The Tarkine in Brief
By Phil Pullinger, Tarkine National Coalition
Tarkine as a Whole
The Tarkine is an approximately 377,000 hectare region in NW Tasmania, bound
roughly by the Arthur River to the North, the Pieman River to the South, the Murchison
Highway to the East, and the Southern Ocean to the West.
- The Tarkine is Tasmania's largest unprotected wilderness area.
- The Tarkine satisfies the entire cultural and natural heritage criterion which
makes a property suitable for inclusion on the world heritage list.
- The Tarkine was first put forward for listing on UNESCO's world heritage list
by IUCN (international union for the conservation of nature) in the early 1990s.
This was followed by a formal proposal by The Wilderness Society (TWS) in the
early 1990s also. Groups that support World Heritage listing for the Tarkine include;
IUCN, Australian Conservation Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Tasmanian Conservation
Trust, Launceston Environment Centre and Tarkine National Coalition. - Locals and conservationists have campaigned for protection of the Tarkine
since the 1960s. The first formal proposal was put forward by the then Circular
Head Mayor Horace (Jim) Lane, who proposed a Norfolk Range National Park.
Rainforest.
The current proposed Tarkine World Heritage area is 377,000 hectares.
The boundaries of a proposed Tarkine National Park are currently being reviewed.
Of these 377,000 hectares, 177,000 hectares is rainforest. This equates to
42% of the entire Tarkine area, some 70% of the Tarkine's total forest cover (over
240,000 hectares of forest in total).
- A fraction over 90% of all rainforest within the Tarkine is classified as
Old-Growth, the other 10% occurring at various stages of succession.
- Since European settlement, Australia has cleared more than 75% of the original
rainforest cover. - The rainforest type in the Tarkine Rainforests Corridor (Tall (callidendrous)
Rainforest on Basalt Soil) is at 'almost certainly less than 15% of pre-european
cover according to Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick, from the University of Tasmania. - The Savage River Rainforest Corridor (Approx 17,000 hectares) is made up of
tall (callidendrous) myrtle rainforest. Except for the pipeline road, this rainforest
is in pristine condition, with virtually no evidence of human disturbance. This
section of rainforest has been protected by some form of moratorium since 1982.
(Moratorium established by the former Forestry Commission in 1982, extended as
'National Estate Forest' by Graham Richardson in 1987, Deferred Forest by Paul
Keating/ Michael Field in 1992, put under RFA moratorium by John Howard/ Tony
Rundle in 1997). - The Tarkine (Savage River) Rainforests were one of the areas recommended for
world heritage status by the RFA's world heritage expert panel. It was recommended
that the appropriate conservation status for management of these rainforests was
national park. - Though 68% of rainforest in Tasmania has reservation status, this is not representative
of tall (callidendrous) rainforest such as that which dominates the Tarkine. Close
to 100% protection of alpine and sub-alpine rainforest in Tasmania is protected,
while less than 15% of pre-european tall rainforest on basalt soils remain. - The Tarkine's Rainforests form the largest continuous tract of rainforest
in Australia. This is also the largest temperate rainforest in Australia. The
Tarkine also hosts the only rainforest wilderness landscape (a landscape dominated
by rainforest) in Australia. Rainforest protected in the southwest is confined
primarily to slopes of gorges, and pockets in between buttongrass and mountains.
Rainforest in the Wet Tropics is broken up by farmland and cleared regions. - The 3 main rainforest regions in Australia are the Wet Tropics of Queensland,
the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (NSW & Qld) and the Tarkine. - The Wet Tropics is protected with world heritage status, and is made up of
700 separate blocks totaling 900 000 hectares. - The Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves are made up of a series of reserves
and national parks extending along north- eastern NSW and south-eastern Queensland
they total 366 507 hectares. The Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves are also
protected with world heritage status. - On a global scale, the Tarkine contains one of the world's most significant
remaining tracts of temperate rainforest (second only in size to those in western
Canada - British Columbia). - Temperate Rainforest is the rarest of the rainforests, and more highly threatened
even than tropical and subtropical rainforests. Temperate Rainforest only remains
in fragments in New Zealand, Chile and Western Canada and US.
