What will you do?
Sign Bob's Native Forest Petition
Let's Stop Native Logging Now
We’re calling on the Prime Minister & the Minister for the Environment to use the Commonwealth’s powers to protect our nation’s native forests and their wildlife. State logging operations are exempt from federal Environmental Protection Laws (crazy, right?). Sign Bob Brown's Native Forest declaration today and help to ensure that Australia’s natural beauty, diversity and inspiration is not lost to future generations. Over 50,000 have already signed it – let's reach 100,000!
PROTECT TAKAYNA / TARKINE RAINFOREST
No logging. No Toxic Waste Dump!
In addition to facing multiple mining threats, including plans for a toxic waste dump in the middle of the rainforest, new logging has just started in a remote area of Takayna at the junction of the Arthur and Frankland rivers. This forest is vital habitat for threatened species like Masked Owls, Azure Kingfishers, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Spotted-tail Quolls and Tasmanian Devils.
Bob Brown Foundation is on the frontline to defend this forest. Follow the link to discover ways to take action.
DEMAND NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS
Environment Minister must act on election promise
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek promised to fix what she has described as Australia's 'broken' environment laws. But two years into government, Australia is still under the same environment laws that were in place under Scott Morrison. In fact they're so old, they're almost unchanged since the era of John Howard! Meanwhile Australia's ecosystems are in crises and many iconic Australian species are threatened with extinction! You can contact Tanya Plibersek here.
DONATE TO BOB BROWN FOUNDATION
Support Frontline Activism
Bob Brown Foundation is leading frontline campaigns to stop Tasmania's destruction of its primeval forests – some of the last remaining ancient forests on earth. Donations raised will support on-the-ground activism. Funds will also go to the foundation's legal fund to fight Tasmania's dracanian anti-protest laws. Around 50 activists have already been arrested while protecting forests in Tasmania. Last year, Dr Colette Harmsen served three months in jail, and Ali Alishah recently spent two months for peacefully defending native forests. Bob Brown is facing sentencing in August 2024 for defending World Heritage value forests in Tasmania’s Styx Valley of the Giants.
VISIT THE GIANTS
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF AN OLD GROWTH FOREST
Experiencing the wonder of an old growth forest is something every Australian should do: there are so few of them left in the world… It’s also an act of resistance! You are showing in very practical terms that there is the way for an alternative to logging that’s sustainable and more financially and socially beneficial.
PROTECT OUR LANDSCAPE
Become an ally for future generations
If you've watched the film you've revelled in the magical atmosphere of 'Oura Oura', Bob Brown's farmhouse in the Liffey Valley. In 1991 Bob Brown and Judy Henderson clubbed together with friends to save a couple of nearby forest blocks from the woodchippers. This was the beginning of Bush Heritage Australia. Click through here to support Bush Heritage Australia buy and protect Australian bushland so places like the Liffey Valley are preserved for future generations.
CHOOSE SUSTAINABLE PAPER
Don't wipe your bum on koala habitat
What kind of paper is being used in your home or work place? If the paper is not FSC® certified and 100% post-consumer recycled then you could be printing, writing (or wiping your bottom!) on our native forests. Most consumers want to do the right thing – but it's not easy reading all that fine print. When it comes to office paper, toilet paper and tissues – you'll have to read the packaging. Basically, you are looking FSC® certified, 100% post-consumer recycled (not FSC Mix) and wrapped in paper, not plastic. (Soft plastics cannot be recycled in Australia.) Finally, don't forget to recycle your toilet rolls! Advocating for sustainable paper use at work and within your community (eg: schools, libraries, council etc) is a great way to have an impact.
GET INVOLVED
Make Friends, Protect Nature
There are lots of amazing grassroots organisations dedicated to standing up for nature. We've listed some suggestions below listed by state. Have a look, give it a try, make friends and influence people.
SPREAD THE WORD
It's more than a film, it's a movement
Australia is sleepwalking into deforestation. THE GIANTS want to wake people up! Connect with us on socials @thegiantsfilm and share your events and ideas! You can also host a screening – and even use it to fundraise for forest defenders. THE GIANTS is also available to stream on Netflix, Docplay and on demand in Australia and NZ, see all options here. THE GIANTS is where film lovers, become tree huggers. For international distribution inquiries send us a message on our Contact page or contact our international sales representative Autlook.
Australia is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees in the world and one of only a few places which has Gondwana-era forest. These precious ancient forests – already decimated by fires – are still being logged for wood pulp and turned into toilet paper, despite many native species dependent on them being on the brink of extinction.
