The world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest, has been formally returned back to the Traditional Custodians, the Eastern Yuku Yakanji people. Amazing stuff!

 

In a ceremony held today in Bloomfield, QLD, the Daintree joined other World Heritage-listed areas, like Uluru and Kakadu, where the First Nations people are the custodians and caretakers of the land. 

 

Photo thanks to Rainforest 4 Foundation

 

Through the Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation, the Eastern Yuku Yakanji people will manage the parks in partnership with the Queensland government, but eventually, wish to have full management of the parks.

‘Our goal is to establish a foundation to provide … pathways and opportunities for mentoring, training, apprenticeships, work experience and employment for our Eastern Kuku Yalanji bama [people] to fill positions from a wide range of skilled trades… so that we are in control of our own destinies,’ said Traditional Owner and soon to be chair of the Wet Tropics Management Authority board, Chrissy Grant.

 

Photo thanks to Kerry Trapnell

 

In total 160,108 hectares of land will be handed back across four national parks in Queensland’s Wet Tropics; Daintree, Kalkajaka, Hope Islands, and Ngalba Bulal National Parks.

Back in 2019, We Are Explorers helped raise $30,000 to purchase a plot of Daintree Rainforest which will be part of this return.

 

Feature photo thanks to Tourism and Events Queensland