What is a cool temperate rainforest?
Defining Tasmania’s cool temperate rainforest is difficult, partly because it can grow in so many different habitats. However, there are generally three things to look out for: • Most rainforest grows in areas receiving over 1 200 mm of rain a year, but some isolated patches occur in much drier areas; • It is dominated by particular trees, such as myrtle, leatherwood, celery-top pine, sassafras, Huon pine, pencil pine, King Billy pine or deciduous beech maybe important in some areas; and • Species living in rainforest don’t require disturbance, such as fire, to reproduce, and are generally disadvantaged by disturbance, which allows in light-dependant, short-lived competitors.
