Greens want ancient Huon Pine forest in Tasmania protected from mining contamination risks

Meanwhile, a petition calling for an end to logging in Tasmania's North-East forests has attracted more than 34,000 signatures, and is to be tabled in parliament by the Greens.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor wants to see nature-based tourism opportunities prioritised over mining in the North West region where Venture Minerals proposes to develop its tin and tungsten resource.

"This globally significant, totally unique area needs to be immediately protected and the Mt Lindsay mine proposal stopped," she said.

"This area has untapped potential for tourism and to give the town of Tullah a much needed boost to guarantee it's future."

But Premier Peter Gutwein said the government knows about the strand, which is already protected by legislation.

Ms O'Connor said the strand of Huon Pines was found by bushwalkers along the Wilson River, with additional trees found along the Stanley River, directly below the Mt Lindsay mine site.

"A Huon Pine forest ... was subsequently surveyed and studied and found to contain trees up to 3000 years old, trees seeded at the time the pyramids of Egypt were being constructed," Ms O'Connor said.

"These extraordinary specimens are not protected, they are within a mining exploration area and adjacent to the proposed Mt Lindsay mine, a mine that would destroy pristine rainforest and will divert five creeks to build a tailings dam in an area of extreme rainfall," she said.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the strand was protected by the Nature Conservation Act 2002.

"In reality, as I understand, the proposed Mt Lindsay mine is located to the South West of the Wilson river in the Pieman catchment, not the Wilson Arthur catchment where the Huon Pine is located," Mr Premier said.

"I'm advised that the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service is aware of the strand of Huon Pines in the Meredith Range Regional Reserve, and acknowledge its significance."

"The strand...would be specifically considered in the management of any activity or event in the area that might threaten it."

Regarding the petition to halt logging in the North-East, Blue Derby Wild co-ordinator Louise Morris said logging in the area was impacting businesses in the area, with forced cancellations and tour delays in peak tourism season.

"The reason we are tabling this petition this week is that over three weeks ago the logging started in Krushka's trail, which wraps around the entire iconic Derby mountain bike trails," Ms Morris said.

"This week we found out that the Sustainable Timber Tasmania logging agency is going to start logging a second area of Krushka's forest next week which means we will now have two active logging coupes in peak tourism season."

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