- The tall rainforest of the Tarkine exists largely on the 'Arthur Lineament'.
This is the most extensive basalt plateau in Tasmania which still retains its
native vegetation. Basalt soils were extensively cleared in Tasmania over the
past 200 years, as they are regarded as the most productive for farming and agriculture.
Selective Logging
The predominant current logging operation in rainforest in NW Tasmania is clearfell,
followed by replacement with plantations. Those operations that are 'selective'
are virtually indistinguishable from clearfell operations - they leave only a
handful of trees which subsequently die from 'myrtle wilt'.
- Chalara Australis (or myrtle wilt) is a natural pathogen which occurs in all
of Tasmania's rainforest. In normal rainforest conditions (closed canopy, low
light, high moisture), chalara is kept under control, and has only a minimal regulatory
impact on rainforest survival. When the normal conditions are changed (ie. Via
roading, or logging), then Chalara causes myrtle wilt, an exponentiating zone
of death around the disturbed area. This is why selectively logging myrtle rainforest
has virtually the same ecological impact as clearfelling, as stands of rainforest
that are left tend to die from myrtle wilt anyway. - Selective logging of myrtle rainforest was tried in New Zealand (even helicopters
were used to lift out a single tree at a time), and failed dismally - with the
New Zealand government recently placing a complete ban on the practice. The New
Zealand government has now transferred all of New Zealand's rainforests from the
control of Timberlands (the public forestry enterprise) to the conservation department. - Logging pure rainforest on public land has been banned in all mainland states.
- Current estimates put the amount of veneer/sawlog taken out of rainforest
coupes at less than 10%, compared to over 90% going to woodchip. - Hans Drielsma, assistant manager for Forestry Tasmania (FT) is on record as
stating that 'there is little market in special species craft and furniture. We
could flood the market with half a coupe' in response to a question from Doctors
for Forests member Richard Climie in 2001. - It is more likely that FT intend to clear the rainforests in this region for
plantation. The rich basalt soils make this a very attractive plantation region.
Logging Industry
The main components of the industry that have an interest in logging the Tarkine
are;
1) Britton Brothers. Based in Smithton, employ 100 people. Have been
operating in NW Tasmania since the early 1900s. Their mill has been family owned
and run for 3 generations. 70% of their business is from eucalypt, 30% from special
species. The predominant special species timber they use being blackwood, followed
by myrtle, saffafras, celery top pine, leatherwood, huon, etc. They believe that
the Tarkine Rainforests will make up approx. 20% of future business turnover.
They export 70% of the myrtle they take as rough-sawn timber. Britton's have 'traditional
rights' to special species timbers in NW Tasmania.
2) Corinna Timbers. Is a very small mill based at Somerset. They mill
all the different types of species timbers.
3) Forestry Tasmania. Will be planning coupes and organising the contractors.
They will have a contractual arrangement to supply Brittons, Gunns, Corinna, with
a certain volume per annum of timber and woodchips. As the Tarkine Rainforests
are on rich red basalt soils, FT will probably looking at a long term plan of
converting the area to plantation. This is very much a 'land grab' for FT.
4) Gunns. Do not have any rights to special species sawlogs on public
land in NW Tasmania. Only have rights / contracts for woodchips and for eucalypts
on public land. Do have a stockpile of myrtle and other specialty timbers from
their Surrey Hills and Woolnorth blocks. Gunns own the Hampshire woodchip mill,
at which 12-14 people are currently employed. Woodchips form the bulk of Gunn's
operations on public land in NW Tasmania.
5) Specialty Craftspeople. There are a handful of small craftspeople
who use special timber in the NW, which then get used for crafts, souvenirs, etc.
