Edge Of The World

Arthur River area the far North Western edge of Tasmania, also referred to by locals as the edge of the world.

So far I have traveled to the far South, the far East and the far West and through the Highlands of Tasmania and have seen nothing I came here for, only glimpses. All I wanted to see were Old Growth Forests. After driving through the Tarkine I’m afraid the Old Growth Forest’s wont be here in another 50 years. All the way to Arthur River there were thousands of acres of dairy land. It became depressing after a while.

The trees following the roads were 60 year old regrowth. They cut the trees, regrow them and after cutting them many times the land is turned back into dairy farmland. Depending on what becomes more valuable at the time, dairy or timber, etc.

The trees that are replanted aren’t the same as old growth forests. They are pumped full of water to become large as fast as possible. However the structure isn’t the same. The old growth trees float in water where as the plantation trees sink.

It works the same depending on what side of a hill the trees are growing on. The darker sides of hills the trees grow slower, making for denser timber and grain. The trees growing on the sun side grow faster, therefore not as dense.

New laws have been brought in regarding harvesting old growth timbers, however with all new laws, they also start a black-market making the market prices change. poaching will soon be ripe.

Id like to see an organization formed that one knows the difference in tree growth to have fast growers to fund what I’m about to suggest but to have a slow growing tree organization that purposely plants trees on private and crown land that is on the darker side of the hills to have old growth dense timber in another 500 years. Stupid I know when governments only think up to the next election.

I want to obtain Celery Top Pine, Huon Pine, Black Heart Sassafras, Antarctic Beech seeds and start planting them every where I travel. I wont ever see the outcome but it would be funny having some dumbarse scientist try and figure out why all these small plantations of rare timbers have sprung up all over the country long after I’m gone. That is if they aren’t milled or burnt to the ground beforehand.

Next time I come down just old trees and fly fishing. The leg should be up to it by then or at-least its a goal to work towards with rehab. Being a arborist from long ago trees still fascinate me.

I built a 6 weight IMX Loomis fly rod when I was in my early 20’s and soon found it was too heavy for where I was living and have yet to still catch a trout on it. I really require a 4 weight for where I have been traveling. I’m determined to catch something on the Loomis, even a carp that are in the local drains near where I was renting on the mainland. I missed out on trout season. It closed as I arrived and it will reopen the day before I leave.