SUGi
Australia

Queensland, Australia

Smith's Gap

Restoring habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary bird.

Pocket Forest
Miyawaki Method
Habitat

Besides being a critical bottleneck of habitat for Southern Cassowary Bird, the site will be listed as a Nature Refuge.

Before this certification can be achieved, it needs to be revegetated.

Forest Maker Brett Krause

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Restore Cassowary Bird habitat in Australia

380

Trees

100

Square Meters

76

Native Species

The site of Smith's Gap in Queensland, Australia
The pocket forest after 3 years growth

“Through the revegetation of Smiths Gap, we aim to be certified & listed as a Nature Refuge for the Cassowary Bird.”

Brett Krause

Forest Report: 3 Years

DATE: 25.09.2022

Survival Rate: 95%

Average of Tallest 3 Trees: 800cm

This pocket forest is a triumph with excellent survival rate and growth measurements. Forest floor and leaf litter is established, with zero weed penetration. The forest is now self-sustaining. New floral species are growing in the forest from bird droppings.

The pocket forest after 3 years growth.
Smith's Gap growth from planting to 3 years.

Biodiversity Notes:

Trees continue to flower well, including the sandpaper fig (Ficus opposita), white ash (Alphitonia petreii) and cadaghi (Corymbia torreliana). The endangered Southern Cassowary bird (Casuarius casuarius) is spotted in the forest regularly, along with other fauna.

Papilio Ulysses Caterpillar (Papilio ulysses)
Fringed jumping spider (Portia fimbriata)
Green jumping spider (Mopsus mormon)
Orange bush brown butterfly (Mycalesis terminus)
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Forest Report: 2 Years

DATE: 25.09.2021

Survival Rate: 95%

Average of tallest 3 trees: 700cm

Forest floor and leaf litter established. Zero weed penetration. The forest is self-sustaining; it has been a great growing season with above average rainfall.

The pocket forest after 2 years growth.
The dense canopy of Smith's Gap.

Biodiversity Notes:

“Growth rates are doing well! We are excited about what the forest will have to offer - water retention, soil productivity, carbon sequestration, and not to mention habitat for the endangered Southern Cassowary bird!”

Brett Krause

Forest Report: 1 Year

DATE: 25.09.2020

The pocket forest after 1 year growth.

Forest Report: Planting

DATE: 25.09.2019

Forest Design

The area of the future SUGi pocket forest

Native Wildlife

The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), also known as double-wattled cassowary, Australian cassowary or two-wattled cassowary, is a large flightless black bird. It is a ratite  and therefore related to emu, ostrich, and Kiwi genera.

Subject to ongoing habitat loss, limited range, and overhunting in some areas, the southern cassowary is listed as Endangered under Federal and Queensland State legislation. Some threats are habitat loss (logging), feral animals eating their eggs, hunting, and roadkill.  Road building, feral animals and hunting are the worst of these threats. It is estimated that there are only approximately 2,500 individuals left in Australia.

Cassuary Bird endangered

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