1% Regnans - The Future Traditional Cache
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BEWARE OF LOG TRUCKS ON ALL ROADS IN THE AREA. This is part of a series on the Mountain Ash Tree Eucalyptus regnans. What was one considered the biggest thing on the planet, Now it is only considered the tallest flowering plant. Their is only 1% old growth Mountain Ash from pre 1900 times on the mainland. And not much left in Tasmania either. This cache looks at the future and this species chances of reaching old age.
So far this series has looked at how the case of Eucalyptus regnans has become so perilous and what an adult tree looks like. The issues of fire and logging are still relevant for the last 1% as they where for the 99% now gone. But we have 1 other issue pop up now. Around 400 years of age the evolutionary process means that unless a major disturbance occurs they will become rainforest. While this isn't of much concern as most of the remaining old growth forest of this species is less then 250 years old and rainforest is even more endangered. So why put the cache here. Their is no continuos areas of old growth forest here. Well we are talking about the future. This is the future. This is mixed aged forest that is on the lower side of the road. ie Generally young forest but it has some really big old trees in it. It would become old growth forest if we allowed it to get old. About 100m up the road is a log coupe that was blockaded by the local community and then challenged through legal action. This was on the basis that it was ideal habitat for the critically endangered Leadbeaters Possum. Our state emblem of which their are only about 500 left. I have personally seen this animal here. The court case was lost but being appealed. Basically no breach has occurred ie logging of habitat because the area to be logged was stopped by the community and then once the case started the contested areas where taken from the plan. I believe that geocaching rules do not allow me to provide too much detail as it would be seen as pushing an agenda, whereas I am just providing information and knowledge. Traditionally this type of forest hasn't been protected, which means we are now at the stage where we have 1% Regnans left and basically no forest growing old in the next couple of years. Most of the ash estate is less then 30 years old. But for a tree that grows 1 metre a year to the untrained eye at that age it can still be a very majestic tree. There are a number of other aches in the areas, especially along Monda Track. These can be accessed by continuing up Sylvia Creek Rd past Mt Tanglefoot and driving along then taking the next right or by heading back to the tar, turning left and then left again into Monda.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybjre ragenapr gb genpx. Ng onfr bs ynetr Rhpnylcghf ertanaf naq nabgure fghzc gung unq gur punvafnj naq qlanzvgr gerngzrag.
Treasures
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