The national March for Forests on March 22 drew 15,000 people demanding an end to native forest logging and forest mining. It was organised by the Bob Brown Foundation.
Around 3000 protesters gathered in Boorloo/Perth, while smaller protests took place around Western Australia, including in Albany, Mount Barker and Margaret River.
Protesters were angry that US mining corporation Alcoa has been allowed to clear Jarrah forests to mine bauxite, home to critically endangered wildlife. It was fined $55 million, but can still continue its operations until 2045.
Protesters are worried about the Black Cockatoo becoming extinct and demanded that mining corporations immediately cease destroying forests
A colourful crowd of 1200, including giant puppets and numerous banners demanding an end to the logging of native forests and better wildlife protection, rallied and marched in Lismore.
Speakers included comedian and former Greens candidate Mandy Nolan, 15-year-old environmentalist photographer and educator Spencer Hitchen, journalist and permaculturalist Anastasia Guise, citizen scientist Eadie, ecologist Wren McLean and co-founder of the North East Forest Alliance Dailan Pugh. The Lismore leg of the day was organised by the Climate Action Alliance — Northern Rivers (CAA).
Maria Lloyd from CAA said: "We are focused on demanding an end to native forest logging nationwide as the one of the most important and achievable means of protecting our native forests at the moment.
“We are also pushing for better protections for our endangered species and forests from the local, state and federal government.
“It’s an opportunity to bring attention to and support the many grass roots initiatives working in the conservation of native habitats in our region and teach people about the important issues in our region that they should be involved in.
“This year we focused on citizen science initiatives saving forests by documenting the presence of endangered species".
