Up to 30ha of cleared land is set to be restored in the Upper Daintree as part of a new about $1.4m 15-year partnership between rainforest restoration group Rainforest Rescue and the State Government.

Named the Tranquility Upper Daintree Restoration Project, the site in the World Heritage Upper Daintree will be restored with native rainforest species sourced from existing RR properties and grown at a Cow Bay nursery, chief executive Branden Barber said.

“The Land Restoration Fund commitment to the Tranquility Upper Daintree Restoration Project has a long list of positives that address global climate and biodiversity issues at a local level,” Mr Barber said. 

“It's a way to support regional employment, develop the Wet Tropics restoration economy, assist carbon sequestration, increase the climate resilience of the Daintree River catchment, and of course, give native wildlife a fighting chance.”

The project is also expected to build upon RR’s existing relationship with the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation whose team will be leading the project.

“Restoring this cleared land to tropical rainforest is a long journey that we are proud to undertake together - growing, planting and nurturing native trees until nature flourishes once again.” Mr Barber said.

The Tranquility project is a part of the State Government Land Restoration fund - a series of grants providing a total of $18m to eight projects with the aim of delivering positive environmental outcomes and generating carbon credits.