Nannas for Native Forests conduct a ‘citizen inspection’ of Simcoa’s Silicon Plant Near Bunbury

21 January 2021

The formidable Nannas for Native Forests conducted a ‘citizen inspection’ inside the gates of Simcoa Operations on Sunday the 17th of Januray. They gathered photographic evidence to expose the massive amount of Jarrah that is being burned as charcoal and going up in smoke.

After being profoundly disappointed by the lack of meaningful action to protect forests following their meeting with Minister Dave Kelly late last year, the Nannas have identified Simcoa as the major driver of logging of Jarrah forests – being by far the single largest buyer of Jarrah, and burning all of it as charcoal in the Silicon manufacture process.

This is grossly irresponsible given the urgent need to avert dangerous climate change and prevent wildlife extinctions.

We need the McGowan Government to take meaningful and immediate action to protect South West forests for climate and for life.

As one of the Nannas said to me, when your Nanna calls, you turn up! Please stand in support of the Nannas and the forests today by taking this important action –

Take a photo of yourself with a sign that says:

Forests For Life, Not Charcoal

#NannasForNativeForests

Something like this:

Then:

1. If you are on Facebook, post the photo with a message that you are supporting the Nannas taking action at Simcoa today to expose what’s happening to our Jarrah forests and include the following handles:

@waforestalliance

@MarkMcGowan

@nannasfornativeforests

2. If you aren’t on Facebook, please email the Premier: wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au to express your support for the Nannas and ask him to act to protect the South West forests. You can include your photo if you’d like to.

Look out for more Nannas Nonsense and to stay up to date sign up to the newsletter here.

Thank you for everything you’re doing for the forests, climate and social justice. We’re formidable together.

For the forests,

Jess

Thanks to Fremantle Freelance for putting this footage together of the day.

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.