The Daintree Oxbow’s first Annual Rainforest Rescue Community Tree Planting

Over 120 supporters came together to plant native trees at Rainforest Rescue’s Cape Tribulation Road property. ©Rainforest Rescue/Martin Stringer

As part of their long-term plan to protect and restore hundreds of hectares of degraded floodplain land surrounding the Daintree Oxbow, Rainforest Rescue held their first Community Tree Planting at their Cape Tribulation Road property. The long-abandoned 30-hectare farm, which includes a pocket of remnant habitat, hosted over 120 people, with 5,000 native trees planted in just one morning! 

Branden Barber, Rainforest Rescue CEO, commented: “This is a very exciting time to work in this area, because this region is very much in transition… Thanks to everyone for coming out today to be part of this valiant effort and this beautiful new beginning for the Oxbow, and thanks to everyone who continues to provide support for this rare and remarkable opportunity.”

Many members of the Restoration Alliance were part of the planting, keen to lend support to the project. Rainforest Rescue intends to acquire additional properties to extend their conservation footprint in the Oxbow region, with the ultimate goal of recreating both rainforest and wetland habitat for many species who haven’t been present since this land was drained and cleared for sugar cane in the 1950s.

The Daintree Oxbow has been making headlines recently, with Douglas Shire Council and Rainforest Rescue actively negotiating the future for this prominent mosaic of native lowland ecosystems. Unfortunately, what started as a Development Application is now before the Land and Environment Court.

This is truly a significant time to be involved in Wet Tropics restoration.

Watch the Rainforest Rescue 2026 Annual Community Tree Planting recap on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyID7rXDPvA)