Tasmania - CRA/RFA - Forests - National Estate - Glacial Refugia Areas

A glacial refuge-dependent forest community is considered to be one that occupies a climatic or topographic refuge retaining elements of the climatic regime of the last Ice Age. Rainforest undoubtedly qualifies as such a community in Tasmania.

The last Ice Age began in the Quaternary Period, around 40 000 years BP; it peaked between 20 000 and 17 000 years BP, continuing to a lesser degree until 10 000 years BP. During this time there was glaciation in the Snowy Mountains and the land bridge between Victoria and Tasmania was re-established.

As well as being colder, the climate was much drier. After about 10 000 BP temperatures and precipitation began to increase, reaching a post-Ice Age peak about 8000 years ago. The climate has since become slightly drier, although the warming effect of the ocean has maintained higher rainfall in sub-coastal areas.

Parts of Tasmania exhibit relatively steep environmental and topographic gradients. This means that slight changes in global climate may produce significant localised effects.

This database is a digital polygon coverage of Tasmania (captured at 1:500 000) detailing glacial refugia areas. Glacial refugia are coded with a unique number and the relevant National Estate values and criteria.

All sites in this coverage are classified according to National Estate criteria A1: Importance in the evolution of Australian flora, fauna, landscapes or climate.

This is an archived dataset jointly owned by the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Governments under the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) data agreement of 8th November 1997.This data is available to the public under licence from the Department as part of the Commonwealth Spatial Data Access and Pricing Policy.

Any reproduction of this dataset must carry the following statement: Copyright Commonwealth of Australia and Tasmanian Government 1997. Departmental Deed