- Wet Tropics Management
- Legislative framework
- Management partnerships
- Sustainable Tourism Plan
- Threats to the Area
- Research and a Learning Landscape
- How can I help?
The Wet Tropics Management Authority acknowledges and thanks all sponsors of 2022 Cassowary Awards.
Their support demonstrates their commitment to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and appreciation of the outstanding contribution and presentation of the Area made by so many in the community.
Catalyst Markets is a trading platform, developed and operated by the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation (AbCF). It is the world’s first Indigenous trading platform of environmental and allied commodities.
Catalyst Markets was developed to enable investment in Indigenous carbon farming and cultural fire, including both sharing of knowledge and implementation. This has far-reaching environmental, social and cultural core benefits for Indigenous people, Country, and Australia.
The environmental, social and cultural values are verified through the Core Benefits Verification Framework. A nationally accredited training course (10722 NAT) is offered to support land holders better understand the carbon industry and become qualified verifiers. A carbon calculator is available on the trading platform to help ascertain your carbon footprint.
James Cook University (JCU) is a leader in research addressing the challenges arising from global change. These challenges are particularly relevant in the tropics and our location provides a unique opportunity to work in globally important ecosystems such as the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Our campuses, field trips and research facilities provide opportunities to address the critical issue of global climate change. JCU has recently commenced a Masters program dedicated to training students in global change biology to increase the capacity of future environmental managers in a changing world.
JCU’s unique access to our World Heritage sites has contributed to JCU being ranked the number one university in the world for marine biology and number two for biodiversity conservation. Our research in terrestrial ecology has led JCU to be consistently ranked in the top three universities in Australia for ecology, and in the top 30 in the world. JCU is the only university to receive the top rating for environmental science and management in every Excellence for Research in Australia evaluation.
Our long-term research in the region in collaboration with the Wet Tropics Management Authority is a clear demonstration of our commitment to provide the knowledge required to protect the natural wonders of the world.
Education Award sponsor
The Cairns Aquarium is Queensland’s newest world-class wildlife attraction, providing visitors with a guaranteed experience to see and learn about the aquatic creatures of Tropical North Queensland’s Rainforest, Gulf Savannah and Great Barrier Reef. Visitors can explore 9 recreated ecosystems with 16,000 fish and animals in 71 underwater exhibits. Be amazed by colourful reef fish, Australia’s tallest marine tank, river monsters display and a giant Coral Sea oceanarium filled with sharks and rays. Daily talks, feeding shows, a marine touch tank, live coral displays, a turtle hospital and 'Aquarium by Twilight' guided tour and dining experiences provide the ultimate underwater adventure.
Innovation and Research Award sponsor
Cairns Regional Council delivers more than 400 services and programs to the community. We are committed to shaping the future of our city by striving for better social, economic, environmental, and cultural outcomes for all. Our shared goal, as a Council and a community, is to become a sustainable, globally connected city, driven by innovation and resilience, and renowned for the enviable lifestyle our community values so much. The Smart Green Economy project is one of the ways Council is progressing these goals.
Climate Change Leadership Award sponsor
The Daintree Discovery Centre is an award-winning ecotourism attraction in the heart of the Daintree that provides unrivalled views of the unique beauty of the Daintree’s ancient flora and fauna, from the rainforest floor up into the soaring heights of the treetops. Walk the 11-metre high aerial walkway and climb to the top of the 23-metre high Canopy Tower. Descend to the rainforest floor and take in the Jurassic Forest, Bush Tucker Trail, Cassowary Circuit and more. Enjoy interactive displays as well live jungle bugs, rainforest aquariums and reptile enclosures.
Government and Industry Initiatives Award sponsor
Powerlink Queensland is a Government Owned Corporation (GOC) that owns, develops, operates and maintains the state’s electricity transmission network. We connect Queenslanders to a world-class energy future, providing electricity to five million Queenslanders and 238,000 businesses via the state’s distribution networks. We are also responsible for connecting large-scale renewable energy developments, including wind and solar, and providing electricity to large industrial customers in the rail, mining and LNG sectors. Through our unique central position in the power system, we are helping to drive our state’s new energy future.
