We are proud to share a major milestone in the restoration of Gurrbum Nature Refuge, with the completion of another 0.5 hectares of revegetation within this critical cassowary corridor.
Over the past year, together we’ve planted close to 5,000 lowland rainforest trees thanks to our dedicated team and community. This latest effort brings us incredibly close to completing a six-year reforestation journey on land that was dominated by dense guinea grass.
Located within our 16-hectare Nature Refuge in Smith’s Gap, between Feluga and Tully, Gurrbum sits within one of the most significant ecological linkages in the Wet Tropics. As noted by Terrain NRM’s Tony O’Malley, this landscape forms a vital pinch-point in the Walter Hill Range, the longest and widest east–west rainforest corridor in Australia, connecting the lowland rainforests of Mission Beach with the upland forests near Ravenshoe.
Since its purchase by Queensland Trust for Nature (QTFN), approximately half of the site has undergone intensive restoration. What was once cleared land is now steadily transforming into functional forest habitat.
Peter Rowles reflected on the progress:
“It’s getting close to completion. This is the second-last planting. This area adjoins remnant rainforest and a creek and the revegetation work will have a great impact. We’ve gone from solid guinea grass to trees, and the wildlife can use the land.
Each of the new trees were planted by hand as part of a dense planting layout. This method encourages rapid canopy formation, helping to suppress invasive weeds and reduce maintenance.”
This latest planting has also introduced a new and exciting element to the site — a dedicated cassowary food farm! Unlike the dense planting areas designed for rapid canopy closure, this section has been established with a more open layout, focusing exclusively on native cassowary food species.
This area will play an important long-term role in restoration efforts, acting as a living seed source. Seeds collected here will support propagation at C4’s native plant nursery, helping to scale up the availability of key food species for cassowaries and other wildlife across future projects.
The works at Gurrbum form part of the broader Forest Resilience project, funded through the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program. This initiative is improving the condition of six priority forest types across the Wet Tropics and supporting multiple threatened species.
We want to thank all our incredible volunteers, whose energy and commitment continue to drive this work forward, as well as to our dedicated on-ground teams. We also acknowledge the ongoing support and partnership of Djiru Traditional Owners, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, and Terrain NRM in helping deliver this project.
With just one final section remaining, the end of revegetation works at Gurrbum is now in sight. This last planting is scheduled for later this year, marking 2026 as the completion of restoration efforts on this remarkable site.