is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of Mother Natures work in the world. This ecologically unique rainforest is home to the most extensive range of rare plants and animals on earth, and all are found within an area of approximately 1200 square kilometers – the largest chunk of protected tropical rainforest in Australia. The Daintree Cape Tribulation rainforest is a World Heritage Listed area and contains the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare, or threatened with near extinction, anywhere in the world. The Daintree Cape Tribulation Rainforest is a unique area, precariously balanced between the advances of development.

FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST

Around 3,000 plant species from over 210 families are found within the Daintree Rainforest and extended wet tropics region. Twelve out of the world’s 19 families of primitive flowering plants grow within the region and within these at least 50 species are found only within the tropics and rarely seen anywhere else. From the forest floor right up to its towering canopy, the surroundings will spellbind with the beauty of the plant life that lives deep within the forest. The diverse range of plant life also forms a natural archive of Australia’s evolutionary process. Thirteen out of the 19 primitive flowering plant families and some of the most primitive cycads, ferns and mosses are all found in the Daintree Rainforest.

Flora: The overcrowding of plants on the rainforest floor means they must fight for survival and grow skywards in search of the sun's rays. This struggle for survival results in some very interesting plants to view in the rainforest such as the strangler fig. The strangler fig often begins its life as a seed deposited by a bird at the top of a tree or in a trees crevice. It then develops roots and grows down the host tree, essentially strangling it all the way down to its base. Once the host plants dies, the strangler fig stands alone. Strangler figs are prolific and can be observed along the two walks at Mossman Gorge.

Rare plants: *Hope’s Cycad
*Fan Palm
*Ribbon-wood tree
*White Hazelwood shrub
*Backscratcher Ginger
*Daintree Cheese Tree
*Wax Flower
*Maple Silkwood
*Hairy Aglaia
*Atherton Oak.

The animal is one of Australia's few carnivorous animals and has a distinct piercing scream when threatened. Over 430 different species have been spotted through the years by birdwatchers at the rainforest. The region is home to a quarter of Australia’s frog population, a little over a third of the country’s freshwater fish and one of the largest butterfly colonies in existence.

Birds:
*Cassowary
*Brush Cuckoo
*Chowchilla
*Common Koel
*Common Noddy
*Crested Hawk/Pacific Baza
*Dollarbird
*Dusky Honeyeater
*Eastern Yellow Robin

Mammals:
*Thornton Peak Melomys
*Water-rat
*White-tailed Rat
*Red-legged Pademelon
*Swamp Wallaby
*Northern Brown Bandicoot
*Long-nosed Bandicoot
*Echidna
*Platypus

Reptiles:
*Eastern Water Dragon
*Geckos
*Goannas or Monitor Lizards
*Skinks
*Pythons
*Colubrids
*Turtles
*Crocodiles

Amphibians:
*Dainty Tree Frogs
*Giant White-lipped Tree Frogs
*Green-eyed Tree Frogs
*Northern Stoney Creek Tree Frogs
*Northern Barred Frogs
*Orange-thighed Tree Frog
*Water or Wood Frog

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WHAT ARE THE CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST

The Daintree Rainforest provides one of the best examples of tropical environments in the world. It is part of a region in Tropical North Queensland called the “Wet Tropics” as it receives vast amounts of rain, however this usually occurs in torrential downpours that last only a few hours at a time. When it’s not raining, usually the sun is out in full force highlighting the vibrant colours of the rainforest and the sea.

CONDITIONS IN THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST 2014

• January c* 32 f* 90 October c* 30 f* 86
• February c* 31 f* 88 November c* 31 f* 88
• March c* 31 f* 88 December c* 32 f* 90
• April c* 30 f* 86
• May c* 27 f* 80
• June c* 26 f* 79
• July c* 25 f* 77
• August c* 27 f* 88
• September c* 28 f* 32

HISTORY ON THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST

The area in which this site is located was selectively logged in the late 1950's and early 1960's. There are however standing specimens of Toona ciliata (Red Cedar) in the area, which suggests that this logging was probably not intensive. Extreme disturbance due to storm damage (tropical cyclones) is common in the area on a cycle of approximately 50 years. On the 11th of February 1999, tropical cyclone Rona (category 3) passed over the Cape Tribulation area causing widespread major damage. Wind gusts of up to 170 km/hr, local flooding and storm surges of up to 1.4m were recorded in the area.

EFFECTS ON THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST

Deforestation:Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink—soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns. Deforestation undermines this important carbon sink function. It is estimated that 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation. Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They produce vital oxygen and provide homes for people and wildlife. Many of the world’s most threatened and endangered animals live in forests, and 1.6 billion people rely on benefits forests offer, including food, fresh water, clothing, traditional medicine and shelter.

Human activity:The creation of national parks has undoubtedly helped to protect rainforests. Yet, as national parks are open to the public, tourism is damaging some of these areas. Often, national parks are advertised to tourists before adequate management plans have been developed and implemented. Inadequate funding is allocated for preservation of forests by government departments. Governments see tourism as an easy way to make money, and therefore tourism is encouraged whilst strict management strategies are given far less government support. Ecotourism, or environmentally friendly tourism, should educate the tourists to be environmentally aware. It should also be of low impact to its environment.

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