The island state of Tasmania sits off Australia's south-eastern edge like a
jewel. It boasts natural beauty on a grand scale. Rugged mountains that
in places meet the sea; wild rivers carrying waters from pristine highland
lakes and Gondwanan forests of giant trees and ancient flora. Tasmania is
a place where nature seems to have a slight edge over civilization.
The ordered beauty of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in the capital,
Hobart, are a tranquil contrast to the state's wilderness areas.
Established in 1818, its extensive tree collection contains many rare and
endangered species. The conifer collection is the largest in the southern
hemisphere with some species facing extinction in their country of origin.
The gardens are a reminder to visitors of Tasmania's colonial past and a
country the locals once called home. Those early horticulturalists and
gardeners could not have known they planted the seeds of oak, chestnut, elm
and birch trees in ground which would one day harbour their killer.
In an unprecedented step, the Tasmanian people have been asked to help save
their gardens. Scientists and experts working to eradicate the Armillaria
fungus are in a race against time.
For more information, please pay a visit to the following web site:
http://www.clandh.com.au/rtbg/index.htm
or email the gardens directly at: rtbg at ice.net.au
If you are the owner or administrator of a web-site or have your own
home-page and would like to help out, please set up a link to point to the
above mentioned URL and send us your site's URL via reply email. You may
be helping to save the lives of many endangered trees which, given the
chance, will still be there for many future generations to enjoy.
Public Matters, on behalf of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Appeal.
