Old Sugarcane Farms to Become Rainforest in Australia

A century-old sugar industry is making way for something unexpected: the return of one of Earth's oldest rainforests.

Conservation group Rainforest Rescue secured partial approval this week to replant native trees on former sugarcane farms near Queensland's Daintree Rainforest. The project targets 405 hectares of land surrounding McDowell Swamp, a nationally significant wetland that was drained and cleared for farming in the 1950s.

The timing couldn't be better for local farmers. Mossman's sugar mill closed in 2024, leaving growers without a viable crop or buyer. One farmer told Rainforest Rescue CEO Branden Barber he was "desperate" and needed to sell his land.

Barber calls it the largest ecological restoration project in Douglas Shire's history. "The farmers will tell you that cane is dead," he said. The project offers them a way forward through carbon credits and supporting nature-based tourism.

The Daintree Rainforest dates back 135 million years, making it the world's oldest surviving rainforest. Restoring the land around it could help reduce flooding severity and protect the nearby Great Barrier Reef from runoff.

Douglas Shire Council approved restoration on fragmented parcels of the land but rejected rezoning requests for continuous agricultural areas. Councillor Abigail Noli pushed for full approval, arguing the land no longer functions meaningfully as farmland.

The Ripple Effect

This project shows how environmental restoration can create economic opportunity when traditional industries fade. The restored rainforest will generate income through carbon markets while protecting critical ecosystems. Tourism operators could benefit from expanded wilderness experiences near the ancient Daintree.

Local canegrower Matt Watson owns land targeted for the project and feels conflicted. "I'd sell the farm tomorrow to anybody who has got the money to buy it," he said, while worrying about losing agricultural zones.

Barber remains optimistic despite the partial approval. "We can acquire those lots, begin restoration and demonstrate outcomes on the ground," he said. The group plans to use locally propagated seeds to ensure native species thrive.

The council will review its planning scheme to consider community input on revegetation. Mayor Lisa Scomazzon acknowledged the scheme dates to 2018, when saving Mossman's sugar industry still seemed possible.

Some investors are exploring alternative crops like biofuels, but Watson warns growers can't wait much longer for solutions. Meanwhile, the rainforest waits to reclaim what was once its own.