A huge win for WA forests!

09 September 2021

What a massive, historic and marvellous thing we’ve done!

Yesterday, Premier McGowan announced that native forest logging will end in WA by January 2024.

This huge victory comes as a result of the incredible, heartfelt efforts of thousands of people over many decades.

Thank you for every single thing you have done to bring this about – we’re formidable together and we’ve done something extraordinary.

We finally, after all these years, have an acknowledgement from Government that the forests are worth more standing for climate and biodiversity, and that we can and must complete the transition of the industry out of native forests.

But this is not the end. We still have two years ahead of us until the next Forest Management Plan is signed and sealed and we must maintain our focus to ensure that this very welcome new direction, results in the forest protection that we so desperately need.

It’s also important to recognise that the Premier’s announcement doesn’t address all of the threats facing the forests. It doesn’t end clearing of jarrah forests for bauxite mining, or deal with issues surrounding thinning of degraded regrowth forests. It also doesn’t address fire management.

There will however, be plenty of opportunity coming up for us to have an effect on these other major issues facing the forests during the development of the next Forest Management Plan, and through other processes and we will be facing them with the same determination that we have faced logging with.

Please write to the Premier and Ministers Sanderson and Kelly today, and your local Labor MP to thank and congratulate them. And get on the radio and express your support.

We have a couple of years ahead of us to get the details right, and to back this in. And we’ll be working hard to limit bauxite mining and address thinning and fire issues. But for now, let’s stop, reflect and celebrate and then get back to work.

In solidarity for the forests,

Jess

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.