Daintree Discovery Centre

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1 Daintree Discovery Centre a multi award winning Environmental Interpretive Centre

2 Daintree Discovery Centre Sustainable Ecotourism Protecting the Daintree Rainforest

3 Why is the Daintree special? It was around before dinosaurs roamed the earth!

4 World s oldest intact rainforest Its the oldest intact tropical lowland rainforest The Amazon is 7 million years old The Daintree is more than 110 million years old Its the most biologically diverse rainforest on earth Has 13 different declared Wet Tropic rainforest types Hosts 13 of the 19 primitive tree species in the world Its only 900,000 hectares - and is very special!

5 Exceptional Biological Significance It is home to... 28% Frogs 65% Ferns 40% Birds 20% Reptiles 34% Mammals 30% Orchids 30% Freshwater Fish

6 DDC s Mission To conserve and protect the natural, social and cultural heritage of the world heritage daintree rainforest saving the rainforest for future generations

7 DDC s Aims Safe and easy access to every level of the rainforest via elevated walkways minimal footprint - no damage to rainforest

8 DDC s Core Business environmental education enjoyable eco-learning in 8 languages

9 conserving wildlife corridors no clearing of trees

10 protecting endangered flora/fauna wildlife rescue and release program

11 Environmental Sustainability Minimal footprint, buildings and walkways are elevated to protect fragile ecosystems Open mesh boardwalks allow air, water, sunlight to reach forest floor and prevent mosquitoes breeding Eco friendly: open plan, natural light, cross ventilation Tanks store rainwater, restricted water flow on taps Environmentally sensitive waste water management system that recycles grey water No toxic chemicals or cleaning products are used Hard waste is minimized, sorted, removed from forest

12 Preserving our natural heritage Preservation of biological integrity by destroying noxious weeds and exotic plant species Protecting wildlife corridors by replanting cleared land Staff are members of the Cassowary Care Group and monitor cassowary numbers Ethical seed collection for the propagation of native species Community partnerships to rehabilitate degraded areas

13 Carbon Offset Project reduce, re-use, recycle caring for our planet

14 Auditing our carbon footprint Engaged independent carbon offset consultant to ensure credibility Audited both direct and indirect Green House Gas emissions Developed strategies to avoid, reduce and offset our emissions by biosequestration

15 Bio-sequestration Program working with the local community revegetating cleared land engaging in rainforest research

16 Community Partnerships Local community groups School children collect seeds Cassowary Care Nursery Qld Parks and Wildlife Service Rainforest Rescue James Cook University Conservation Volunteers

17 Benefits of Bio-sequestration Increased bio-diversity Habitat recovery Weed control Carbon Offset Protection of flora, fauna Salinity and erosion prevention

18 Achievements 10,000> locally propagated rainforest trees have now been planted Staff are actively involved and very proud of their achievements

19 Carbon Flux Project In addition to planting trees to offset CO2 DDC is sponsoring JCU for a $60K research project The MTSRF team collect and test soil samples for carbon content As trees mature they are measured to determine the amount of carbon stored since planting Aim is to gather 10 yrs of scientific data on how effective tree planting is for carbon reduction

20 JCU/DDC OzFlux Station In addition to planting trees DDC is sponsoring a $60K Carbon Flux Micro-meteorological Weather Station on top of the DDC Canopy Tower It is part of an international network of 13 carbon flux stations all round the world It measures rainfall, air temp, relative humidity, wind speed and direction and solar radiation The aim is to better understand the changes in the carbon balance, and the water/energy balance in the rainforest

21 Australian Super Site Network In collaboration with JCU, DDC has been selected as one of 7 Super Sites across Australia The purpose is to collect, store, manage, share scientific data about Australian ecosystems With help of Conservation Volunteers detailed data on flora, fauna and biophysical processes is being collected, stored and analyzed The aim is to understand how key ecosystems will respond to future environmental change

22 DDC is passionate about conserving and protecting the natural environment but no one can do it alone Community partnerships are a practicable management model for an environmentally sensitive world

23 Daintree Discovery Centre self funding sustainable eco-tourism at its best

24 DDC is an accredited World Heritage and Wet Tropics Information Centre with >85,000 visitors a year

25 Awards Inducted Tropical North Qld Tourism Hall of Fame Tourist Attraction 2012 Winner Qld Tourism Awards Qantas Sustainable Tourism Award 2011 Winner Qld Tourism Awards The Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award Winner Tropical North Qld Tourism Awards Tourist Attraction 2009 & 11 Winner Tropical North Qld Tourism Awards Ecotourism Winner Skal International Ecotourism Awards Sustainable Tourism Winner Qld Tourism Awards Tourist Attraction Inducted Tropical North Qld Tourism Hall of Fame Ecotourism 2008 Winner Qld Tourism Awards The Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award Winner Tropical North Qld Tourism Awards Ecotourism Winner Douglas Shire Council Sustainable Communities Award 2007 Winner Cassowary Award, Wet Tropics Management Authority 2005 Winner Telstra Qld Small Business of the Year Award 2005 Winner Small Business Employer of Year, Qld Regional Training Awards 2005 Winner Telstra and Australian Government Small Business MYOB Award 2005 Winner Most Outstanding Submission, TNQ Tourism Awards 2004 Winner QMBA Awards - FNQ for a Tourism and Hospitality Facility 2000

26 Thank you for joining me Pam & Ron Birkett Directors - Daintree Discovery Centre