David Leigh
THIS is the question I asked myself over and over yesterday afternoon, after circumnavigating Tasmania in a Piper Comanche. The clear felled coupes, as viewed from 4,500 feet, were so prolific it made me feel physically sick. This, however, was nothing compared to the 100’s of square kilometres of plantation timber, throughout the island.
Starting on the Western Tiers, we moved around the rock-face and onto the western side. Up until that point, plantations were significant but not overwhelming. Those western slopes are covered in pine and blue gum, on the very rise that causes rainfall to occur. This region of rainforest has been ripped out and replaced by monocultures.
According to an article I read recently, monoculture plantations actually decrease rainfall. This is due to micro-organisms that occur on green vegetation and are transported, by evaporation, into cloud mass, where they affect precipitation by temperature change. This only appears to occur when native, bio-diverse, forests cover the area below.
I am not in a position to judge for myself how true this is, however, it could explain why so little rainfall has occurred in Tasmania this year.
Our flight took us on to the Styx and Florentine valleys where more of the same was observed, down to Hobart, across to Nubina and Port Arthur, before returning up the East Coast to Launceston.
No area escapes the onslaught of Gunns and their sidekicks, Forestry Tasmania. One of the worst hit areas I saw was Mathinna. Only the day before, I visited Mathinna Falls. Traversing bad roads, lined by clear felled devastation, I photographed the falls, set in semi-rain forest. I marvelled at the peace and tranquillity of this refuge, amongst the war-zone of forestry.
Little did I realise how literal the word refuge was. From the air, the whole mountain (except the side of the falls) has be denuded, including the gullies. I likened it to Queenstown, that moonscape I had visited earlier this year.
Plantations abound in Mathinna, including the recently acquired Evercreech Farm, now completely covered in blue gums. All the hilltops and mountain slopes, as far as the eye could see, covered with new plantations, drinking the water catchments dry. Is it any wonder the dams are dry?
The sickness I felt on landing has now subsided and left me with even more resolve to beat this scourge that is plaguing Tasmania.
I feel strongly enough to do something about it and I am from the mainland.
As Tasmanians, you should make it your life’s work to stop this malpractice before it destroys your life and the lives of your children.
