Towering above the forest floor for centuries, some of Tasmania’s giant eucalyptus trees were already old when European explorers first arrived on Australian shores.
These extraordinary forests have survived ice ages, bushfires and countless generations of wildlife, becoming living archives of Australia’s natural history.
Today, however, they remain at the centre of one of the country’s longest-running environmental debates.
For decades, Tasmania’s native forests have been the focus of what became known as the “forest wars”—a conflict between conservationists seeking permanent protection for ancient ecosystems and the forestry industry, which argues sustainably managed native forests continue to provide jobs, timber products and economic benefits for regional communities.
Now, in 2026, the conversation has reached another turning point.
Why Tasmania’s ancient forests matter
Tasmania contains some of the tallest flowering plants on Earth. Species such as the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and swamp gum (Eucalyptus globulus) can exceed 90 metres in height, while many forests have developed over hundreds of years into complex ecosystems that simply cannot be recreated within a human lifetime.
Unlike plantation forests, old-growth forests are ecological communities that have evolved over centuries. Massive hollow-bearing trees provide homes for threatened species including the Tasmanian masked owl, swift parrot and numerous bats, gliders and invertebrates. Fallen logs slowly decompose, feeding fungi and insects that underpin the forest’s food web.
These forests also play an increasingly important role in addressing climate change.
Old-growth forests store enormous amounts of carbon in living trees, fallen timber and rich forest soils. Scientists have long recognised that protecting mature forests is one of the most effective ways to avoid additional carbon emissions while preserving biodiversity.
For many Tasmanian Aboriginal people (Palawa), these forests are also deeply connected to Country, culture and thousands of years of continuous custodianship.
The controversy
The central question remains remarkably simple:
Should ancient native forests continue to be logged?
Conservation organisations argue that ecosystems which have taken centuries to develop cannot simply be replaced by regrowth forests, even if new trees are planted after harvesting.
The forestry industry, meanwhile, maintains that Tasmania operates under one of the world’s most highly regulated forest management systems. It argues that harvesting occurs only within designated production forests under strict environmental standards, while the vast majority of Tasmania’s forests remain protected in national parks and reserves. Sustainable Timber Tasmania also states that only a very small proportion of old-growth forest is harvested each year.
What about the claims that Australia is selling ancient forests to China?
One claim that frequently circulates online is that Australia is “selling ancient trees to China.”
The reality is more complex.
China has long been an important export destination for Tasmanian forest products, particularly hardwood woodchips, alongside markets such as Japan. Other timber products are exported to countries including Malaysia or processed within Australia before being used in construction and manufacturing.
Conservation groups argue that a significant proportion of timber harvested from native forests ultimately becomes woodchips for export rather than long-lived building products, raising questions about whether logging ancient forests delivers sufficient public value. Industry representatives dispute some of these characterisations and point to the range of products manufactured from Tasmanian timber, including structural timber, flooring, furniture and specialty products.
Rather than focusing solely on export destinations, today’s debate centres on whether irreplaceable native forests should be harvested at all, regardless of where the timber is eventually used.
A surprising breakthrough in 2026
In an unexpected development this month, representatives from the forestry industry, some conservationists and Palawa leaders announced a Shared Vision Statement that could reshape the conversation.
The proposal supports ending the harvesting of old-growth forests while continuing some carefully managed native forestry elsewhere.
Supporters describe it as the first genuine attempt in decades to bridge the divide between opposing sides.
However, Australia’s largest forest conservation organisations—including the Bob Brown Foundation and The Wilderness Society—have declined to support the agreement, arguing that it still allows native forest logging to continue and therefore does not adequately protect Tasmania’s remaining natural ecosystems.
The differing responses highlight just how complex the issue remains.
Can conservation and regional jobs coexist?
One of the greatest challenges is balancing environmental protection with the livelihoods of regional communities.
Forestry has supported Tasmanian towns for generations, providing employment for harvest contractors, truck drivers, sawmills, manufacturers and exporters.
Conservationists argue that investment should instead focus on plantation timber, ecological restoration, carbon farming, tourism and value-added manufacturing that no longer relies on harvesting ancient native forests.
Supporters of the new Shared Vision believe governments could help industries transition while permanently protecting the oldest forests.
Whether such a transition can occur without significant economic disruption remains one of the defining policy questions facing Tasmania.
Why biodiversity matters
Australia is already recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots—and one of the countries with the highest rates of species extinction.
Ancient forests provide habitat that simply cannot be replicated by younger regrowth forests for many decades, if ever.
Large tree hollows used by owls, parrots and mammals may take more than 150 years to develop naturally. Mosses, lichens, fungi and countless invertebrates depend on stable forest conditions created over centuries.
Once removed, these ecological relationships cannot simply be replanted.
This is why scientists increasingly emphasise protecting mature ecosystems alongside restoring degraded landscapes.
Looking beyond the headlines
The debate surrounding Tasmania’s forests is often reduced to slogans or social media posts.
Yet the reality is far more nuanced.
It is not simply a choice between jobs and the environment, nor is it solely about exports to one country.
Instead, Australians are being asked to consider a much bigger question:
How should a modern society value ecosystems that have taken centuries to develop?
As climate change intensifies and biodiversity continues to decline, the decisions made today will shape landscapes that future generations inherit.
Ancient forests are, by definition, irreplaceable within our lifetimes.
Whether they continue to be harvested—or become permanently protected—will remain one of Australia’s most significant environmental decisions for years to come.
What you can do
If you’d like to learn more or contribute constructively to the discussion:
- Read information from both forestry organisations and independent conservation groups.
- Support scientific research into biodiversity and climate resilience.
- Visit Tasmania’s protected forests and national parks to experience these remarkable ecosystems firsthand.
- Contact your elected representatives if you have views on the future management of Australia’s native forests.
Regardless of where you stand, one thing is certain: the future of Tasmania’s ancient giants deserves thoughtful, evidence-based discussion rather than simplistic headlines.