This blog article is inspired by our friends from Australia, Mark and Jill.

Mark and Jill used to be our regional coordinator volunteers in Australia. Although they stepped down from their roles as volunteers, they still continue their inspiring work and keep us informed of their activities. Thank you, Mark and Jill!

This time, their efforts were focused on a specific location called “Possum Ridge.”

An aerial view of Possum Ridge

Planting hope in the heart of the rainforest: A small step with big impact!

Australia’s Possum Ridge spans 93 hectares and lies approximately 50 km south of Cairns, nestled on the lush eastern slopes of Mount Bartle Frere and Mount Bellenden Ker, Queensland’s tallest and wettest mountains. With annual rainfall exceeding 8,000 mm, this rainforest region supports an extraordinary array of biodiversity, and forms part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, a globally significant landscape renowned for its ancient ecosystems.

Sharing a boundary with Wooroonooran National Park, Possum Ridge is much more than a sanctuary for the striped possum. It provides critical habitat for endangered species such as the southern cassowary and the spotted-tailed quoll, along with rare and endemic plants like the Babinda tamarind and the Russell River lime. As a vital ecological corridor linking lowland and highland rainforest, Possum Ridge offers essential refuge for wildlife increasingly threatened by habitat loss and climate change.

Despite its unique ecological value, Possum Ridge remains unprotected, thus emphasizing the pressing need to protect even our most biologically rich and irreplaceable natural areas.

The Striped Possum

Through the Gondwana Rainforest Trust, a 93-hectare block of this precious forest is being protected from development. Every $A1 donation safeguards 1 square metre of land, forever. Mark tells us that “Our $A75 donation (in two parts) has contributed to saving 200 square metres of forest, supporting at least 200 mature and semi-mature plants!”

The beauty of this initiative lies in its lasting impact. The protected land will connect to a national park and be managed by a local Indigenous trust, ensuring it remains a thriving ecosystem for generations to come.

Possum Ridge

Even small donations go a long way, especially with generous matching offers from larger donors. We hope that sharing this story may raise awareness and may encourage others to get involved. If you feel inspired, please help us spread the word. Together, we can continue turning our passions into preservation!

Have a look at the Gondwana Rainforest Trust website, to learn more and to support this project. Let’s protect what matters, one tree, one square metre at a time.

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Image sources:
Mark Allaway
The Gondwana Trust Website
Cosmos Magazine