Rainforests are famous for teeming with life. This intense biodiversity is part of what makes these ecosystems so essential for the health of our planet, as well as stunning examples of Earth’s beauty.
But rainforests are in trouble, and those in Australia are no exception. They are disappearing at alarming rates for a variety of reasons. Because of this, the job of repairing the damage is time-critical and requires an approach that encompasses various conservation efforts: from replanting native vegetation, to saving the species that make up the web of life in these habitats.
Today marks World Rainforest Day, which provides a timely reminder of the job at hand. But if there is one lesson we have learnt through our projects here at FAME, it is that together we can turn the tide…
GONDWANA DEVILS
The rainforests that inhabit New South Wales’ wild Barrington Tops are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area - the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on Earth. With such an ancient history, it is a fitting part of the mainland in which to witness the return of the world’s largest marsupial carnivore!
FAME is a founding partner of Devil Ark in NSW where, far from their embattled cousins in Tasmania, the largest mainland insurance population of Tasmanian Devils has been established. Last October, for the first time in thousands of years, these native predators began to roam ‘free’ on the mainland again in large, wild-like enclosures.
So what is the connection between Tassie Devils and World Rainforest Day?
<< Donate to any FAME project before June 30 and your donation will be doubled through gift-matching >>
RESTORING BALANCE
Apex predators like the devil are critical to the health of these important ecosystems; they provide a number of services including removing sick animals or rotting carcasses from the area and keeping prey species numbers in check.
There is some evidence they help to control invasive species like cats, and may compete with red foxes for food resources.
Protecting keystone species like the devil has been shown to have major repercussions for other levels of the food chain, bringing positive changes to damaged areas.
This sort of conservation is a key ingredient, therefore, in the repair of our native rainforests - along with direct revegetation and area protection
PROTECTING RAINFORESTS
Over the years, FAME has been inspired by the support of our donors to help complete a number of projects focussed on repairing, protecting and rewilding native Australian rainforests. These include:
- Saving a rainforest plant from extinction
- Help the Southern Pink Underwing Moth emerge
- Planting important habitat to save the iconic Cassowary
- Securing the future of Astelia australiana
And the work continues. One of our current projects, highlighted above, is a continuation of our long-term partnership with the team at Aussie Ark, where we are working to ‘Save the Tassie Devil from Extinction.’
This World Rainforest Day, we have announced an exciting gift-matching offer thanks to long-time supporters of FAME’s work: Every donation before June 30, 2021 (up to a total of $50,000) will be met dollar-for-dollar, thus doubling each donation received.
If you would like to help us complete this, or any of our other projects, please donate here.