Thorsborne Award for Community Conservation and Rehabilitation sponsor
Our role is to protect and manage our parks, forests and the Great Barrier Reef for current and future generations. We are part of the Department of Environment and Science—a department that recognises the enormous value a clean environment, innovative society and economy and vibrant culture makes to our lives.
As a diverse organisation, the department brings together key areas of work to achieve our objectives for a better Queensland.
Peter Hitchcock Community Champion Award sponsor
Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC) is the peak body for natural resource management (NRM) volunteers. QWaLC’s roles include representation, advocacy, promotion, networking and insurance administration. QWaLC’s board includes representatives from each of Queensland’s regions. Our membership consists of 380 groups and 30,000 individuals.
Tourism and Presentation Award sponsor
Enjoy a truly unique perspective of Australia’s World Heritage listed Wet Tropics as you glide above the pristine rainforest canopy before descending to explore at Red Peak and Barron Falls. Learn about this mystical landscape from a Skyrail Ranger and at the Rainforest Discovery Zone. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Barron Gorge and Barron Falls from The Edge Lookout. Discover an ancient world just 15 minutes from Cairns.
Download the Skyrail interpretive app and audio guide to unlock the secrets of the world’s oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest.
People. Country. Culture. Award sponsor
Local solutions for people and planet.
Terrain NRM is an independent, not-for-profit community-based environmental management organisation.
We think innovatively and act collaboratively, combining the latest science with local knowledge to develop sustainable solutions that increase the resilience of the rainforests, reefs and landscapes of Australia’s Wet Tropics region.
Young Cassowary Award sponsor
Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) is a support agency for young people aged 12–25 years old living in Far North Queensland. YETI was established in 1995 and is a not for profit non-government organisation.
YETI facilitates a range of programs focusing on the needs of vulnerable young people, including: a day program; case management; therapeutic counselling; outreach; and research and evaluation. YETI values cultural safety, empowerment and harm minimisation and our service delivery approach aims to engage young people and seek their participation in our service.
YETI employs a multidisciplinary team of teachers, social workers, community development workers, counsellors and believes strongly in recruiting practitioners from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds.
CleanCo Queensland is a state-owned energy generator, developer and retailer delivering reliable, low-emission energy solutions to help Queensland businesses thrive in a net zero future. Our generation assets— including hydro generators at Barron Gorge, Kareeya and Koombooloomba within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area—enable us to provide reliable, competitive, low-emission energy to our customers.
We’re committed to supporting vibrant, sustainable, resilient communities and having a positive economic impact. We are supporting employment in Queensland’s regions through our customers, our operations, and our new renewable projects. In doing this we will catalyse a sustainable and prosperous future for all Queenslanders.
Lotsa Print and Signage is a dynamic, well-established and well-regarded print provider to the Cairns marketplace offering printed product across all 3 print mediums—offset, digital and large format. We support our clients with brochures, reports, flyers, posters, banners, stickers, cards and all general signage.
The Lotsa customer experience is an aspect of the business we work hard on—our focus on providing all clients exceptional service, market-leading timelines, quality of product and economical pricing is reflected in our extensive client portfolio. Lotsa have dedicated account managers and an in-house graphic design team, all backed up with local production with a national footprint.
Whether you are a start-up small business or a national corporate company, Lotsa has the product range and ability to support your print requirements.
Shonart is a boutique graphic design business founded in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, in 1998.
Since then, owner and designer Shona Smith has forged a strong reputation for providing dynamic, innovative and eye-catching graphic design services for diverse clients from private individuals and small businesses to major corporations, government and semi-government organisations.
Shonart provides the full range of professional graphic design services from advertising to logo development, branding and corporate identity, brochures, flyers, business cards, website design, signage, stationery and so much more. No matter what size your business or what industry, Shonart will work with you to create artwork that is uniquely yours and that will ensure you stand out from the crowd.
