One Hundred Heroes
Living in the hills in Stoneville for many years, our iconic red tailed black cockatoos kept me company on many a lazy afternoon while the Eagles battled on the football field or the Carnaby’s white tails sent my Dad running as they showered him with “honkey nuts”. We watched them raise their babies; tease Burt, our pink and grey galah and as a kitten, Splinter was fearless in confronting them in the branches of the banksia.
Marri trees covered with their intense white blossoms gave us “summer snow” every autumn; when March flies appear from nowhere to feast on the nectar and us, and a short time later uncountable tonnes of white stamens drift down to fill the kerbs to overflowing. Driving along Stoneville Road towards to Mundaring, for all those years, I knew little of the critical future now faced by our white and red tailed black cockatoos.
For the past six months, through meetings and public protests; Facebook, blog posts at Stories My Nana Tells and other social media sites, a lot of friends and I have been engaged in a campaign to bring their plight to the attention of [Read more...]
Fabulous Black Cockatoo Gift Cards – Buy Now
All money received helps support the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation and Rescue Center in Perth.
To order and pay for your cards right now – just click anywhere on the picture and use our PayPal account.
Please share this with your friends on Twitter, Facebook and other networking sites. We want to raise lots of money to help support Kaarakin! Thank you.
Torching Our Forests or Managing The Fire Risks?
As regular readers of this blog will know, Lesley Dewar is helping to campaign for conservation and protection of both our high value conservation forests and their unique native inhabitants. She is passionate about helping to raise awareness of conservation issues.
This post has on purpose: to provide links to a variety of points of view and people whose opinions are highly divergent. It is easy:
- to shout down those whose views do not agree with yours;
- to deride academics or activists as ” armchair critics” when they may not have had intense physical interaction with bushfires;
- to ignore the right of everyone to express their point of view;
- to fail to support the views of others who have a credible story to tell
- to deny evidence because you do not approve or like or accept by whom it is presented;
Readers are invited to read, review and comment. The notes in italics have been added by the author or sourced as a quote from the link. The links to the You Tube videos have not been edited for the sake of appearance.
Don’t Torch The Tingles.
Uploaded to You Tube by WAforests on May 17, 2011
The last of our pre European Tingle Forest is to be firebombed next summer 2011/2012. This is the last large example of long unburnt OPEN FLOOR Tingle Forest left in the world, solely due to it being without fire for 80 years, allowing the understory to collapse and decompose creating this Park Land Forest with declining litter or fuel levels.
At the date of uploading, we had not been able to confirm whether the proposed burning had been carried out. The video offers suggestions on alternative areas to be selected for the proposed burning which may be more effective than the initially selected site.
Wildfire WA part 1 (Waterbush)
Uploaded to You Tube by WAforests on May 25, 2011
Controlled forest burning in Western Australia is making the forest more flammable and therefore more dangerous.
A very interesting video on the proliferation of vegetation which seeds well after burning.
Wildfire WA part 2 (Waterbush)
Uploaded to You Tube by WAforests on Jun 5, 2011
The WA government, under Colin Barnett, is encouraging the destruction of native forest animals by destroying their habitat.
The second video in the series, it offers alternative ideas on proposed burning actions.
Water Flower (Florabase Dept Environment and Conservation)
South West Western Australia on a budget
Uploaded to You Tube by RadioLynxContent on Dec 2, 2011
One of the worries about taking a holiday of a lifetime is that it is going to cost you the earth, but in south west Western Australia that needn’t be the case.
With strong calls by the author for more attention to eco-tourism, videos like this help promote the South West as a good tourism destination.
Bush Fire Front: The Alliance Against Bushfire Damage in WA
The Bush Fire Front is a Western Australian voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting householders, farmers and forests from the ravages of bushfires. Our focus is the southwest corner of WA, where hundreds of thousands of people, valuable property, public assets and priceless forests are threatened by wildfire.
We are practical bushfire specialists, with hundreds of years’ accumulated experience in preventing bushfire damage to people, property and forests. We are a group of West Australians deeply concerned to prevent bushfire damage to people, lives and forests. Each of us has worked in bushfire prevention, bushfire science, fire planning, administration or operations for over 35 years
http://bushfirefront.com.au/opinion/general-fire-management-issues
Quote: We need a return to the sort of fire management regime used by aboriginal people in ages past. The beautiful forests and landscapes that the first European settlers found were the product of frequent mild burning, not of massive high intensity fires which blackened the landscape over millions of hectares, which is what the current approach is doing.
