Terrain NRM is an independent and community-based not-for-profit organisation. Based in Cairns in Far North Queensland, we design and deliver innovative natural resource management projects across the Wet Tropics region, stretching from the Daintree to the Hinchinbrook Channel and across the Atherton Tablelands.
We are a catalyst for environmental action. We bring people together and build partnerships, we provide technical expertise to the community, and we integrate science and local and traditional ecological knowledge to co-design and deliver projects with long-lasting impacts.
The Wet Tropics is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth, home to more plant and animal species than anywhere else in Australia. It’s the only place where two interconnected World Heritage Areas – the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef – come together. Over 150 species here are listed as endangered, with many highly vulnerable to climate change.
To protect these unique ecosystems, Terrain NRM collaborates with partners to reconnect and buffer the World Heritage Forest. By creating one large, healthy, and intact forest system, we aim to build resilience to climate change and provide vital habitat for threatened species.
The Wet Tropics is home to nine fast-flowing river catchments that feed directly into the Great Barrier Reef. With high rainfall and intensive agriculture along the coastal plain, the region faces unique challenges in maintaining waterway health. For years, Terrain NRM has led large-scale Reef Water Quality Programs, partnering with farmers to reduce land-based pollutant runoff into the Reef. These programs support farmers in adopting sustainable practices that protect the environment while enhancing productivity and profitability, ensuring a healthier future for both the land and the Reef.
Healthy soil is the foundation of all living ecosystems and a vital asset for agriculture. Through practical soil management programs, workshops, and peer-to-peer learning groups, Terrain NRM supports farmers to transition to sustainable farming systems that are a win-win for the environment and agricultural productivity. Some of the benefits of healthy soil include better water cycling and retention, reduced carbon emissions and greater resilience in Australia’s food production systems.
The world’s two greatest environmental challenges – nature loss and climate change – are driven by unsustainable economic development. Terrain NRM advocates for regenerative economic development, a model that prioritises ecological health over resource depletion, offering a sustainable solution to environmental degradation. We’re pioneering innovative conservation finance mechanisms including Cassowary Credits, one of the world’s first high-integrity biodiversity credit schemes. Find out more at www.cassowarycredits.com.au.
Find out more about how we’re empowering our communities to protect and restore one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions.
Terrain’s contributions to our national NRM snapshots
