NATIONAL WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd. 30/09/94
Level 2, 332 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
Ph (02) 9261 2400; Fax (02) 9261 2144.

Name:

SOUTH-WEST TASMANIA

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

Not recorded

Size
For size and tenure information contact the Colong Foundation.

DESCRIPTION

An outstanding and very spectacular area of broad plains, mountain ranges,
craggy peaks, glacial lakes, wild rivers and rugged coastlines, the South-West
is one of three great temperate wilderness areas in the world.

Many of its Proterozoic quartzite ranges rise to over 1,200 metres. Peaks in the
eastern part of the area are capped by Jurassic dolerite. There are also
significant areas of Ordovician, Devonian and Permian sediments, including
limestone and dolomite. [1]

A large number of wild rivers flow through the area to the Southern Ocean,
notably the Franklin. Glacial features abound, with the Western Arthur Range
providing examples in profusion. During a number of ice ages, glaciers are
thought to have reached sea level at Port Davey. [2]

Vegetation within the area is quite variable, with large expanses of sedgeland
dominated by Button-grass (Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus) and eucalypt forests.
Heath and scrublands are common as are alpine shrublands and herbfields.
Significant tracts of cool temperate rainforests are also present. Many
Tasmanian endemics are found in the area, particularly in alpine communities. [3]

The area is the home of over forty bird species and over twenty mammals,
including Tasmanian endemics. A number of species occurring in the South-West
are now extinct or extremely rare on the mainland. It is believed that a number
of aquatic invertebrates are restricted to the area. [4]

ENDANGERED SPECIES

No endangered species information is recorded for this area.
LAND USE HISTORY


Some Aboriginal habitation of the area occurred over twenty thousand years ago
when the climate was considerably drier, but the area is thought to have been
largely uninhabited in the past. [5]


Logging of the area commenced early in the nineteenth century when Huon pines
were taken from forests along the west coast. Pining continued to be an
important industry in the area until the resource was virtually exhausted. [6]


Attempts at grazing were made on the Upper Gordon plains but failed; some
intermittent grazing still occurs in the upper Gordon and Rasselas Valleys. [7]


Sporadic mining operations have occurred in the area, with the longest surviving
mine being a small scale alluvial tin operation at Melaleuca near Port Davey,
just outside the wilderness area. Mining exploration leases are held over parts
of the area and a number of prospecting tracks scar parts of the area. [8]

CONSERVATION HISTORY

1979
The Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania publishes a report
to the Australian Heritage Commission describing thirteen wilderness areas in
Tasmania. Among these is a 630,000 ha South-west Tasmania Wilderness.
[9]

THREATS

No threats are recorded for this area.
CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.
ENDNOTES
1
Prineas, P., Lembit, R., Fisher, N., 1986, "Australia's Wilderness An
Inventory".

2
Ibid.

3
Ibid.

4
Ibid.

5
Prineas, 1986, op.cit.

6
Prineas, 1986, op.cit.

7
Prineas, 1986, op.cit.

8
Prineas, 1986, op.cit.

9
Jones, R., et. al., 1979, Centre for Environmental Studies, Occasional Paper 10,
University of Tasmania, "Wilderness in Tasmania: A Report to the Australian
Heritage Commission".

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