NW Forestry - Tasmania.
Location:
The North West Forestry area is located, as the name describes, in the NW area of Tasmania 250 km NW of Hobart. Centred about 410 S 145 0 E.
Photographs:
Scale: 1:20,000 Date 7-3-98
Background Information:
This region is part of an isolated area of the Tasmanian Highlands, used mainly for forestry and mining. There are three types of forestry use – multiple use forests, existing reserves and RPA proposed new reserves. The forests of north west Tasmania are dominated by cool temperate rainforest species such as myrtle, leatherwood, celery top pine, sassafras, Huon pine, King Billy pine or beech. Rainforest need a climate with 1200 mm of rain per year with 25 mm in the warmest month. The undergrowth contains ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi species.Clearfelling is the main technique used in the wetter forests. Timber fellers establish a "landing" off the road then plan 'snig' tracks for the movement of machinery and the removal of logs. The total area to be cleared is called a 'coup'. Care is taken to protect the soil in areas of machinery use. On steeper slopes the logs are removed by cables as this method involves less soil disturbance. No clearing takes place within 40 metres of a watercourse to reduce the problem of sedimentation in the water supply. To ensure the replacement of forests reserves, regeneration is practised. This is a requirement for all companies operating in the forests. Clearfelling is the best technique of removing timber in wet forests due to the density of vegetation and it also suits regeneration of a dense rainforest. Burning follows clearfelling to give the new seedlings an ash bed and to reduce the undergrowth. New seedlings grow vigorously in open sunlight. Sowing follows soon after burning.