One of the World's Oldest Rainforests Returns to Indigenous Control

Olivia Rosane / EcoWatch

Australia's Daintree Rainforest — a World Heritage Site and one of the oldest rainforests in the world — is being returned to Indigenous ownership.

The iconic forest is one of four national parks that the state government of Queensland, Australia agreed to return to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people in a formal ceremony on Wednesday following four years of negotiations, as The AP reported.

"Their culture is one of the oldest living cultures and this land handback recognises their right to own and manage their Country," Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said on Twitter.