Wet Tropics uplands regrowth over 59 years, Tarzali region

Regrowth and re-clearing during 59 years of land cover change in the Wet Tropics uplands – Tarzali region. This series of aerial photographs shows a region in which substantial rainforest regrowth has occurred following the removal of livestock from former pasture areas. Some of this regrowth has been re-cleared from one time to the next. The medium-grey shading in the 1978 aerial photograph probably comprises the earliest stages of regrowth – low vegetation in which both native shrubs such as the wild raspberry and introduced species such as lantana and wild tobacco are common. By 2011 these areas have progressed to tall dense forest regrowth dominated by native rainforest trees. Most of the various regrowth areas in 2011 are estimated to be between 8 and 40 years old.