Green Connections
Regenerating the Wet Tropics Forests to Secure a Resilient Future for Biodiversity, Economy, and Climate
Reef and Rainforest
The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the Great Barrier Reef are two of the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems. These irreplaceable natural wonders provide essential biodiversity, economic, cultural and ecosystem services. However, both are at risk due to climate change, pollution, biosecurity threats and unsustainable practices. Long-term investment in transformative programs aimed at addressing these risks is essential to ensure the resilience of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the Great Barrier Reef, bolstering Australia’s global leadership in environmental protection and sustainability and protecting a vital economic driver for the economy of Far North Queensland.
The Wet Tropics is the only place in the world with two interconnected World Heritage Areas – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Forests, an ancient landscape with links to prehistoric times. These natural assets underpin the region’s tourism industry, which attracts 2.7m visitors annually and contributes $4.6bn to the regional economy[i].
The Wet Tropics Forest provides direct, indirect and non-use ecosystem services estimated to be worth more than $5.bn annually[ii] in 2014-15, equivalent to $6.6bn today and supporting over 13,000 jobs. However, management expenditure versus visitor-generated income, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is the second-lowest2 of the 16 World Heritage Sites in Australia yet creates the largest economic impact[iii]. In addition to generating tourism revenue, the Wet Tropics Forests provide essential ecosystem services such as water filtration, pollination for agriculture, flood reduction, and cooling urban areas, which reduce cost of living pressures. If this ‘free’ asset was a dam[iv], over $100m would be allocated annually for routine maintenance, and additional investment would be provided for significant upgrades or repairs.
Despite its undeniable value, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is confronting the escalating threats of development, biosecurity and climate change, which jeopardise its future.
Green Connections Program
The Green Connections Program proposes a large-scale rainforest regeneration effort to address these threats and enhance resilience by reconnecting large areas of fragmented habitat and removing pests and weeds. The program aims to regenerate 20,000 hectares of crucial forest habitats over 25 years by prioritising efforts in high-value biodiversity areas and revitalising unproductive agricultural land. The program will also incorporate market-based mechanisms such as carbon farming and biodiversity credit schemes. Local communities, farmers, private landholders, and Indigenous groups will benefit and be integral to the program’s success, ensuring that cultural and ecological values are preserved, and the region continues to prosper.
The program has been designed through collaboration with trusted partners and stakeholders, including Rainforest Aboriginal Traditional Owner groups. Key elements include:
1. Strategic Planning: Targeting high-priority areas using science-based methods.
2. Maximising Impact and Minimising Risk: Leveraging existing investments and proven results.
3. Capacity Building: Increasing skills and capability to deliver large-scale restoration efforts.
4. Investment and Incentives: Attracting significant financial investments through market-based mechanisms.
5. Measurable Outcomes: Monitoring and verifying restoration progress as well as impact.
6. Scientific and Traditional Knowledge: Integrating scientific evidence and Indigenous ecological knowledge.
[i]Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Tropical North Queensland National Visitor Survey & International Visitor Survey, June 2024.
[ii] Wet Tropics Management Authority, State of Wet Tropics Report 2014-15: Economic Value of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, 2015.
[iii] Gillespie Economics and BDA Group, Economic Activity of Australia’s World Heritage Areas – Final Report, 2008.
[iv] Jacobs Australia, Investing in the Great Barrier Reef as economic infrastructure, 2016.
Benefits to the region
The Green Connections Program promises significant returns across multiple areas including:
Economic Benefits:
• Preservation of natural assets valued at over $6.6bn/yr.
• New jobs created in rural communities.
• Opportunities for income diversification for landholders.
Social and Community Benefits:
• Empowerment of Indigenous communities and opportunities for Traditional Owners to work on country, especially youth.
• Increased climate resilience, contributing to future-proofing community infrastructure.
• Improved property health and productivity for landholders through supporting sustainable land use practices.
Environmental Benefits:
• Carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change.
• Improved water quality benefitting the Great Barrier Reef.
• Enhanced resilience of the Wet Tropics to climate change.
• Habitat protected for endangered and iconic species including the cassowary.
• Greater landscape connectivity to enable wildlife movement (and migration due to climate change).
National Conservation Goals:
• Contribution to Australia’s 30 by 30 target, which aims to protect 30% of land and marine areas by 2030, aligning with global biodiversity conservation goals.
• Contribution to the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 to protect, manage and restore Australia’s threatened species and important natural places.
Recommendation
The Australian Government commit to an initial investment of $20m in 2025-26, increasing to $100m annually (indexed to inflation) in equally staged increments over five years, as part of a 25-year ongoing commitment. This investment will support the regional economy, enhance biodiversity and cultural values, generate economic benefits, and contribute to national and global conservation objectives.
Last updated: February 2025
