2024 Annual Event - What a day!

On the 6th of December, we held our Annual Event on Yirrganydji Country at The Cairns Institute, JCU Nguma-Bada campus. And what a day it was! Over 60 participants joined us to explore a range of topics, including Alliance updates and proposed changes as well as informative presentations from some of our members. A very big thanks to JCU, one of the Alliance’s founding members, for allowing us to host our event in The Cairns Institute’s lecture theatre. And a special mention to JCU staff Vyvyen, Helen and Nuga for all their support during the lead up and on the day.

The event opened with a Welcome to Country by Yirrganydji Traditional Owner Gavin Singleton, whose words set the tone beautifully. His address reminded us of the land’s rich history and the importance of blending traditional knowledge with scientific approaches to safeguard these incredible ecosystems. A big thanks to Gavin for spending the morning with us. Many of you may already know Gavin as the Project Manager at Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation and Coordinator of the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Ranger Program and TUMRA project (we could go on about Gavin, but we’d run out of room in the newsletter!). These guys are doing incredible work for our environment and their community. Be sure to check out their website, Facebook and YouTube pages to learn more.

December is a very busy time of year, especially in the tropics, as many groups try to wrap up as much as possible before the wet season kicks off. For those who couldn’t attend, all sessions were recorded using the lecture theatre’s Panopto recorder. We apologise for any footage that may be a little hard to hear or where presenters are out of shot. This was our first time using this equipment. However, the quality of the presentations and the calibre of the presenters were so impressive that we’re confident you’ll quickly overlook any minor issues. Please see below the list of speakers and links to view their sessions:

1. Welcome to Yirrganydji Country – Yirrganydji Traditional Owner, Gavin Singleton

2. Getting to Know the Alliance Members – Informal updates from Alastair Freeman, Nature North; Ron Baldwin, Rainforest Conservation Foundation; John Clarkson, Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands (TREAT); Karen Bettink, Terrain NRM; Liz Owen and Dennis Ah-Kee, Jaragun EcoServices; Dave Waterson, Verterra Ecological Engineering; Sigrid Heise-Pavlov, School for Field Studies; Barney Swan, ClimateForce; Scott Buchanan, Wet Tropics Management Authority; Simon Towle, Mossman Botanic Garden; Branden Barber, Rainforest Rescue.

3. Alliance Interim Steering Group Update – Chairperson, Penny Scott & Coordinator, Kylie Freebody (See article below for a breakdown of the ISG’s proposed changes and links to provide feedback)

4. Scaling Up Restoration in the Southern Atherton Tablelands: Opportunities and Pitfalls – Tim Hughes, South Endeavour Trust

5. Conducting Large-Scale Revegetation on the Atherton Tablelands: A Private Sector Perspective – Geoff Onus, North Queensland Land Management Services

6. An Exciting Funding Opportunity to Make a Big Difference – Tim Hughes, South Endeavour Trust

7. The Process and Purpose of ‘Priority Places’ and ‘Expert Panels’ – Karen Bettink, Terrain NRM & Sean McNamara, Wet Tropics Management Authority

8. Forging Ahead – With or Without You – Branden Barber, Rainforest Rescue

9. Jabalbina Green Economy – Tim Wong, Wet Tropics Management Authority (on behalf of Josh Paterson, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation)

10. Cassowary Credits Update – Bronwyn Robertson, Terrain NRM

11. Opportunities to Integrate Grazing Land Management with Ecosystem Services in the Wet Tropics – Glen Dale, Verterra Ecological Engineering

12. Tropical Regen Project: Drone Surveys and Innovative Technology for Monitoring Outcomes – Barney Swan & Jack Lever, ClimateForce

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thanks to our incredible speakers for their presentations and for inspiring conversations and actions that pave the way for bigger, better and innovative approaches to restoring our Wet Tropics.

There’s something truly special about coming together face-to-face, and we’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year! Stay tuned for the March 2025 edition of New Leaf, where we’ll share the full list of events planned for the year, including details about the 2025 Annual Event.

To help make next year’s event even better, we’d greatly appreciate it if participants could take a moment to complete our feedback form.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we would like to acknowledge and thank the Wet Tropics Management Authority (the Authority). For those who missed the announcement at the event, the Authority has secured two further years of funding for the Wet Tropics Restoration Program. Part of this program provides resources for the Wet Tropics Restoration Alliance. This means the Alliance has dedicated funding until 31 December 2026.

Not only has the Authority secured funding, but its in-kind support, advice, and access to resources have enabled us (Kylie and Michelle) to do what we do. A very special thanks to Scott Buchanan, Tim Wong, Sean Mcnamara and Ellen Weber for their support so far. We look forward to two more years of collaboration and success.

Thank you!