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The Daintree Rainforest
The publicity stemming from the blockade led to World Heritage listing of Ms Grant is the first indigenous person to be chair of the Wet Tropics. But,
Queensland’s wet tropical rainforests in 1988. The Wet Tropics cover 894,420ha most importantly, she brings an impressive resume to the position of chair,
of land stretching along the far north Queensland coast for about 450km from with almost 40 years of experience in land management issues. She spent many
Townsville to Cooktown. years in Canberra working with the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and
as Director of Indigenous Heritage in the Australian Heritage Commission.
So, what is the Wet Tropics? What does the Wet Tropics Management Authority On retiring from the public service, Ms Grant continued to be involved with
actually do? Chair Chrissy Grant explains:
panels and committees focusing on issues of Indigenous Protected Areas,
“The Wet Tropics is 80 million years older than the Amazon rainforest,” Ms Indigenous Heritage, World Heritage, Indigenous Repatriation and Research
Grant says enthusiastically. “Imagine that! 80 million years older! It is also Ethics Committees.
the home of the rainforest Aboriginal peoples who have been the traditional
custodians of the Wet Tropics, living in and from the rainforest and caring for
the country and its diverse habitats for thousands of years.” “The Wet Tropics is very important to me, it is the
“The WTMA Board’s key function is to implement programs to meet Australia’s home of my ancestors with my apical family headed up
international obligations for the World Heritage Area,” she explains.
by Queen Maggie. My mother was born on the beach
“The Board sets a number of priorities each year including programs and projects
to address climate change, partnerships with rainforest Aboriginal people, on the northern side of the Daintree River heads.”
community engagement, science, tourism, Yellow Crazy Ant eradication, and
day-to-day management of resources to meet our accountability as a capable
organisation.” As we speak, she is keen to talk up the recently released WTMA sustainable
Ms Grant grew up in Cairns, and later Brisbane, but has a deep connection to tourism plan.
the area. “The Wet Tropics Management Authority has released its Wet Tropics
“The Wet Tropics is very important to me,” she said. “It is the home of my Sustainable Tourism Plan 2021-2031,”Miss Grant says. “The plan focuses on
ancestors with my apical family headed up by Queen Maggie. My mother was visitors’ unique experience in the Wet Tropics, and it’s outstanding natural and
born on the beach on the northern side of the Daintree River heads. Her siblings cultural values. Through making genuine and mutually beneficial connections
were born in different places across the landscape on Julan (Sea) Country. with nature, rainforest aboriginal peoples and our inspiring storytellers, visitors
will leave feeling enriched and become important advocates for the place.”
“All our school holidays were spent at Daintree, Saltwater Creek or Miallo with
family and having a great time with our cousins.” “The Wet Tropics world heritage area is the oldest living tropical rainforest in
the world,” Ms Grant says. “The opportunity for people around the world to
experience that, is what we are after and what we would like to share with those
people coming to Australia.”
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 61