Tarkeeth State Forest rests on the ridge that separates the Bellinger and Kalang rivers, at the easterly extension of the Great Dividing Range in NSW, Australia. It is South Bellingen’s local public forest which links the valley town of Bellingen and the seaside town of Urunga, providing important habitat for rare and threatened native wildlife. Tarkeeth is a significant Gumbaynggirr cultural site
and includes the Yildaan Dreaming Trade Route.
850-hectares (59%) of this beautiful forest have been designated 'plantation', and are being aggressively clearfelled, burnt, poisoned and densely replanted with Blackbutt monoculture by Forestry Corporation (FCNSW). Trees from Tarkeeth are chipped on the wharf at Port Brisbane and exported to pulp mills in China by Queensland Commodity Exports, a subsidiary of Midway. Forest ‘remains’ are shredded onsite and transported to Broadwater Power Station and burnt for electricity generation. Broadwater is operated by Cape Byron Power and controlled by Quinbrook — a private equity firm that serves foreign investors. Tarkeeth State Forest is adjoined by privately owned forests and Tarkeeth Forest Wildlife Refuge.
