Project complete: From Runway to Rainforest – a corridor restored

The site is now fully reforested, reconnecting surrounding rainforest and strengthening an important wildlife corridor in an area known to support Southern Cassowaries.
 
Early indicators across the site are very encouraging:
 ✅ Strong tree establishment and survival rates
✅ Rapid growth of key canopy and mid-storey species
✅ Fruiting species already increasing food availability for rainforest fauna

With planting complete, our focus has now transitioned to:

• Strategic weed management

• Targeted maintenance where required

• Ongoing survival and growth monitoring

• Wildlife observation and data collection

This phase is essential to ensure canopy closure and long-term resilience of the restored habitat.

In addition, motion-sensor camera traps have now been deployed across the airstrip site. On-ground monitoring continues to record clear signs of their presence, including fresh scats and tracks within and adjacent to the restored area. Cassowaries are known to take time to re-establish consistent use of restored areas. The presence of scats so soon after planting is a strong early indicator that the site is already functioning as intended.
 
This project is a powerful example of how targeted funding delivers real, on-ground conservation outcomes. A once-cleared airstrip has been transformed into a living rainforest corridor and a growing network of camera traps is helping us understand how endangered species are responding to restored habitat.

Photos above: Camera traps installed to monitor Cassowary and other wildlife activity and the planting team onsite. (Credit: Rainforest Rescue)