Proudly supported by SEQ Catchments Ltd
By Don Maskall

The Kin Kin Rainforest project’s emphasis is on community capacity building with the intention of providing private landholders with the skills and knowledge required to be able to look after bushland on their properties successfully. Through the project they are provided with property management planning to enable strategic weed removal which is then followed up with revegetation works. All activities are carried out based on the ability of the landholder themselves to commit to and learn from undertaking environmental restoration works. Plants are supplied and installed on the basis that they are improving wildlife habitat, where the landholder has shown their ability to maintain them through the initial establishment phase. It is amazing how many hours of work this requires, it is easy to plant a tree, it takes dedication to create and maintain a biodiverse ecosystem.

This project started in September 2005 with funding from NRMSEQ (now SEQ Catchments) at that stage there was a focus on Land for Wildlife property owners. The project has since branched out and is providing practical support and guidance to other landholders attempting to accommodate wildlife habitat as well as run profitable enterprises on their properties. There has been a particular interest taken in riparian rainforest ecosystems because this is an area recognized as needing restoration. Since the middle of 2006 the project has also received funding through the Regional Rainforest Recovery Project which is improving the condition of Endangered Rainforest Regional Ecosystems between Rockhampton and the Gold Coast.

We are very interested in understanding how we can support sustainable landuse enterprises so are keen to hear from primary producers and hobby farmers to discuss ways in which this project or others may benefit you.

Currently the Project Manager for Kin Kin is Don Maskall and he can be contacted by phone on 07 5485 2155 or by email: projects1@noosalandcare.org