Save your forests, make friends! Forest defenders are working across the country to protect our forests, woodlands and wild spaces from logging and land clearing. Join a local group and make some lifelong friends in the process. We’ve listed a couple of key groups by state – if you want us to add your group to the list email us on our contact page. You can also find local conservation groups on social media. Thanks for caring :)
NEW SOUTH WALES
Bushfires, logging and unprecedented land-clearing for agriculture and development means the koala could be extinct in NSW by 2050 unless radical changes are made. The newly elected government promised voters a new national park for Koalas – instead the Labor government is logging it! Contact Premier Chris Minns and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and get them to stop it today. Other NSW issues include 'Zombie Developments' that enabling profiteers to destroy precious coastal ecosystems on the basis of decades old planning permits. Join others on the frontline fighting to save the forests of NSW.
QUEENSLAND
Landclearing in Queensland is driving deforestation in Australia. A whopping 680,688 hectares of deforestation occurred in Queensland in one year alone. Last year Queensland cleared 90,000 hectares of Queensland koala habitat in single year. The latest figures show 85% of all clearing was done to create new pasture. Connect with local campaigners listed below.
TASMANIA
Tasmania's forests have been growing on the island since Gondwanan times. It has some of the world's tallest and oldest trees and is a biodiversity hotspot. Get involved with local groups to hep keep it that way.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Northern Territory is unique in its natural diversity. It is also a stronghold of indigenous culture in Australia. But the remote nature of this country makes it vulnerable to exploitation for short term gain.
VICTORIA
Victoria promised to stop native forest logging in 2024 and create a new, much-needed national park. This hasn't happened. Wombat State Forest continues to be logged under the guise of 'storm cleanup'. Yarra Ranges National Park is being logged (!) under 'fire management', resulting in the destruction of vital Greater Glider habitat. Meanwhile the promised national park is nowhere to be seen and existing national parks are woefully underfunded. Victoria needs to do better. You can contact the Environment Minister Steve Dimopolous here.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia does not have a native logging industry, but their forests and woodlands are threatened by other commercial activities. Read below to see how you can help out.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The WA State Government has ended native forest logging (hooray!) but they are still bulldozing forests for bauxite mining, roads and development. (Enough already!)
ACT
The ACT doesn't conduct native forest logging, however it does have natural heritage sites and asssets that need conservation and protection and restoration, particularly after the bush fires of 2020.
The future of our native forests are in the hands of just 10 key people! With newly elected Labor governments at both federal and state level this should be an easy fix. Reach out to our elected representatives in their electorates, their offices or on socials. Share your passion for the forests – and urge them to stop land-clearing and logging of our native forests. (Scroll down after the contact details for some talking points. )
History suggests change comes from the people, not the parliament. So think about other ways you can make a difference – whether through your work, university, school, profession or community groups. You can also find your local elected reps here.
THE 10 AUSTRALIANS WHO CAN PROTECT FORESTS TODAY
TALKING POINTS
Get in touch with our elected representatives and decision makers. Here's a couple of suggested talking points below. When writing please be firm, be passionate and be polite!
NATIONAL
Our newly elected Federal Government was elected with a mandate to talk action on climate, our natural heritage and the extinction crises. Contact Prime Minister Anthony Albanese & Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, or reach out to them on social media. Details below.
NSW
Koalas will be extinct in NSW by 2050 if radical action isn't taken immediately. The newly elected State Labor government has promise a new national park for koalas – but the area it's in is still being logged! From Eurobodalla to the Northern Rivers the ancient forests of NSW are being logged or cleared for agriculture or development. Contact NSW Premier Chris Minns & Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and ask them about their election promise to koalas. Victoria has announced an early exit from Native Forest Logging - NSW has no excuse to continue this loss-making industry.
QUEENSLAND
Queensland has the highest rate of land clearing in Australia, with a whopping 400,000 hectares destroyed in 2019-20. Connect with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon and demand they stop it.
VICTORIA
Premier Daniel Andrews and Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt recently announced Victoria would stop native forest logging in 2024. This is an amazing victory for the tallest flowering plants on earth – the eucalyptus regnans featured in THE GIANTS – and the critically endangered Leadbeater's Possum and the Greater Glider. Write to Premier Daniel Andrews and Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt (contacts below) to congratulate them and urge them to act quickly to restore and rewild Victoria's forests.
TASMANIA
Stand up for the Tarkine and protect the Giants, by connecting with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Environment Minister Roger Jaensch. The Tarkine is around 40km from Tasmania's biggest tourist drawcard, Cradle Mountain. Why not ask them to put on a shuttle bus to the Tarkine, Australia's biggest temperate rainforest?