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Hi
Welcome to the latest issue of
our quarterly e-newsletter. We hope it will keep you
up-to-date with our activities and projects in the
Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
Highlights in this issue include the appointment of
Cr Julia Leu and the re-appointment of Dr Alastair
Birtles as Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA)
Directors. The Authority is also making good
progress towards having the Wet Tropics recognised
as part of Australia’s National Landscapes Program.
Also in our Education section we have announced the
winners of the ‘Keep It Wild’ poster competition.
Thirteen finalists' artworks have been used to make
the WTMA 2011 calendar. |
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If you have any comments,
contact us on
07 4052 0531 or give us your feedback
here.
Feel free to pass this newsletter on to your
friends.
Andrew Maclean,
Executive Director
Visit our web site
here.
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WTMA |
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United
Nations
Ambassadors
Visit
As part
of the
Australian
Government's
"Special
Visitors
Program",
the
Department
of
Foreign
Affairs
and
Trade
brought
four UN
Permanent
Representatives
to the
Wet
Tropics
World
Heritage
Area and
Great
Barrier
Reef.
The
visiting
Ambassadors
all
showed
considerable
interest
in the
way the
World
Heritage
Area is
protected
and
valued
socially
and
economically
for its
ecosystem
services. WTMA
staff
Andrew
Maclean
and Nev
Reis
accompanied
the
ambassadors
on a
visit to
Skyrail
Rainforest
Cableway
hosted
by Max
Shepard. |
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Research Strategy
The WTMA Board has approved the Research Strategy for its use in guiding research priorities in the region. The research strategy promotes the World Heritage Area as a unique ‘Learning Landscape’ that provides opportunities for collaborative research across disciplines such as ecology, climatology, tourism, sociology and economics. |
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Queensland’s Wet Tropics has affinities with the upper reaches of the Amazon and Congo basins and the uplands of Madagascar, Brazil and New Guinea; however Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area has an added advantage over other tropical rainforest research areas. Our rainforests are easily accessible, there are high quality research institutions and infrastructure in the region, and the forests are internationally acknowledged as outstanding by scientists and conservationists.
“Research that helps improve the ways we manage a World Heritage Area based on the best available science can attract considerable international attention and can influence the adoption of good management practices in other parts of the world”, says project manager, Dr. Steve Goosem.
The strategy was developed under the guidance of the WTMA Scientific Advisory Committee, and in consultation with the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities; Queensland Department of Environment and Natural Resource Management; and numerous academic and community stakeholders. |
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Board Appointments
Cr Julia Leu has been
appointed as a Director
of the Authority.
Nominated by the
Commonwealth, Cr Leu
will bring to the
Authority her long
experience in local
government along with
her skills and knowledge
of community engagement
systems and her strong
commitment to
conservation of the Wet
Tropics rainforests. Cr
Leu’s colleagues on the
Board and WTMA staff
welcomed her appointment
and look forward to her
contribution over the
next three years. |
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Directors and staff also
welcomed the
re-appointment of Dr
Alastair Birtles for a
second three year term
as a WTMA Director. Dr
Birtles is a Queensland
nominee who will
continue to make a strong
contribution to the
Authority, particularly
in areas such as
eco-tourism, business
development, and
planning, and who will
continue to apply his
extensive knowledge of
conservation priorities
for the Wet Tropics. |
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Fulbright symposium
The values and
management of the Wet
Tropics World Heritage
Area featured at the
recent Fulbright
Symposium in Cairns.
The Australian-American
Fulbright Commission
promotes and supports
educational and cultural
exchange between
Australia and America.
Its 60th anniversary
symposium hosted by
James Cook University
adopted the theme,
'Sustainable societies in
the tropical world'. |
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Opened by US Ambassador
Jeffery Bleich (see his
Blog of his visit to the
Wet Tropics
here) and attended
by leading academics and
policy makers from both
sides of the Pacific,
the symposium provided a
great opportunity to
highlight the special
values and partnerships
involved in managing the
World Heritage Area.
The Wet Tropics World
Heritage Area session
was in the form of a
panel discussion chaired
by WTMA chairperson
Peter Valentine. Other
panellists included Ro
Hill, Phil Rist, Nigel
Stork and Andrew
Maclean, each focussing
on different aspects of
the Wet Tropics.
