Environmental Decision Making: Tasmanian Rainforest Summary Report

This document presents a summary of the Tasmanian Temperate Rainforest, focusing on the Tarkine region and its significance as a World Heritage site. The summary analyzes the threats to the rainforest, including mining, logging, and climate change, highlighting the impact of these activities on the f...Read More

Running head: SUMMARY 1
Tasmanian Temperate Rain-Forest
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

SUMMARY
2
Introduction
The world’s second largest cool temperate forest is located in Australia’s Tasmania
Island, situated between the Murchison highway to the east, the Southern Ocean to the west,
Arthur River to the north and Pieman River to the south, the Tarkine forest.
The profusion in diversity of native species led to declaration of the Tarkine forest as
a World Heritage site. Some of the species unique to the forest include the Tasmanian Devil,
the Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle and the Spotted Quolls, all of which are endangered and
the rare Tasmanian Tiger of which only the locals spot them as they have grown increasingly
rare.
The native people to the Tarkine forest are the Tarkiner clan who the forest has been
named after, have lived in the temperate rain forest for at least 40,000 years, living
sustainably with the untamed beauty and as so have protected the ancient forest. Other
diversity includes the primeval Huon pines, Leatherwood trees, giant Celery Pines and
Antarctic Beech which have grown over 40 metre.
The Tasmanian Temperate rain forest has met all requirements to be enlisted as a
World Heritage site for its global conservation and natural heritage significance in that it
contains samples of major stages in Earth’s geographical and biological history. Ongoing
biological and ecological processes, evolution and development of ecosystems examples. The
forest is therefore a significant natural habitat for conservation of biodiversity.
Major threats to the Tarkine Temperate Rain Forest preservation is the changing land
use and land tenure systems in the southern state of Australia. The various land uses, new to
the rain forest include development of infrastructure, high level of logging and mining. The
ongoing current logging has been detrimental to the forests ability to resist burning caused by

SUMMARY
3
wildfires. Reduction in humidity levels through clearing of undergrowth and canopies is
directly linked with persistence in wildfires.
The ground beneath the forest contains significant amounts of ores and minerals.
Before the lapse of the forest status as a World Heritage Site, the Tasmanian state laws on
land use classification recognised three types of reserves. Formal reserves, which include
nation parks, game reserves, historic sites and forest reserves. Informal reserves, which were
reserves available for mineral exploration and values managed by prescription.
Conclusion
The lapse of the status of a world heritage site has opened doors for the country to
rethink its decision concerning the future of the rain forest. The state of Tasmania, being the
poorest among the state has been articulated as the major beneficiary to both logging and
mining, through creation of jobs and raw-materials. The energy minister’s power, vested in
discretionary decision-making ability has been the major blow to the Tarkine. Mining
companies are able to secure exploration rights without any gazette of their activities. Roads
are already constructed towards potentially mineral rich areas even before the grant of mining
rights as companies are certain of gaining access. In light of vast mining rights applications
tabled to the government, the temperate rain forest stands to fall.