South West Fire Services
South West Fire Services is a Busselton based Fire Management Consultancy. Established in 2001, we specialise in management of fire in the natural environment, with emphasis on protection of the biodiversity values, property, and life. With a combined total of over 100 years in practical fire management, we can offer practical advice based on extensive fire and land management experience
John Evans is the director of SWFS, with nearly 40 years experience with DEC in District and Regional Fire Management roles throughout the SW. Primary responsibilities included planning and managing fire management programmes, wildfire suppression operations (Level 3 Incident Controller), fire training, preparation of technical and reference material, liaising with state and local government agencies, and forest management companies etc. Specialising in Karri, Tingle and Jarrah forest fire management, but with a wide range of experience across WA, he is based in Busselton.
http://www.bushfireservices.com.au/about-us/john-evans/
DEC: Science Division Research Project:
The impact of wildfire in old growth forest of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park on short-range endemic invertebrates and their forest floor communities
This study, established in December 2001, was designed to involve and educate the local volunteers in the establishment of a long-term invertebrate collection
Profile link for Paul Van Heurck http://science.dec.wa.gov.au/people/?sid=117#profile
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Arthropods, beetle fire ecology, beta richness, Bushfire CRC, Coleoptera biodiversity, fire mosaics, ForestCheck beetles, rarefaction, structural diversity, trophic guilds, Walpole beetles, Walpole protocol, wildfire impacts
At the date of posting, the author had not been able to contact Paul Van Heurck and has not yet accessed any information on the results of the study.
The Minister for Forestry – emailed February 11.2102
Subject: Logging of Warrup, near Bridgetown and vandalism of our Forests.
Honourable Terry Redman MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Corrective Services
11th Floor, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street, WEST PERTH WA 6005
Dear Minister Redman,
In your role as Minister for Forestry, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. The attached picture is a blatant example of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri 
behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all associated Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister Redman – as the Minister for Forests, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end to logging in high value conservation forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct. There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101
The Minister for Police and Road Safety – emailed February 11.2102
Subject: Poor Use Of Police Resources Angers Citizens
Honourable Rob Johnson JP MLA
Minister for Police; Road Safety
20th Floor, Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
Dear Minister Johnson,
In your role as the Minister for Police and Road Safety, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. We see police resources being used over and over again to allow the FPC to engage in practices which their own guidelines clearly tells us are in breach of forest management requirements. This is a matter which will continue to be of high priority for voters who do not want our Government to stand by and allow our unique native animals rendered extinct nor do they want to see valuable police resources being used to prevent citizens like myself being able to protest against the vandalism of our forests.
Having spent a short time at Warrup last week and met the officers charged with issuing move on notices to protestors, two things were very clear to me. The local police do not like being the instruments of poor political practices and were very polite in dealing with the protesters because they are charged with doing their job. Secondly, the use of move on notices appears to have been perverted from their original intention and are now a tool for infringing on civil liberties – with substantial financial penalties attached if the order is ignored.
The protestors at Warrup Block 6 were in no way violent nor did their protests take any kind of physical action against the police – while they did maintain their right to physically be present for as long as possible. There are good reason why this has to be done.
Australia has a history of allowing indigenous wildlife to be killed, through the destruction of habitat, and it appears we have learned little from the past. Why is the current Government not taking every step within its power to secure the future of our numbats (the State Fauna Emblem) and the iconic Black Cockatoos? The electorate is crying out for conservation and strong leadership from Ministers like yourself – who can get our native animals and birds protected and saved for future generations. Interview With Ben (age 10) About Saving Forests
The attached pictures are blatant examples of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow which is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
Minister Johnson, there are literally hundreds of these photographs, evidence of terrible breaches of forestry guidelines and arrogant disregard for quarantine practices, now being circulated on the Internet – so the witnesses are there. This Government will be held to account.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister Johnson – in particular as the Minister for Police, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end brought to logging in high conservation value forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct. We need our police on the roads and in our communities – not being wasted in the pursuit of quiet protestors who seek only to have FPC and DEC fulfill their own obligations to the community and the forests, along with the unique wildlife that lives therein.
