NATIONAL WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd. 30/09/94
Level 2, 332 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
Ph (02) 9261 2400; Fax (02) 9261 2144.

Name:

DAINTREE RIVER

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

Extending north for 120 km from 10 km west of Mossman.

Size
For size and tenure information contact the Colong Foundation.

DESCRIPTION

This is an area of relatively high peaks close to the coastline, with a number
of granite summits reaching to 1,300 metres or more. Below the Permian granites
are sediments of Silurian and Devonian age.
[1]

Streams, including the Daintree River, plunge steeply from the ranges directly
over waterfalls or via cascades through deep gorges. [2]

Tropical rainforest is highly developed in the area and occurs extensively. The
Daintree rainforest includes many species of primitive flowering plants. There
are also areas of eucalypt forest and woodland, casuarina woodland and savannah
woodland. Many rare plants and endemics are found in the area. [3]

The fauna of the area is particularly diverse. Like the McIlwraith range, the
area supports many rainforest-dependent species. Bennett's Tree Kangaroo, an
endemic, and the Musk Rat-kangaroo re two primitive kangaroo species found in
the area. Twenty species of bats and a wide variety of birdlife inhabit the
area. [4]

STATE FORESTS

ENDANGERED SPECIES

LAND USE HISTORY

CONSERVATION HISTORY

THREATS

DEVELOPMENT
The Daintree area is subject to a number of developmental pressures. Subdivision
of land adjacent to the area by property developers could pose a threat to the
rainforest stands. [5]

LOGGING
Parts of the area are under the control of the Queensland Forestry Department
which is interested in its large reserves of millable timber. Logging has not
proceeded yet, due to the lack of access roads. The Mount Windsor Tableland to
the west formed an extension of the wilderness area until logged in recent
years. [6]

MINING
There are tin mining leases over parts of the area. [7]

CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.
ENDNOTES
1
Prineas, 1986.

2
Prineas, 1986.

3
Prineas, 1986.

4
Prineas, 1986.

5
Prineas, 1986.

6
Prineas, 1986.

7
Prineas, 1986.

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