WA Forest Alliance

Changes to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction (DBCA)’s prescribed burning program are needed, now more than ever, given the devastating large-scale drought we’ve witnessed this year due to climate change. As Professor Kingsley Dixon calls for, the government must halt the prescribed burning program until the impact of burning in drought stricken and sensitive ecosystems such as Tingles is understood, and instead invest in early detection and rapid suppression. We’re calling on the Premier and Environment Minister to immediately remove the fire sensitive Tingle Forest near Nornalup from the burn program before the forests and resident wildlife are completely destroyed. Send an email with our simple template today: https://lnkd.in/gix-akfr Read the article in WAtoday: https://lnkd.in/g25Cge49 #donttorchtingles #reviewprescribedburns #DBCA #tinglegraveyard #treedeath #forestcollapse #gianttingle #mainlandquokka #Quokka #quenda #baudinsblackcockatoos #walpole #nornalup #tourismwa #forest

A freedom of information request has revealed that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has deep concerns about Alcoa’s mining. But despite the department’s own experts warning of a high risk to Perth’s water supply and the state’s treasured Northern Jarrah forest, The Cook Labor cabinet approved Alcoa mining in December with meagre concessions. We must End Forest Mining and immediately stop Alcoa from clearing forests and destroying our water. Read the full WAtoday article by Peter Milne here: https://lnkd.in/gKmTv94J #alcoa #westernaustralia #mines #bauxite #aluminium #forest #jarrah #serpentine #endforestmining #drinkingwater 

WA’s forests and woodlands are dry and dying and ecologists are warning of a widespread forest collapse all across the South West. A forest collapse in 2010/11, thought to be the first event of its kind in the world, devastated the Northern Jarrah Forests and resulted in a terrible breeding season for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos. Forests and woodlands in the South West are already vulnerable due to more than a century of logging, clearing for mining, the spread of disease and destructive prescribed burning. Now, they are being impacted by climate change right in front of our eyes. WA urgently needs to reduce emissions with ambitious climate targets. We must protect what little forests we have left in secure, well-managed protected areas, end forest mining and overhaul current prescribed burning practices. Have you seen this for yourself? Please document what is happening in your area and once you’ve uploaded them to Dead Tree Detective, we’d appreciate seeing your photos and stories. We’re collecting a record of this event to take to the media and government. You can email us forests@wafa.org.au Thank you to Dr Joe Fontaine for his research. Read the articles here: https://lnkd.in/gE4i3vxF? https://lnkd.in/gE5MRvUB

The Northern Jarrah Forests experienced a devastating forest collapse in 2010/11, believed to be the first event of its kind in the world. Now, after the South West’s driest six months on record, we are on the brink of an even more widespread collapse with drying and dying plants stretching from Shark Bay to Albany. WA’s forests are not just under threat from a warmer and dryer climate. More than a century of logging has had major impacts and they continue to be cleared and fragmented for mining, infected by dieback and devastated by prescribed burning. We must protect what little forests we have left in secure, well-managed protected areas, end forest mining and overhaul current prescribed burning practices. Western Australia also needs to take urgent and meaningful action to reduce emissions otherwise events like this will continue to increase in frequency and intensity. Thank you to Dr Joe Fontaine for his research. We encourage you to use Dead Tree Detective and help track this event as a citizen scientist.

Chalice Mining Limited is proposing a new mining project near Toodyay, only 70km northeast of Perth. The 940ha of remnant native vegetation proposed to be cleared - mostly Jarrah, Marri and Wandoo woodland - is habitat for endangered Ngolyenok (Carnaby’s) and Karak (Forest Red-tailed) Black Cockatoos, vulnerable Chuditch (Western Quoll) as well as Western Brush Wallabys and Quendas. The project is situated directly between the Julimar State Forest and Moondyne Nature Reserve and serves as a vital corridor between the two for the species above and many more who call the area home. We have until Sunday 14 April to call for the project’s environmental impacts to be assessed at the highest level, a Public Environmental Review. Submissions through the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) are via a simple form, with a short comment area. - Head to bit.ly/Chalice-EPA-7-day to complete the form with your details. - Under Preferred option for decision by the EPA select “Assess - Public environmental review” - Give your reasons for your submission in a few succinct sentences (max 500 words). - Submit To read the project documents visit bit.ly/Chalice-EPA-Project

Old-growth Tingle forests are under threat from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s (DBCA) prescribed burn program. Two blocks in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park are set to be torched this year. The areas include old-growth and long unburnt forests, which are home to a number of critically endangered species. Whilst the program is intended to reduce the risk of wildfire, in reality frequent burning is making some ecosystems more flammable whilst also having a profoundly negative impact on biodiversity, climate and people’s health. Call on Premier Cook and Environment Minister Whitby to immediately remove Nornalup from the Burn Program, and to also commission an independent review into current prescribed burning practices. Email the Premier and Environment Minister today.

The End Forest Mining campaign was launched just a few weeks ago and already we've had a great response from the community who want to see the end of Alcoa's destruction of the Northern Jarrah Forests. We've had billboards on Murray Street and Mitchell Freeway and a full-page ad in The West Australian, resulting in over 8,000 emails sent to MPs. Come along to the info night next Thursday 7 December to learn about the campaign, what our goals are and how you can get involved. Then on Saturday 9 December join us on the steps of Parliament House for a rally to End Forest Mining and welcome The Wilderness Society WA’s Campaign Manager, Tim Clifford as he completes a 55km walk from Jarrahdale to Parliament House in one day. https://lnkd.in/gumubZCc End Forest Mining is an alliance of nine environment groups representing tens of thousands of people, and growing. We are calling on the Cook Government to end forest mining and protect WA’s magnificent forests in National Parks. The Wilderness Society Australia, Conservation Council of WA, Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Jarrahdale Forest Protectors, Dwellingup Discovery Forest Defenders, ACF Community Perth, Peel Environmental Protection Alliance and Nature Reserves Preservation Group. www.endforestmining.org.au

The WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is proposing to introduce a $859 fee to lodge an objection to any mining proposal. CCWA argues that this exorbitant fee will stifle public debate on critical environmental aspects of mining proposals. CCWA urges you to lodge a submission with DMIRS RTD.Consultation@dmirs.wa.gov.au by 21 November 2023 to oppose the $859 fee. Read more below: https://lnkd.in/gNVpBKTd

We're hiring! We have two great positions available: Senior Campaigner and Media Officer. This is an exciting time to be joining the WAFA team of staff, volunteers, committee and member groups as we secure protections and chart the course of the next chapter of forest defence in the South West of WA. https://lnkd.in/dd-tGH8w https://lnkd.in/dmhmzhCc

Who's in charge here? Alcoa has a reach across 11 countries, with a toxic legacy of poisoned landscapes and communities. Its record is just as bad here in Australia. With Alcoa’s Mining Management Plans now being considered by the EPA, and its 21-year lease up for renewal, WA has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rein in Alcoa’s impact on forests, water, wildlife, climate and communities. Please send an urgent email to Premier Cook and other MPs demanding strong action to safeguard our future: bit.ly/Stop-Alcoa Picnic at Serpentine Dam: this Sunday Oct 8 at 10.30am. Join WA Forest Alliance, The Wilderness Society WA and Jarrahdale Forest Protectors Inc for a picnic and community photo shoot at Serpentine Dam to highlight public opposition to Alcoa's destruction of forests and risks to water. Register here: bit.ly/picnic-for-forests