Travelling through the Ancient Rainforest sites in the Tarkine of north western Tasmania, I get lost in the macro world, teaming with fascinating and enticing subjects to photograph. We trek through the quiet forests in the rain as we listen to the sounds of birds and trees as the weather changes every moment.
I feel privledged to witness this wilderness and become immersed in its life. I wandert and then find an ancient treestump to sit upon. I am in a blockade camp where forest defenders sit in the treetops waiting for the machines that could destroy all of this. In years to come we may not be so fortunate to witness its beauty as we take more than we give and we fail as a species to protect what is so priceless. In a time of climate crisis, we need to look deeper into the solutions available that can help humanity learn to live within our ecological limits, but first we need to inspire a connection to the planet and all it has to offer.
The forest underground networks hold safe the viruses and bacteria necessary for its ecological health yet detrimental to human health when disturbed. It is no accident that the current “corona crisis” is slapping us in the face. However, will humans heed the true warning of the earth trying to right itself or succumb to the fear led by poor leadership and mongering media hysteria?
Our clean air is dependent upon the trees of the worlds forests. Old growth trees provide safe storage of carbon. Over a lifetime of 100 years, one tree could absorb around a tonne of CO2. The ocean, atmosphere, soil and forests are the world’s largest carbon sinks. Protecting these vital ecosystems is essential for tackling climate change and keeping our climate stable.