Outcomes of the panel
discussion contributed
towards symposium
conclusions regarding
environmental
sustainability. |
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National Landscapes Program
The National Landscapes Program is a partnership between Tourism Australia and Parks Australia that aims to build on the natural link between tourism and conservation to market Australia's world-class visitor experiences. WTMA’s view is that the program would be incomplete without including the Wet Tropics given its status both as a World Heritage Area and an established international tourist destination. |
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Along with
its partners
in the
tourism
industry,
conservation
sector,
Indigenous
community
and others,
WTMA has
been pleased
to develop a
proposal for
inclusion of
the Wet
Tropics
under the
program. The
National
Landscapes
Committee
responded
positively
to our
initial
proposal and
some follow
up work is
now
underway.
Click
here for
more
information
about the
program. |
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Cassowary
Awards in
November
The Board
would like
to thank
those who
nominated
exceptional
people or
community
groups for
this year's
Cassowary
Awards.
Every year
WTMA staff
are more and
more amazed
by the
amount of
dedicated
people doing
great things
to protect
our World
Heritage
Area. We had
an
outstanding
list of
nominees to
choose from
and WTMA
would like
to thank all
our nominees
for their
brilliant
efforts in
the region.
The awards
will be
presented at
Wildlife
Habitat in
Port Douglas
during
November. |
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Eastern
Kuku
Yalanji
(EKY)
Project
Update
WTMA
is partnering
with
the
Eastern
Kuku Yalanji
people
in
implementing
their
successful
2007
native
title
determination
package
involving
230,000
hectares
of
the
Wet
Tropics
World
Heritage
Area.
The
determination
package
was
described
by
former
Premier
Peter
Beattie
as
“the
most
significant
in
Queensland’s
history”.
16,500ha
has
been
set
aside
to
help
up
to
6000
Eastern
Kuku
Yalanji
people
with
an
opportunity
to
return
to
live
on
country. |
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WTMA
also
partners
with
their
prescribed
body
corporate, Jabalbina
Yalanji
Aboriginal
Corporation,
to
work
up
the
Community
Development
Plans
with
the
Eastern
Kuku Yalanji
clan
groups.
These
plans
are
scheduled
to
be
in
place
by
2011.
Initial
consultations
with
six
Clan
groups
earlier
in
2010
resulted
in
community
agreement
on
the
principles
and
development
approaches
to
be
followed,
and
the
identification
of 5
pilots
for
Community
Development
Plans.
The
pilot
plans
will
aid
as a
template
to
roll
out
similar
plans
for
the
area.
All
this
work
is
stepping
closer
to
allowing
the
Traditional
Owners
to
live
and
work
sustainably
while
caring
for
their
country. |
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Native Title Rights for the Jirrbal People
The Federal Court of Australia convened in Ravenshoe on 8th October 2010 and made three consent determinations recognising the Jirrbal People's native title rights over approximately 92,003ha of country, including land and water. |
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The
state
of
Queensland
and
WTMA
also
signed
an
Indigenous
Land
Use
Agreement
with
the
Jirrbal
people.
This
agreement
further
recognises
the
Jirrbal
people's
native
title
rights
and
interests
over
the
protected
areas
including
National
Parks
in
their
traditional
country.
For
more
information
see
National
Native
Title
Tribunal
website. |
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Education |
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Keep it Wild Winners
A large gathering of students, teachers and parents attended the Cairns Regional Gallery on 20 August to cheer on the finalists and winners of the Reef and Rainforest Keep It Wild Poster Competition, part of the Cairns Festival 2010. Over 350 entries were received this year and the standard was so exceptional that the winning artworks will be compiled into a calendar for 2011. All winners received great prizes from Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Big Cat Green Island Cruises. |
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To get a
free
calendar,
be quick
as
numbers
are
limited,
please
contact:
Wet
Tropics
Management
Authority,
Cairns
Corporate
Tower,
Level 1,
15 Lake
Street.