There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing. Rather than subsidizing an industry that is long overdue to be phased out completely, we should be doing everything we can to support tourism in a healthy and well managed forest. While our Museums, Zoos, Local Councils and wildlife groups do everything they can to engage the community in conservation, the Government is sitting on its hands and ignoring the most horrendous forest practices which can and must be brought to an end, immediately.
The benefits for your local police staff would be great, because bringing healthy economics into small country towns increases local employment and helps reduce local crime. Improved police morale is good for the whole community and their not having to engage with protestors whose only aim is to protect our unique wildlife and its habitat will go a long way to improving the overall quality of life for them and those they protect.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101
The Minister for Finance, Commerce and Small Business – emailed February 11.2012
Subject: Small Business Suffers From Government’s Short Term Vision
Honourable Simon O’Brien MLC
Minister for Finance; Commerce; Small Business
13th Floor, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street, WEST PERTH WA 6005
Dear Minister O’Brien,
In your role as the Minister for Finance, Commerce and Small Business, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. This is a matter which will continue to be of high priority for voters who do not want our Government to stand by and allow our unique native animals rendered extinct.
Australia has a history of allowing indigenous wildlife to be killed, through the destruction of habitat, and it appears we have learned little from the past. Why is the current Government not taking every step within its power to secure the future of our numbats (the State Fauna Emblem) and the iconic Black Cockatoos? The children of Western Australia are crying out for conservation and strong leadership from Ministers like yourself – who can get our native animals and birds protected and saved for future generations. Interview With Ben
The attached pictures are blatant examples of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow which is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
Minister O’Brien, there are literally hundreds of these photographs, evidence of terrible breaches of forestry guidelines and arrogant disregard for quarantine practices, now being circulated on the Internet – so the witnesses are there. This Government will be held to account.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister O’Brien – in particular as the Minister for Finance, Commerce and Small Business, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end brought to logging in high conservation value forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct. This Government not only allows this vandalism but underpins it with financial agreements that protect commercial operators in the event of their financial failure!
There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing. Rather than subsidizing an industry that is long overdue to be phased out completely, we should be doing everything we can to support tourism in a healthy and well managed forest. While our Museums, Zoos, Local Councils and wildlife groups do everything they can to engage the community in conservation, the Government is sitting on its hands and ignoring the most horrendous forest practices which can and must be brought to an end, immediately.
The benefits for small business would be great, if we were less concerned with propping up a dying industry and used those funds to create new jobs in eco-tourism.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101
The Minister for Education – emailed February 11. 2012
Subject: Unique WA Species face extinction while the Govt fiddles.
Honourable Dr Elizabeth Constable MA(Syd) DipEd(UNE) MEd(Harvard) PhD(UWA) MLA
Minister for Education
19th Floor, Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
Dear Minister Constable,
In your role as the Minister for Education, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. This is a matter which will continue to be of high priority for voters who do not want our Government to stand by and allow our unique native animals rendered extinct.
Australia has a history of allowing indigenous wildlife to be killed, through the destruction of habitat, and it appears we have learned little from the past. Where in the curriculum will we be teaching our children that this current West Australian Government had it within their power to secure the future of our numbats (the State Fauna Emblem) and the iconic Black Cockatoos and failed to act? The children of Australia are crying out for conservation and strong leadership from Ministers like yourself – who can get our native animals and birds protected and saved for future generations.
This is a record of my interview with Ben.
The attached pictures are blatant examples of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow which is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
Minister Constable, there are literally hundreds of these photographs, evidence of terrible breaches of forestry guidelines and arrogant disregard for quarantine practices, now being circulated on the Internet – so the witnesses are there.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister Constable – in particular as the Minister for Education, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end brought to logging in high conservation value forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct. How are we ever to educate our children and grandchildren to show respect for the planet, their country and our wildlife, while Government not only allows this vandalism but underpins it with financial agreements that protect commercial operators in the event of their financial failure!
