Kicking off 2026: Wet Tropics Restoration Alliance networking event
- Coordination Team
- Mar 25
- 2 min read
More than 70 members, partners and stakeholders kicked off the year at the Wet Tropics Restoration Alliance networking event on 26 February, held on Yirrganydji Country at JCU’s Nguma-bada campus.
The event created space to connect, share ideas and strengthen collaboration across the region’s growing restoration network.
We thank the Wet Tropics Management Authority for supporting the event, and JCU for hosting us at The Cairns Institute. A special thanks also to Yirrganydji Traditional Owner Gavin Singleton for opening the event with a Welcome to Country.
The morning open forum provided an opportunity for participants to share updates and explore opportunities to work together. Key discussion topics included sourcing seeds and seedlings, supporting nature-positive initiatives, and addressing nursery capacity and regulatory challenges.
A strong theme emerged around the importance of working together at scale to increase restoration impact across the Wet Tropics.
Participants then joined small workshops to explore practical next steps for nursery production resources, improving project data and monitoring, developing priority restoration maps, and identifying research needs.
While these initiatives are currently unfunded, the workshops helped clarify priorities and identify practical next steps.
The afternoon program highlighted restoration research, community-led climate resilience planning, and emerging technologies such as LiDAR. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation also shared its work linking return-to-Country aspirations with ecotourism, integrated agriculture and restoration (healing Bubu).
Opportunities and announcements from the open forum
Nature Positive Regional Plan (Far North Queensland)
GreenCollar is seeking partners to work with them and Tropical Tourism North Queensland on a Nature Positive Regional Plan for Far North Queensland.
Contact: Mike Berwick mike.berwick@greencollargroup.com.au
Regenerative agroforestry modelling tool
ClimateForce has developed a tool to demonstrate potential returns from regenerative agroforestry.
Contact: Barney Swan barney.swan@climateforce.org.au
Regenerative Agroforestry Blueprint
Crawford Rainforest Restoration Grants
TREAT member Don Crawford has generously bequeathed his Maroobi Park property and a substantial sum to the South Endeavour Trust to support rainforest conservation and restoration on the Atherton Tablelands. In discussion with Tim Hughes, Don’s vision has led to the creation of the Crawford Rainforest Restoration Grants, a program that will provide up to $100,000 annually to support local rainforest restoration projects.
Grant enquiries: Angela McCaffrey at angelamccffr@gmail.com
Terrain NRM’s Green Connections project
Funding is available for 75 hectares of on-ground revegetation or restoration work through to June 2028. For more information see the Green Connections Project Overview and the Green Connections Expression of Interest.
Request for Trees
Both Greening Australia and Kuranda Envirocare are seeking trees for their projects. To assist, contact them directly:
Lisa O’Mara, Greening Australia — lomara@greeningaustralia.org.au
Cathy Retter, Kuranda Envirocare — info@envirocare.org.au
Request for more information on mangrove restoration
Greening Australia’s Lisa O’Mara would like more information on mangrove restoration. To assist, contact her directly on lomara@greeningaustralia.org.au.
Presentation recordings
Photos
Please kindly credit Wet Tropics Images if using these photos.
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