Every few months, Terrain organises a Mission Beach Habitat Network Action Committee Meeting where government, industry and community groups seek solutions to local habitat issues. Following is a snapshot of some of the views expressed by attendees at last month's meeting.

"Forty percent of habitat at Mission Beach is on private property.
Some habitat owners had plans for development that are now difficult to achieve with government regulations protecting the cassowary.
Farming is often compatible with cassowaries.
We should reward farmers that voluntarily retain habitat.
A Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) can help rural landowners secure their rights over regrowth vegetation and receive future payments for protecting regrowth.
Terrain can help with PMAVs."

"Adventurous by Nature" is the new tourism brand for the tropical north so rural landowners are encouraged to explore eco-certified adventure tourism as a commercial addition to farming, e.g. habitat-friendly fruit farm tours. To an ecotourism developer, Mission Beach offers outstanding land and seascapes, iconic wildlife, Traditional Owners strongly connected to country, diverse agriculture, a community passionate about its environment and sustainable development, and sustainable economic opportunities.

Buyback may be the best option for properties with high biodiversity values (e.g. cassowary corridor), low levels of protection (e.g. zoned for development), and high levels of threat (e.g. development application lodged), if the owner is willing to sell.

Terrain's recent application for $1.5M funds for local landholders for weed and pig control and revegetation wasn't supported by the Australian government. British documentary series "Inside Nature's Giants" just shot a cassowary episode, a Japanese network is considering filming a cassowary documentary, and visiting US moviestar Daryl Hannah was impressed by cassowaries. Should we be targeting the UK, Japan and US for conservation investment?

How do cassowaries cross the road? According to JCU, many stand on the roadside first to assess the situation. Background traffic noise doesn't disturb them but loud noises (e.g. trucks) do and you can't be sure which way they'll run (e.g. onto the road) when they hear a loud noise. There have been at least two cassowary hit-and-runs in recent months.

CSIRO's cassowary dung DNA project, DERM/UQ's cassowary tagging project and Liz Gallie's community cassowary identification project all complement each other in understanding cassowary populations and habitat use. CSIRO dung collection is scheduled to recommence shortly.

Some important cassowary habitat and corridors at Mission Beach are currently subject to development pressures. Council's future planning scheme could increase habitat protection.

The new State Planning Policy for Great Barrier Reef Wetlands will protect some local wetlands.

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