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About Us

The Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management (CRC-TREM) was established in 1993 as a joint venture between its partners and the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Having achieved national and international recognition during its first phase, the Centre was successfully refunded in 1999 as the Rainforest CRC, under a new and expanded partnership of twelve organisations.

The Rainforest CRC is a research and education partnership, bringing together a range of experts in an exciting portfolio covering the following key areas of research:
  • Environmental planning and management in rainforest regions;
  • Evaluating ecosystem goods and services in a dynamic landscape;
  • Rainforest visitation, business, interpretation and presentation;
  • Managing and monitoring impacts arising from rainforest access;
  • Rehabilitation and restoration, including riparian;
  • Conservation principles and management; and
  • Aboriginal and collaborative management.
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A Brief History

Although the so-called Wet Tropics rainforests of North Queensland were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988, little was known about the biological diversity of the region, and the burgeoning tourism industry had little information. Furthermore, the Wet Tropics Management Authority, charged with the responsibility of developing policies that would lead to the protection of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, required a strong scientific basis for such policies. By the end of the first phase of the Rainforest CRC, we had developed a strong biodiversity knowledge base that supported the development of planning and conservation policy by agencies such as the Wet Tropics Management Authority.

In 1999, the Minister for Education, Science and Training announced that the Rainforest CRC was successful in seeking a second term of funding. In the previous year, the Centre's Fifth Year Review panel had made the following comment:

"The Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management (CRC-TREM) was funded to establish world class research in rainforest ecology and in the transfer of research outcomes to users of research in conservation and management. In five years it has made remarkable progress towards achieving these objectives and has become one of the top three institutions of its kind in the world."

Although great progress had been made in meeting the research needs and aspirations of the region's stakeholders, much research was still required for these to be fully realised. The new Rainforest CRC had grown from its first phase structure of just five partners, with the Wet Tropics Management Authority identified as the key industry stakeholder, to now include stakeholders representing the tourism industry, local and State Governments, natural resource management bodies and Indigenous groups. The Business Plan of 1999 reflected the various aspirations of the new stakeholders, and in the last seven years, the Rainforest CRC has gone a long way to meet these aspirations. Today, it is difficult to identify any tropical forest region in the world that has such an in-depth knowledge and strong management base.

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Mission and Vision

Our mission is to support the sustainable use, management and conservation of Australia's tropical rainforests through world class research, training and technology transfer.

Our vision is to see the rainforests of Australia managed and utilised in a scientifically sound and sustainable manner to yield economic and social benefits to the community while ensuring conservation of the unique cultural and natural features of the rainforest.

Our Objectives

Regional Management:
To create a management framework for ecologically sustainable management and conservation of rainforest regions.
Regional Conservation:
To provide a sound scientific basis for conservation and management of the rainforest's natural and cultural features.
Rainforest Tourism:
To assist in the development of a vibrant tourism industry that is in harmony with the rainforest resource on which its long term existence depends.
Indigenous Involvement:
To promote Indigenous involvement in all facets of research and management which will incorporate recognition and respect for Indigenous rights and interests.
Rainforests Globally:
To establish the Rainforest CRC as a model for delivery of rainforest research and sustainable management.
Centre Management:
To continue as a major international and international force will into the 21st Century.

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  The Cooperative Partnership

The Rainforest CRC has twelve core partners:
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