Defend WA’s Nature

WA Nature is in serious trouble

We have all seen the dying trees everywhere across the whole southwest of WA.

Although we’ve now had some rain, do our forests and bushlands have sufficient resilience to bounce back. We just don’t know. We haven’t been here before. This drying impact on our patches means that there is less habitat / food for animals and so their range needs to be larger to aid survival.

This is a sign of what the future holds from climate change.

And we already know that we are in an extinction crisis and seasons such as this will not help species survival.

Government Plans for the EPA and EP Act

The WA Labor government wants to change the way the EPA works to improve approval timelines.  Some will require changes to legislation.

The conservation movement believes these changes will reduce the EPA’s independence and will water down the protections in the EP Act. We already hold great concerns about the assessments (and approvals) that already let bushland and forests be cleared, that do harm to TECs and endangered species and that reduce the totality of native vegetation.  We’ve all felt powerless to make a difference with the current laws.

The EP Act and the EPA are supposed to protect our environment. We need the community (all our members) to speak out for stronger laws and a stronger EPA.

The Urban Bushland Council has been working with CCWA and other environmental NGOs (eNGOs) to campaign for WA’s nature. Here are some of the ways that you can help.

The Campaign

You can help by:

• Completing the online email directed to decision makers in the WA Labor government
• Meeting with your Labor member of WA Parliament to raise your voice in concern
• Joining us in future public campaigning

Concurrently, the eNGOs are engaging in a consultation process with WA State government departments (DWER and DPC) and are lobbying to be briefed on proposed legislative change before it is considered by WA Parliament.

Community Resources

Online Campaign

You can find our online email campaign that can be sent to your local Labor MP and to key decision makers in the WA Government. The theme is “it’s not like they can defend themselves”

Follow this link to send.

Meet with your MP

It’s very important that you speak with your local MP and raise your concerns. They can then pass your concerns through to the rest of their parliamentary colleagues. CCWA arranged two ‘Meet Your MP’ workshops and all the materials that you need are here.  You can find the presentation here and the MP Meeting Guide Book here. 

A handy resource you can leave with your local MP is a CCWA briefer.

There is one specific for your State or Federal representative. Defend WA Nature – WA Climate Law – Federal Nature Laws

Public campaigning

Our first public campaign was on the steps of WA Parliament House on 13 February.

Join us in our 9 Days of Action from 29 July to 6 August. Click the link for more details.

29 July – Reefs Action

31 July – Wetlands Action

5 August – Forest Action

6 August – Parliament House Action 

In Summary

It is clear that we need to stop clearing native vegetation now and minimise the loss of condition of existing native vegetation.  And the best way to halt land clearing is through legislative power of a stronger EP Act (and EPBC Act). And this means WA needs a strong and independent EPA focused on protecting the environment and fully considers environmental factors, cumulative impact and emerging scenarios when making assessments and then having their recommendations supported by the Minister.

Read our collective positive reforms paper here. (coming soon)

Images: Susan Park in Madeley May 2024 (Christine Richardson); CCWA led rally Feb 2024 (Colma Keating)