Local photographers leap to the aid of our frogs ARF transfers 12 Daintree Blocks to National Park ARF Funding for weeds News from Garners Beach ARF nursery grows up! To save it we have to own it The USA Class of 2008 ARF welcomes wealth of experience to the Board Take a Peek in the ARF Shop In brief Dates for your diary

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ARF transfers 12 Daintree Blocks to National Park

In May the Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF) transferred 12 blocks, totaling 22 hectares of Daintree rainforest to the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency for inclusion into the Daintree National Park.

Over the past five years, the Foundation has purchased 25 blocks in the Daintree, including two blocks which were donated and has raised over $300,000 from individuals and companies in support of the conservation of the Daintree.

With Commonwealth and State funding support, over $6 million has been spent on land acquisition and other conservation efforts in the Daintree rainforest.

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ARF Funding for weeds

In November 2007 the ARF, under its Stewardship Payments Program, encouraged landowners and residents of the Daintree and Mission Beach regions to enter into partnerships with the ARF to undertake agreed on-ground works on their properties to improve the local environment.
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News from Garners Beach

In May the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) released a statement advising that an adult female cassowary had died at the Garners Beach Cassowary Recovery facility, which the ARF sponsors.

Regular readers to this e-newsletter will know that Cassowary as Miriwinni Girl.

The statement from EPA concludes that the bird died following an adverse reaction to a sedative during a veterinary procedure to take blood samples.

	Other news from the beach ARF Community Conservation Officer, Steve Garrad has been on annual leave for the past few weeks. Dan Mead, Wildlife Ranger, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has been assuming his duties and caring for the resident cassowaries. Reggie, although still bald is doing well and Rocky the male chick rescued from a domestic dog in February is now an adolescent with a very healthy ‘teenage’ appetite.

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ARF nursery grows up!

We reported in our last e-newsletter that rain was delaying work on our new Daintree nursery – but thankfully now that we’re in the Dry Season (that doesn’t mean it’s not raining – just less of it) work has progressed really well and we are planning an official opening in July.

With some seedlings already planted out it won’t be long before we are restocking the pantry of our regular cassowary visitors

More images of the nursery...

To save it we have to own it

Retired QC John Kearney and wife, Alison have been major supporters of the ARF since sponsoring two pristine rainforest blocks next to the nursery, after responding to the Foundation’s General Cosgrove campaign in 2006.

The couple live on the Gold Coast but travel regularly to far north Queensland and the ARF were delighted that on a recent trip they made time to visit their sponsored blocks and help with a little reveg work!
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The USA Class of 2008

Following a successful first visit to the Daintree in 2007 with Cairns tour operator Wilderness Challenge, a second group of students (pictured) from Vanderbilt University, Tennessee visited the Daintree with the company in May to check on the progress of the 2007 plantings and to plant their own trees.

With the Dry Season well upon us Wilderness Challenge has begun its regular 3 day Rockart, Rainforest and Cooktown tour which calls into the ARF Conservation Office in the Daintree to plant a tree.

Planting the right tree in the right place...

ARF welcomes wealth of experience to the Board

The ARF is delighted to welcome the former Federal member for the Far North Queensland electorate of Leichhardt, Mr Warren Entsch to its board.

Described as 'a handy man with snakes, crocodiles and other wild creatures.' Warren was first elected to Parliament in 1996, and was returned at three subsequent elections.
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Take a Peek in the ARF Shop

If you’re looking for a souvenir of your visit to far north Queensland or ‘art you can wear’ then drop into the ARF Interpretive Centre and Gift Shop on the Esplanade, Cairns and check out the recently arrived Peek-A-Boo jewellery and puzzles.

Made from earthy-toned pewter with silver or gold plate, the intricate brooches, bracelets, cuff-links and puzzles are described as ‘talismans with a conservation message’.

All purchases made can be gift wrapped and posted to anywhere in Australia (postage extra).

Visit the ARF Interpretive Centre and Gift Shop in Cairns, 51 Esplanade, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm or check out our brochure here or call us now on (07) 4041 1489.

Dates for your 2008 diary Schools Tree Day - Friday 25 July National Tree Day - Sunday 27 July Threatened Species Day - Sunday 7 September Exclusive Charity Dinner in the Rainforest - 25 October (more next e-news)

In Brief Operation Big Bird fly’s south: Thomas Bauer was the ARF’s first Rainforest Guardian when he purchased and protected 15 hectares of cassowary habitat at Garners Beach, Queensland and is happy to tell everyone, wherever he goes – including the Antarctic - that he is a proud supporter of Operation Big Bird. Rainforest Guardians are private citizens just like you and me. Some times they are even major corporations. But they all have one thing in common – they have acted to protect and preserve one of the most important places on this planet. Find out more about becoming a Rainforest Guardian http://www.arf.net.au/guardian.html Support on Earth Day keeps on growing Roger Phillips, ARF CEO,is dwarfed by the trees planted on Earth Day 07, 12 months later. Earth Day is held across the world in April each year. In 2007 a group of Cairns tourism and hospitality operators, including staff and guests from Angsana Resort, Palm Cove, travelled to the Daintree to plant trees on ARF land. In 2008 the group returned and the ARF would like to thank them for their ongoing consideration and support in helping protect and extend our precious rainforests.

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