WA Forest Alliance – Forest Matters April 2023

Dear NRPG members and interested,

Some valuable updates and upcoming events for you to have your say on our forests…

Kind regards,
Steve Gates

President, NRPG Bushcarers

Subject: Forest Matters April 2023

Latest forest updates from WAFA

Welcome to the April edition of Forest Matters! We have three fabulous events planned for May: the Fire and Air Forum, with leading scientists and experts from around Australia; the launch of the incredibly beautiful Forests Atlas at the Moores Building in Fremantle; and a rally for the Black Cockatoos at Parliament House where we will deliver thousands of messages to Minister Whitby calling for the immediate protection of habitat for these beloved birds. All the details are below, along with our other news from the past month. We hope that you enjoy this edition of Forest Matters. Warm regards, Jess  Forests Atlas book launch Join us for the launch of the Forests Atlas in Fremantle on the 11th May! “With the trees, we find our ancestors. With the trees, we connect to the past, bring knowledge forward, and walk into the future” – Dr Noel Nannup The Forests Atlas is a field guide to the forests of South West Australia. It blends maps with artworks, photography and story in celebration of the life and colour of these forests. From the waterways, to the ancient Jarrah, the Numbats, to the Black cockatoos and towering Karri, the Forests Atlas paints a shimmering picture of the interconnectedness of trees. The Forests Atlas is edited by Daniel Jan Martin with Noel Nannup, Alice Ford, Nansen Robb, Clancy Martin and Mariela Espino Zuppa. A selection of artwork from the book will be offered for sale on the night, and the first 100 hundred copies sold will be signed by the artists. The Forests Atlas is available for purchase at the launch, or by pre-order:  The Forests Atlas launch will be held at the Moores Building in Fremantle on Thursday 11th May | 6.30 – 8.30pm | Tickets $25/$20 concession   Forests Atlas artwork ‘Unfurling Banksia’ by Alice Ford (Big Al) Thinning – summary of uses and recommendations Right now the plan for how the south-west’s forests will be managed for the next 10 years is being prepared with government. It is critical that the Forest Management Plan 2024-33 (FMP) is up to the task of protecting Southwest forests and wildlife for the next decade. Some major concerns remain, and a central one is the proposed thinning program. Thinning could be a useful ecological restoration tool if used wisely and limited to mine-site rehabilitation and unnaturally dense, drought-prone immature regrowth. However, there is real concern that it will instead be a backdoor for the continuation of native forest logging. We have published a short summary of the issues and our recommendations. We encourage you to have a read, be informed on this important issue and get in touch with any questions or input. Find it on the WAFA website.  Rio Tinto court processWAFA, along with a number of other groups, is continuing to delay Rio Tinto’s proposal to explore for lithium and other minerals in the Northern Jarrah Forests. This month, Rio Tinto withdrew its original set of applications but maintained its second set over identical areas, covering 107,000ha of forests between Perth and Collie. This means that all objectors to the original set of applications have now had their proceedings terminated, and we will continue objecting as WA Forest Alliance, along with 8 other community groups. Also objecting are the Shires of Waroona and Murray, the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and mining company South32. Our next appearance in the Perth Mining Warden’s Court is on the 21st of July 2023. Northern Jarrah Forests update Alcoa’s risky and destructive mining in the Northern Jarrah Forests has stayed under the spotlight this month. We are anticipating a decision from the EPA about our referral of Alcoa’s mining plans in the next few weeks. It is critically important that the holistic and cumulative impacts of Alcoa’s clearing and mining in highly sensitive areas is fully assessed, particularly given the profound detrimental effects it is having on forests, wildlife, communities and climate, and the very real potential it has to render Perth’s water undrinkable.You can read all the articles on the WAFA website.   Fire and Air Forum There’s only one week left before the Fire and Air Forum! Following the outstanding success of the Fire & Biodiversity Forum held in June 2021, WAFA is co-hosting the Fire and Air Forum, to be held at the University Club of WA on Friday, 5th May 2023. Fire continues to have major impact on forests, biodiversity and health in the South West region and the Forum will expand the conversation about ways to better manage fire in our unique forest landscapes. Our expert speakers include Phillip Zylstra, co-author of an important new study that has just been released on the relationship between forest disturbance and fire behaviour in the Tingle forests. Also presenting will be eminent forest ecologist David Lindenmayer; fire and health researchers from WA and interstate universities, First Nations people, the CSIRO, landholders and business owners. Find the full program for the event here. Seats to the Fire and Air Forum are limited, so don’t miss out on being a part of this vital discussion!   Save the Black CockatoosCocanarup review One of the two largest breeding areas left for the endangered Ngolyenok (Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo) is under threat from a mining proposal, but we have a critically important opportunity to stop the clearing, and protect this local population from decimation. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has given the public until Tuesday, 2nd May 2023 to comment. To have your say, head to the Save The Black Cockatoo website, where you’ll find links to an easy submission guide and to the EPA portal. Make sure to tick the highest level of assessment, ‘Assess – Public environmental review!’  Gather your friends and join us for a Rally to Save the Black Cockatoos! Parliament House at 11.30am on the 23rd of May, 2023. We will meet the Minister for Environment, Hon Reece Whitby MLA, at Parliament House and deliver thousands of postcards signed at over 100 screenings of the film Black Cockatoo Crisis. Please come and make your voice heard to save the Black Cockatoos from extinction. Wear black to be a part of the show – see you there!Please register so we have some idea of numbers on the day.  Volunteers for flyering Have some spare time to help the Black Cockatoos this weekend? We are inviting people to come along and help put up flyers for the Save the Black Cockatoos Rally: Sat 29 April 10:30am – 12:30pm | Meet outside the main entrance of WA Museum Boola Bardip, Perth Cultural Centre Sun 30 April 10:30am – 12:30pm | Meet outside Gino’s Café, 1/5 South Terrace, Fremantle Tree of the MonthLook at this majestic Powderbark Wandoo out at Chittering! Thanks to Donna Chapman for the image. Send in your photos of special or threatened trees that you’ve encountered, and we’ll choose one to feature in the May newsletter!  WAFA now has an online shop!You can now buy our Black Cockatoo, Stop the Chop and Northern Jarrah Forests campaign stickers online! We also have ‘endangered’ Numbat and ‘Forests For Life’ T-shirts available. And of course the Forests Atlas!  Thank you for everything you do for the south-west’s magnificent forests and wildlife. We are formidable together. We hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s newsletter and that you are able to join us at some of our excellent upcoming events.In solidarity for the forests,From the WAFA team. Invest in forest defence and become a regular donorStay connected via social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter    We acknowledge and pay our respects to the traditional owners of the South West forests across the Noongar/Bibbulmun nation. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land.  We have recently changed our email platform. Our apologies if you have received this email in error. Click here to unsubscribe.