YOU BEAUTY: First stage of Mossman Botanic Garden to be officially launched this Friday
4000 TREE PLANTINGS
Contributor Article
Far North Queensland’s leading conservationists will converge on Mossman Botanic Garden (MBG) this Friday to launch stage one of the garden.
Independent not-for profit conservation groups Rainforest Rescue and Terrain NRM are collaborating with Mossman Botanic Garden to plant over 4,000 trees along the northern boundary of the 55 acres botanic garden.
These trees are currently being grown by Rainforest Rescue at their nursery in Cow Bay from seeds collected at the garden site.
This planting event is an important milestone in the development of the Botanic Garden masterplan," Mossman Botanic Garden CEO Nicky Swan said.
"It's also an opportunity to celebrate with members and supportive stakeholders, partners and organisations as we start to grow the Mossman Botanic Garden from the ground up.
“The evolution of botanic gardens take time. November’s planting of the biggest little rainforest will demonstrate the importance of regenerative planting of native trees and the research and work that goes into these processes."
MGB has also recently commenced a sector of their planned community garden space, 'The Circle of Plenty'.
“I see Mossman Botanic Garden becoming a world class research facility built on a commitment to collaboration and open-source knowledge," Ms Swan continued.
“Through collaborative partnerships with both Governments, major regional institutes, corporates, regional businesses, the local community and particularly with traditional owners, Mossman Botanic Garden – the Garden of Origins is ideally placed to step up and deliver this missing piece of the conservation jigsaw."
Federal member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has been a long-time supporter of the Garden, having secured a Federal Government grant to purchase the 55 acres of land as well as the development of the masterplan by Hunt Design for the Garden.
The garden is working closely with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people of the Daintree region and their corporation Jabalbina which includes horticulture and ranger trainee and employment programs.
Douglas Shire Council and its Mayor Michael Kerr have also been very supportive of the Garden, attending many meetings with Ms Swan.
Friday's event will also serve as a 20th anniversary celebration for Terrain NRM who have spent many years combining the latest science with local knowledge to develop sustainable solutions to increase the resilience of the rainforests, reefs, landscapes and local communities of Australia’s Wet Tropics region.