They have to pay a royalty to pick 'the scraps' from rainforest logging coupes.
They use very small quantities of timber.
6) Furniture. The special timbers furniture business in NW is virtually
defunct. The vast majority of special timber that is taken from logging coupes
in the Northwest of the State is exported to the mainland or overseas as rough-sawn
timber, unprocessed.
Landscapes
The Tarkine contains a wide variety of spectacular landscape features. These
include;
- Coastline. Spectacularly wild coastline, battered by the winds of the
roaring 40s. The purest air in the world. Huge dunes that stretch inland up to
several kilometres. Rocky, jagged coastal stretches. Incredible Granite Tor formations
(especially at Conical Rocks south of the Pieman River), extensive long sandy
beaches, lagoons, grassy woodland, coastal heathland, marshes and swampland. Sandy
cape forms a dominant and spectacular feature of the Tarkine's coast. - Norfolk Range. Distinctively rises above coastal plateau, to over 700m.
Contains a belt of sub-alpine rainforest. This region is blanketed in a tapestry
of heath and buttongrass, moorland, pockets of varying forest types, and gorge-like
drainage lines. - Meredith Range. (reaches over 900 metres) An undulating granite plateau,
the largest exposed area of granite in western Tasmania. Affords spectacular views
of Cradle Mountain, and the South-West. Pockets and stretches of tall, implicate
and sub-alpine rainforest exist amongst the granite pillars and plates of the
Meredith Range. - Australia's largest tract of temperate rainforest. The vastness of
this rainforest is impressive, and reaches/ covers the Arthur, Pieman, Rapid,
Keith, Donaldson and Savage River valleys. The densely rainforested upper Savage
River is exceptional due to its deeply incised gorge system. - Grand Rivers. The Tarkine contains two of Tasmania's Grandest Rivers,
the Arthur River (which is the only complete river system in Tasmania that has
no dam), and the Pieman River. The Arthur River is characterized by steep gorges
and rapids, valleys blanketed in rainforest, and stretches of giant eucalypt forest.
It is fed by the Hellyer, Keith, Lyons, Rapid, and Frankland rivers. The Pieman
River is most famous for its reflections. Like the Gordon, the Pieman, on a good
day, gives spectacular mirror like river reflections. The section from Corinna
to the coast is broad and flat and is flanked by rainforests, and Tasmania's most
northerly stands of Huon Pine. The Whyte, Savage and Donaldson rivers feed the
Piemans lower stretches. The Upper Pieman river is dammed, and is fed by the Tarkine's
Huskisson, Wilson and Stanley rivers. - Wild Rivers. The Tarkine hosts Tassie's greatest density of wild rivers
outside the existing WHA. The entire catchments or sub-catchments of several;
major rivers remain remote and largely inaccessible. These include; Thornton,
Lagoon, Pedder, Wild Wave, Interview (coastal), Donaldson, Little Donaldson, Keith,
Lyons, Rapid, and Upper Savage (rainforests), Huskisson and Wilson (Southern Tarkine). - Waterfalls. There are a number of spectacular known and barely known
waterfalls within the Tarkine's Rainforests. (including Philosopher's Falls, McGowan's
falls). - Cave Systems. The Tarkine contains globally significant magnesite (dominated
by magnesium) cave (karst) systems. They are potentially the most significant
if not the only significant system of magnesium cave systems in the world. They
include caves, sub-surface cavities, sinkholes, springs, and surface features
including gorges and castle-like formations. They are most significant in the
upper Lyons river region. There are also a number of small cave features that
show evidence of Aboriginal occupation within the Savage River Rainforests. - Wilderness. Environment Australia's National Wilderness Inventory measures
wilderness quality on a scale from 0 (no wilderness) to 20 (pure wilderness),
based on remoteness from settlement and access, and apparent and biophysical naturalness.
While the Tarkine contains all gradings, the highest grade, with values from 14
- 20 makes up the majority of the Tarkine region.
