A hot topic right now in Tasmania is that of mining in the Tarkine rainforest. One proposal currently awaiting approval would see Mt Lindsay, below, mined for tin. Mt Lindsay lies at the southern end of the Meredith Range and is a relatively low mountain completely covered in rainforest. If the Mt Lindsay mine goes ahead, the potential for mines to stretch right across the southern end of the Tarkine is very real.

Mt Lindsay Mine Site, Tarkine

The Tarkine rainforest consists predominantly of myrtle, with sassafras, leatherwood and horizontal all present. Once amongst the trees there is a soft open forest floor with native laurel, mother shield ferns and tall tree ferns. Green moss is everywhere, and you could seriously believe you were the first person to set foot in this forest as you walk amongst these trees.

Tarkine Rainforest at the Mt Lindsay mine site

A small creek runs off Mt Lindsay, and things get a little more tangled here as the horizontal dominates a bit more. For those who don’t know, horizontal is the bane of Tasmanian bushwalkers. It is a tree which, as the name suggests, tends to spread out horizontally – as the tree grows up it eventually leans and falls over making a major knot of branches and limbs which can be a nightmare to navigate through.

Tarkine rainforest stream at the Mt Lindsay mine site

Myrtle leaf and moss, TarkineRainforest at the Tarkine mine site, Mt Lindsay

Rainforest at the Tarkine mine site, Mt Lindsay

The Australian Greens and the Tarkine National Coalition are leading the fight to have the Tarkine free from further mining and in fact reserved as a National Park and World Heritage Area. There is a lot of useful information about this issue and how you can get involved on their websites.