WAFA wins the UNAAWA Environment Award 2022

24 October 2022

The WA Forest Alliance has been awarded the United Nations Association of Western Australia’s 2022 Environment Award at the UN Day Gala in Perth.

It was such an honour to receive this major award, and we’re deeply grateful to the UNAAWA and to the other finalists and award winners for the incredible work being done on human rights, gender equality, the environment and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

WAFA’s campaign to end native forest logging and protect over 400,000 ha of forests has involved decades of effort from the whole WAFA community. Being acknowledged in this international context is testament to the global significance of the South West’s forests, the success of WAFA’s community based and collaborative leadership style against the odds, and WA’s major breakthrough to acknowledge the forest’s profound intrinsic values.

When native forest logging finally ends, we will have prevented 6500ha of ancient, biodiverse, wildlife rich forest being logged every year. We will have kept more than 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere over the next decade, and protected over 400,000ha of forests for climate, biodiversity and the future.

This award is for everyone who has participated in the efforts to protect and defend the forests – WAFA is an incredible community and none of the outcomes for the forests would be possible without the work done by such a diverse and passionate group of so many people. We hope that everyone who has written letters, attended events, contacted their MPs, posted on socials, painted banners, developed strategy, donated to keep the wheels turning and every other thing that has made this possible is celebrating this win and feeling inspired by what’s achievable when people come together.

Let’s celebrate this monumental achievement, and then turn our attention to ensuring the next 10-yr Forest Management Plan securely and meaningfully protects the South West’s forests.

Head to End Native Forest Logging to read more about our current campaign, and subscribe to our newsletter to find out what you can do to help!

Protect the tingles from prescribed burning, for good

Tingles are a large, ancient tree species that are only found in a small area in WA’s Southwest, close to Walpole. They can live for more than 400 years, reach heights over 55 metres and have the largest base of any eucalypt, and provide critical habitat to many threatened plants and animals. They are vulnerable to frequent fire.

In December 2024, Giants East, a tingle forest block in the famed Valley of the Giants, was torched as part of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)’s prescribed burning program.

More than 100 giant trees collapsed in the intense burn, with flames reaching the tops of many trees in one of the worst outcomes seen by WA’s prescribed burning program.

After persistent community action, three tingle-karri blocks, Nornalup, Coalmine and Mount Clare received a reprieve at the end of 2025 and were removed from the burn plan until July 2026.

But these blocks, and other tingle forests, aren’t safe forever. They could be on the burn plan for 2026-27. There must be a commitment from the WA Government to permanently protect tingles from prescribed burning and revise how fire is managed in these areas.

Over time, tingle forests self-thin and become naturally less flammable. Left unburnt, they are less of a fire risk than forests burnt in the last 30 years.

In a drying climate that is increasingly prone to bushfires, it’s important to be bushfire ready, but prescribed burning shouldn’t be the only tool in our bushfire prevention kit. It is vital that the Southwest’s prescribed burning practices reflect current science and a changed climate, and funding is directed towards rapid detection and suppression of bushfires.

Smoking collapsed Tingle after the giants east burn

It is of the highest priority that the tingles are protected from fire not just in this burn plan, but for good.

Please contact the Premier and relevant Ministers using our template to urge them to permanently protect tingle forests from prescribed burning. Enter your details to start writing your email.

Read more about the Giants East burn or about rapid suppression technology.