Biodiversity
The Tarkine contains 54 species of flora and fauna which are listed as either
threatened or endangered. The Tarkine is a refuge from which many Tasmanian endemic,
threatened, migratory and vagrant species can feed, breed, disperse and recolonise
other areas where their populations have fared poorly.
Threatened Animal Species
Spotted Tailed Quoll (Vulnerable), Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Vulnerable), Broad-Toothed
Rat (Endangered), Tas. Wedge Tailed Eagle - Australia's Largest Eagle. 200 pair
left. (Endangered), Grey (white) Goshawk (Rare), Southern Royal Albatross (Vulnerable),
Wandering Albatross (Endangered), Swift Parrot (Endangered), Southern Giant Petrel
(Endangered), Northern Giant Petrel (Vulnerable), Orange-bellied Parrot (Endangered),
Hooded Plover (vulnerable), Freshwater Snail (Rare), Southern Bell Frog (Vulnerable),
Giant Freshwater Crayfish - Tayatea, World's Largest Freshwater Crustacean, grows
up to 1m long, lives up to 40 years (Vulnerable). 267 animal species are found
within the Tarkine. (122 bird, 27 mammals, 11 reptile, 8 amphibian, 25 fish, 193
invertebrates) The Tarkine's integrity and size make it an ideal refuge for threatened
species.
Plant Species
444 plant species within Tarkine. 27 threatened or significant flora species.
Of note, slender tree fern only two known living examples in their natural habitat,
within Tarkine grows up to 6m high. Huon Pine - Tarkine forms the northern reaches
of its range. Can grow up to 10 000 years. Currently a problem with illegal poaching.
Indigenous Values
Aboriginals inhabited Tasmania for at least 37 000 years.
The word 'Tarkine' comes from one of a number of bands of Aboriginals that
lived in the North-West Region. The 'Tarkiners' were a group who were based at
Sandy Cape (Tarkine Coast). The Tarkiners seasonally travelled throughout the
Tarkine region, travelling as far as 140 km north to the Hunter Islands hunting
for mutton birds and fur seals, and as far as 100 km east to the Surrey Hills
for wallabies and emus.
The word Tarkine was first recorded in the 1800s, by George Augustus Robinson.
In his diaries 'The Friendly Mission' which give an account of several trips made
to the North-West to meet and then remove the North-West Aboriginals, Robinson
talks several times about the Tarkine and the Tarkiners.
- European occupation was ruthless and bloody for the Aboriginals of NW Tasmania.
Many of the indigenous people from NW Tasmania were removed from the NW region
by G.A. Robinson in the mid 1800s and exiled to Flinders Island. - Evidence of aboriginal occupation in the Tarkine region include; innumerable
middens, hut depressions, artefact scatters, ceremonial stone arrangements, petroglyphs
(rock carvings), and spongolite quarries (located at Rebecca Creek). Over 1000
aboriginal sites have been identified in the Tarkine region, even though surveys
to date have been much less than comprehensive. - The Australian Heritage Commission describes the Tarkine as "one of the
world's great archaeological regions" due to the number and significance
of these aboriginal sites, many of which pre-date the pyramids.
Historical Values
- There is a rich pioneer/ exploring history of the Tarkine region, which was
regarded as one of Tasmania's toughest and most impenetrable regions. Jorgen Jorgensen
and Henry Hellyer are two of the more well known early explorers. - Prospecting and Mining was one of the biggest drawcards to the region for
early settlers, with tin mining set up at Balfour, Gold at Corinna, and Tin at
Waratah also. 'Prospectors' often searched the rivers in years between 1850 and
1950 quite unsuccessfully. - Current historical areas include; Balfour (former mining town, now ghost town),
Magnet (ghost mining town), Corinna (former gold mining boom town), and Waratah. - Emu Bay Railway, regarded as possibly Tasmania's most spectacular railway,
was built nearly a century ago, and winds through spectacular rainforest gorges
in the eastern fringes of the Tarkine.