The Australian Rainforest Conservation Society, founded in 1982, is a national, non-government organisation with headquarters in Brisbane. Its goal, through research, lobbying, public education and grass-roots support, is to protect, repair and restore the rainforests of Australia and to maximise the protection of forest biodiversity.

Biodiversity is the word we use to describe the variety of animal and plant species, genes and ecosystems on the planet. A rainforest is not simply the trees, but many other types of plants, mammals (including humans), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, bacteria and fungi, plus the non-living elements like soil, water and air. Altogether they make up a total living system known as an ecosystem.