There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing. Rather than subsidizing an industry that is long overdue to be phased out completely, we should be doing everything we can to support tourism in a healthy and well managed forest. While our Museums, Zoos, Local Councils and wildlife groups do everything they can to engage children in conservation, the Government is sitting on its hands and ignoring the most horrendous forest practices which can and must be brought to an end, immediately.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101
The Treasurer and Attorney General of Western Australia – emailed February 11.2012
Subject: High Conservation Value Forests Vandalised by FPC and DEC
Honourable Christian Porter BA(Hons) BEc LLB(UWA) MSc(Dist)(LSE)MLA
Treasurer; Attorney General
21st Floor, Governor Stirling Tower
197 St George’s Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
Dear Minister Porter,
In your roles as the Treasurer and Attorney General, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. This is a matter which will continue to be of high priority for voters who do not want our Government to stand by and allow our unique native animals rendered extinct, while you pursue unsustainable commercial interests which are not for the good of the State overall. The financial cost of supporting a few 100 jobs in the logging industry will not be ignored nor should it be. There is deep concern about the liability to taxpayers in the recently signed underpinning of financial agreements for the reopening of the mill at Deanmill, for example.
The attached pictures are blatant examples of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow which is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
Minister Porter, there are literally hundreds of these kinds of photographs, evidence of terrible breaches of forestry guidelines and arrogant disregard for quarantine practices, now being circulated on the Internet – so the witnesses are there.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister Porter – in particular as the Treasurer, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end brought to logging in high conservation value forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct. There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing. Rather than subsidizing an industry that is long overdue to be phased out completely, we should be doing everything we can to support tourism in a healthy and well managed forest.
As the Attorney General, we ask you what is being done to uphold the legal requirements for Government Departments to observe their own rules – when any member of the public would be severely prosecuted for the same practices.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101
The Minister For Regional Development, Lands and The Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development – emailed February 11. 2012
Subject: High Conservation Value Forests Vandalised by FPC and DEC
Honourable Brendon Grylls MLA
Minister for Regional Development; Lands; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development
14th Floor, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street, WEST PERTH WA 6005
Dear Minister Grylls,
In your roles as the Minister for Regional Development, Lands and The Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. This is a matter which will continue to be of high priority for voters who do not want our Government to stand by and allow our unique native animals rendered extinct, while you pursue unsustainable commercial interests which are not for the good of the State overall.
The attached pictures are blatant examples of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow which is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
Minister Grylls, there are literally hundreds of these kinds of photographic evidence now being circulated on the Internet – so the witnesses are there.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister Grylls – in particular as the Minister for Regional Development and Lands, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end brought to logging in high conservation value forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct.
There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101
The Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Fisheries and Electoral Affairs – emailed February 11. 2012
Subject: High Conservation Value Forests Vandalised by FPC and DEC
Honourable Norman Moore BA DipEd JP MLC
Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Fisheries; Electoral Affairs
4th Floor, London House
216 St Georges Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
Dear Minister Moore,
In your roles as the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Fisheries and Electoral Affairs, you must be deeply disturbed by the continuing reports coming out of our forests in the South West about the vandalism of both DEC and FPC. This is a matter that will be of high priority in electoral issues.
The attached pictures are blatant examples of what little regard is being shown for the guidelines and good forestry practices.
In the first picture, you will see a perfect nesting hollow which is on the chopping block in Warrup. Worse still, it is in a one hectare area that was closely examined yesterday (wed 8 Feb) in which only 2 trees have been marked for retention. FPC is supposed to retain a minimum of 11. DEC refuses to stop the logging to investigate.
In the second, these two beautiful high quality habitat trees, a jarrah in the foreground and marri behind, are not marked for protection. They will be cut down despite there being only 2 habitat trees marked in the hectare where they stand.
Minister Moore, there are literally hundreds of these kinds of photographic evidence now being circulated on the Internet – so the witnesses are there.
This video of FPC deliberately poisoning Marri trees is being widely circulated on the Internet and it is the Ministers of this Government who will have to take responsibility for their actions. Not just those directly responsible for those departments, but all Ministers who were made aware and did not cry out for it to stop. http://youtu.be/ItILkPwGQYE
Minister Moore – in particular as the Minister for Electoral Affairs, you have a direct responsibility to speak up and have an immediate end to logging in high conservation value forests UNTIL demands for proper habitat and wildlife surveys have been completed to ensure we do not continue making our unique wildlife extinct. There is a huge market for Eco-tourism and our South West Forests should be at the forefront of this, along with our winery tours and surfing.
Yours faithfully
Lesley Dewar
51 Beatty Avenue
East Victoria Park 6101