Environment
The truth about Old Growth
phill Parsons
It seems to pass unnoticed that in 1802 the forests of Tasmania were essentially all ‘old growth’. Now given that some of Tasmania was grassland, a little was alpine and some was cold oceanic heath that leaves a lot of Tasmania under trees. So really the area of old growth forest in reserves is a subset of the area of old growth forest at the time of invasion [settlement], not a subset of the current allocation of land use. Therfore; Area of Tasmania:6.8 million ha. Area of Tasmania in reserves: 2.9 million ha (44%). Area of remaining native forest in Tasmania: 3.1 million ha
Area of remaining native forest in reserves: 1.4 million ha(47%). Area of remaining old-growth forest in Tasmania: 1.2 million ha. Area of old-growth forest in reserves: 970 000 ha (~18%). This is because you cannot, without the passage of considerable time and the absence of modern human impacts produce an old growth forest. Read more, Comment here