We’re at a time in history when many species and entire ecosystems survive only “at our pleasure”.

We live in an area of exceptional biodiversity. We’re a relatively prosperous community, at peace – and we have no good excuse for continuing the feckless, primitive, business-as-usual approach to development that has brought the entire planet to the brink of disaster.

This Kuranda area, west of the divide, should be managed in a way that protects and extends the world-class biodiversity values of the Wet Tropics. At present, we’re a long way from that – but empowered and with a common purpose, this community could achieve wonders.

This could be one part of the world where we actually stop “clearing” (instead of just debating it) and start restoring our native ecosystems, living sustainably within already cleared areas and allowing the quality of our natural surroundings to become restored over time, not to suffer further degradation.