Tasmania's Tarkine region: mining province or world heritage site?

The Tarkine wilderness coast. Just 4% of the area that was recommended by the Australian Heritage Council for National Heritage listing was listed by environment minister Tony Burke in February this year. This comprised a narrow coastal strip, part of which is shown here Photograph: Rob Blakers

Rainforest giants on the Mount Lindsay Tarkine mine site Photograph: Rob Blakers

View from the Tarkine coast's Norfolk Range Photograph: Rob Blakers

Wilderness rainforest in the southern Tarkine Photograph: Rob Blakers

Sunrise over the wilderness valleys of the Huskisson and Wilson Rivers in the southern Tarkine. Active mining exploration licences cover this region Photograph: Rob Blakers

Tarkine rainforest wilderness Photograph: Rob Blakers

Venture Falls. Perth-based Venture Minerals plans a 1.5km long open cut mine in this part of the rainforest Photograph: Rob Blakers

Wilderness rainforest in the northern Tarkine Photograph: Rob Blakers

A Tasmanian devil. Across Tasmania, the species has been decimated by a transmissible facial cancer. Their last stronghold is the Tarkine Photograph: Bob Brown