Center for Rainforest Studies
Queensland, Australia
Millaa Millaa, 1987-1988
Yungaburra, 1988-present

In Spring 1987, thanks to a founding gift from the R.J. Reynolds Company, the SFS Center for Rainforest Studies was established in far north Queensland.  The temporary setting for the program was a pair of rented houses—affectionately called Platypus Haven by early students—on the southern end of the Atherton Tablelands near the town of Millaa Millaa.           

In July 1988, SFS acquired a tract of 153 acres that included 100 acres of primary rainforest, 20 acres of secondary forest and 30 cleared acres with a small farm house that would become the main center building. In 1989, much of the Wet Tropics rainforest bordering our property was World Heritage listed.  Soon to be known as Warrawee, which means "you are welcome here" in a local aboriginal language, the center at the time consisted of a library with 3 computers, a small classroom, and a dormitory. With generous support from the Archer Daniels Midland Foundation, SFS was able in 1990 to complete construction of four 8-person student dormitories and new academic facilities. The center's administrative building was added to the grid and solar power capability was added to provide the lighting and water heating in all other buildings. The next year saw the construction of a large classroom attached to the administrative building, two duplexes for faculty accommodation, further investment in research equipment and the Center's library.

In 1993 SFS completed its transition to a case-studies based curriculum; CRS faculty introduced a case study which explored the issues around the management of cassowaries, large flightless birds that are a flagship species for conservation of rainforest habitat in Queensland.  An important focus of the Center's field projects in 1993 was support for reforestation efforts on the Atherton Tableland. This included working with TREAT (Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands) to plant over 2,000 trees and growing 5,000 seedlings in the center's newly constructed shade house.

In 2001, CRS established a Research Reference Committee comprised of regional academic, research and government representatives to provide advice on the center's research direction and invite the input of the local community.  Based on this input, the CRS developed the first SFS Five-Year Research Plan which focuses on Mabi 5 rainforest restoration and riparian zone restoration of Peterson Creek. 

As of last year (2004) directed research projects based on the five-year research plan included a study of plant succession and conservation value of acacia regrowth, an investigation of soil impact on rainforest structure, as well as research on bird communities in different ages of Acacia regrowth forest and on bird recolonisation of the Jungle Farms restoration site. Several projects related to ecosystem services valuation were also conducted.  In one, SFS students found that average biomass and amount of carbon sequestered was found to increase with the age of rainforest trees.  In another focusing on erosion control, students found that 76% of study sites along the banks of the Lower Peterson Creek are currently at high or moderately-high risk for erosion. Based on current costs of water treatment for the town of Yungaburra, a 50% reduction in sediment load could result in annual cost savings of $13,860 for the town.