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Countries Appendix
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AUSTRALIA (0.1% rainforest cover) Australia has two small areas of rainforest on the Cape York Peninsula in the extreme northeast of Australia and along the coastal plains and mountain ranges north of Townsville. This small (about 4000 square miles-10,300 sq. km) unprotected rainforest is very diverse: over 95 plant families, 1000 plant species, and 70 families of trees are contained in the 50,000 acre (20,000 hectare) forest. The forest provides a habitat for 30% of the marsupials of Australia, 30% of the frogs, 23% of the reptiles, 62% of the butterflies, and 18% of the birds. However this area is highly threatened by a subdivision development, a proposed electrical power grid which would lead the way to massive development, pastures for livestock, and exploitation for mining. The Cow Bay subdivision consists of 750 blocks which make up 60% of the lowland area and about 33% of the remaining forest. The development of the Daintree, as this region is known, has erupted into a controversy between political groups, residents, and outsiders. Pro-environment factions, along with the Queensland government are planning to spend almost $30 million to purchase 775,000 hectares of the eastern coast of the peninsula. The federal government contributed $11.5 million to buy back some 300 blocks of subdivision, although has only succeeded in obtaining 5% of its goal. Anti-environment groups include landowners of the subdivision who do not want to sell their land. Others want to develop the Daintree region for tourism. The anti-environmentalists have taken to killing wildlife and destroying forest on their property to show their feelings on the issue. At this writing, it is unclear which side will prevail. . . . . . For current information I highly recommend trying the CIA and FAO links below. |
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