Rainforests in Australia
by Devin.

QUEENSLAND
More than half of Australia's remaining rainforests, including Tropical, Sub-Tropical, Cool Temperate and Dry types are found in Queensland. The largest single area of Tropical Rainforest, 7500 square kilometres in extent, occus between Cooktown and Townsville, in the Wet Tropics of Queensland tropical Heritage Area. At least 700 different sorts of plants and seventy sorts of birds, mammals and frogs occur only in the Wet Tropics.

(Daintree National Park
North Queensland)

TASMANIA
Tasmania contains one quarter of Australia's remaining forests, including the largest single tract of Cool Temperate Rainforest in the world. Two-thirds of the island's rainforest is unprotected and it is under threat from logging, mining, tourist access and fire. Half of the mixed rainforest/eucalypt forest which existed 200 years ago has already been cleared.

                                      (Russell Falls
                                      Mt Field National Park, Tasmania)

VICTORIA
The Rainforest which survives in Victoria is in narrow stands, less than 10 hectares in area. Nearly 80 rainforest plant species are rare or threatened with extinction and Leadbeaters' Possum and the Long Footed Potoroo are endangered.

(Tara Bulga National Park
Strzelecki Ranges, Victoria)

NEW SOUTH WALES
More than three-quarters of the Rainforests that existed in New South Wales 200 years ago have been lost. The remnants are only partly protected and are vulnerable to fires which spread from neighbouring Eucalypt forests. The states south-eastern forests include Rainforest with tall eucalpyts which provide homes for tree-living marsupials such as the Feathertail and Yellow-bellied Gliders.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND NORTHERN TERRITORY
Western Australia's Kimberley Region contains more than 1500 small scattered patches of Rainforest, ranging form tall stands along rivers to vine thickets in drier areas. Until recent times, the Aboriginal people regularly burned the country around these rainforest fragments preventing the damage which today results form "hot" fires which combust accumulated ground litter. Cattle and feral pigs also damage these fragile areas.
In Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, streams may be bordered by tall evergreen Rainforest. Vine forests occur on sandstone country and lowland river plains. Some Rainforests grow around springs which rise on the coastal plain and along the Arnhem Land escarpment. These Rainforests are generally smaller than 5 hectares and are easily damaged by feral pigs, cattle and water buffalo. Scenic areas which contain waterfalls and lush greenery are also the focus of considerable human activity. About 7% of the Northern Territory's Rainforest is in Conservation Reserves and nearly 90% is Aboriginal land.

                                                         (Florence Falls Falls Falls
                                             Lichfield National Park
                                                   Northern Territory)