Taking Care of the Rainforest

Wash shoes - A recent problem noted locally is where large patches of rainforest die off due to a fungus. It is not known whether or not the fungus is native or introduced, but washing your shoes between hikes you make in the forest will minimize the chance of you transporting spores of this fungus.

No souvenirs - Try to avoid the pick up stuff to take home. These items won’t be allowed through customs, and their decomposition adds nutrients back to the fragile rainforest soils.

Don’t feed wildlife - Feeding wildlife here often gives them poor nutrition, makes them more dependent on humans, and can make wildlife a nuisance.

Avoid 4wd on dirt roads when it’s wet - The mud stirred up on these roads by traffic on wet days clogs up streams, and contributes to the demise of the delicate coastal reefs that lie just offshore in many places.

Spotlighting Tips - Spotlighting wildlife at night is a great way to see Australia’s unusual nocturnal wildlife. If you use a flashlight or spotlight, be sure to keep your observation time down to two minutes or less. Shining bright lights for longer periods on nocturnal animals can disorient these animals.

Select appropriate tours - If you go to the rainforest on a tour, select one that is certified as being ecologically sensitive.

Purchase rainforest products wisely - Logging is a big threat to rainf Copyright © Bradley Ford orests. Certain kinds of produce (sun-grown coffee is one) are often grown in cleared forestland. Be an environmental informed shopper, and purchase furniture, wood, and tropical produce that is harvested in a sustainable manner. Demand that similar practices be used in your local forests. For more information on sustainable harvest of tropical hardwoods check out: www.smartwood.org.

Get educated and active - Rainforests worldwide are threatened by development, mining, and non-sustainable forestry practices. Learn about these problems and be an active voice in protecting rainforests. Take a look at some of the websites below for further information on rainforest conservation.