One of the region’s leading conservation groups has won an international award for its work to restore Mt Hypipamee rainforest in the Atherton Tablelands.

The Wet Tropics Management Authority has planted endemic rainforest trees across 8.5 hectares, creating a corridor between remnant and regrowth forest.

The project took home the under 50 hectares prize in The Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia (SERA) awards, presented in Darwin earlier this month.

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The Wet Tropics Management Authority’s Executive Director Scott Buchanan said the project targeted a landscape with significant biodiversity values.

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“This award is testament to the expression ‘from little things, big things grow’,” he said.

“Part of this project involved an experimental approach to catalysing rainforest regeneration on former pasture lands.

“These “kickstart” trials aimed to test a novel lower cost alternative to biodiversity planting.

“Again, with various sources of support, this project has continued, and has been accompanied by scientific monitoring of both flora and birds.” 

The work was supported by $600,000 in federal government funding, as well as project partner South Endeavour Trust.

"Other partners include Griffith, James Cook and Queensland Universities, landowners, Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples, multiple government agencies, community groups, environmental organisations and the many volunteers over the past decade,” Mr Buchanan said.

“Collaboration is key to ensuring a sustainable future for our world heritage listed rainforests.”