Ph
40520533
or
download
a copy
here. |
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What’s that
plant? –
Rainforest
Workshops
Want to know
more about the
rainforest
plants around
you? Upcoming
workshops to be
held in Cairns,
Atherton, Paluma
and Townsville
offer the public
a chance to
learn how to
identify
rainforest
plants from the
experts.
In partnership
with the
Australian
Tropical
Herbarium and
CSIRO Plant
Industry, the
Authority has
developed a
series of Plant
Identification
Workshops that
provide hands-on
training for
members of the
general
community to
learn and
develop skills
in plant
identification
techniques. |
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“The workshops
are part of our
commitment to
sharing our
research and
expertise with
the community,”
said Professor
Darren Crayn,
Director of the
Australian
Tropical
Herbarium.
Additional
workshops have
been organised
for Queensland
Parks and
Wildlife
Services and
Indigenous
Rangers
throughout the
Wet Tropics. The
identification
workshops are
based on the
Interactive Key
to Australian
Rain Forest
Plants which now
include orchids,
ferns and some
weeds. The
courses will run
until December
this year.
Funding for the
workshops is
provided through
the Australian
Government
Marine and
Tropical
Sciences
Research
Facility. A
limited number
of spaces are
available. Find
out more
here. |
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Rainforest
Research
Partnership
Underway
WTMA welcomed
the
announcement
of
an
Australian
Government
funding
commitment
to
establish
a
Daintree
Rainforest
Research
Facility.
This
will
incorporate
the
James
Cook
University
Canopy
Crane
and
facilities
at
the
Daintree
Discovery
Centre
with
support
from
Rainforest
Rescue. |
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The
proposed
‘Daintree
Rainforest
Observatory’
provides
a
wonderful
opportunity
to
build
on
the
strong
working
relationship
between
all
partners
in
researching
and
presenting
the
values
of
the
Wet
Tropics
World
Heritage
Area.
There
is
great
synergy
between
the
rainforest
research
being
conducted
by
James
Cook
University,
the
eco-tourism
interface
provided
by
the
Discovery
Centre
and
Rainforest
Rescue’s
rehabilitation
of
degraded
rainforest
land. |
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Flying Fox Summit
WTMA supported the Cairns Regional Council in hosting a Flying Fox Summit for the Wet Tropics community in August. The day brought together scientists, conservationists and farmers to learn about Spectacled Flying Foxes a protected species vital for seed dispersal and pollination in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. |
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Spott’s Safety Message Winners
WTMA with sponsorship from Wildlife Habitat ran the Spott’s safety message colouring competition. The winner was Sarah Martin from Whitfield State School. She received a family pass to Wildlife Habitat and a special class visit from Spott the python.
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QPWS |
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Mossman
Gorge
boardwalk
Mossman Gorge
boardwalk
has
had
a
significant
face
lift
in
the
last
couple
of
months.
This
key
entrance
point
for
visitors
of
the
World
Heritage
Area
has
been
raised
to a
standard
worthy
of
its
international
reputation.
Mossman
Gorge
has
high
visitation
and
the
new
infrastructure
will
protect
the
area
from
the
impacts
of
pedestrian
traffic
and
give
visitors
safer
access
to
this
beautiful
place.
Should
you
have
any
queries
about
the
upgrade
please
contact
Tina
Alderson,
Senior
Ranger
on
4098
2188
or
0438
195
495
or
via
email
at
tina.alderson@derm.qld.gov.au.
View
the
map
here. |
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Wet
Tropics community |
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Tolga Bat
Hospital Visitor
Centre
WTMA would like
to congratulate
the Tolga Bat
Hospital which
has recently
celebrated their
first
anniversary of
the opening of
the Visitor
Centre, and its
recent awarding
of Advanced
Ecotourism
Accreditation.
View their
latest
e-newsletter
for more
information. |
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Kuranda
Visitor
Information
Centre
WTMA
would
like
to
congratulate
the
Kuranda
Visitor
Information
Centre
which
has
raised
$350
this
year
for
the
local
wildlife
rescue
centre
Bat
Reach,
run
by
Pam
Tully
and
Betty
Timmins.
The
Kuranda
Visitor
Information
Centre
is
part
of a
Wet
Tropics
network
of
centres
supported
by
the
Authority
to
help
present
the
Area
to
visitors.
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