180-MILLION YEAR OLD RAINFORREST HANDED BACK TO TRADITIONAL OWNERS IN QUEENSLAND

Kupa Teao was one of the main negotiators of the historic deal. (Source: Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation)

The Daintree rainforest will be handed back to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people in Queensland as the new caretakers after a deal was brokered with the Queensland government.

The new agreement gives the Eastern Kulu Yalanji people the right to manage the 160 000 hectares of the land park alongside Wildlife Service and the Queensland state government, with the hope for full management to be passed onto the traditional owners in the future.

The rainforest is one of the top tourist destinations and is World Heritage-listed because of its rich biodiversity.

Former CEO of Eastern Kuku Yalanji Kupa Teao was part of the negotiations during his time at the organisation and said there are places in the rainforest only traditional owners can go to.

“It is one of the number one tourist destinations of Australia”.