We protect what we love

FRIDAY . 05. 08. 22 .

Good morning, welcome to August and happy almost-weekend!

In this week's newsletter, we're talking native trees for the upcoming National Science Week, extending an invitation to our Crew Chat and celebrating another win for wild places. Elle's taking a well-deserved break from this week's newsletter, so be patient as I dust off the typewriter and bring you some updates from the trail.

It's been a busy week in climate news, with a climate change bill finally being passed in the Federal Lower House. A target of 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 is a solid start, and it's good to see Labor working with the Greens & Teals to strengthen the Bill, and make sure that it serves as the bare minimum going forward.

Frustratingly, the Bill does not place a moratorium on new coal and gas mines - of which there are 114 in the pipeline, including the Narrabri Gas Project. The International Energy Agency has clearly stated that there can be 'no new coal, oil or gas projects if the global energy sector is to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and help avoid catastrophic climate change'. None of the emissions created by these fossil fuel projects are included in the 2030 targets. There is no doubt there is still a long way to go, but it's reassuring to see Australia catching up to the rest of the world and legislating emissions reductions. We will continue to fight to stop these destructive fossil fuel projects in the Pilliga forest - check out this video from our 2022 event to see sports activism in action.

Have a wonderful weekend out in the wild, and be sure to share any awe-inspiring moments with us! 🙂

CREW CHAT REMINDER

Wednesday 10th August @ 8am - 9am AEST

Are you keen to put your skills to good use in to help protect wild places? We currently have 18 amazing volunteers who are helping us grow the movement in Australia, and we'd love for you to join our crew. Whether you want to use your existing skills, upskill or try something completely new, we are always looking for passionate people to help us realise our 2022 Strategic Plan.

If this sounds like you, we'd love for you to come along to our Crew Chat next Wednesday 10th August from 8am - 9am AEST for a Zoom meeting, where you can meet some of the team and learn more about how you can be involved.

It's a zero obligation space - come along, sus it out and see what you think. Join us on Wednesday by registering here.

🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 🏃

VOTE FOR AUSTRALIA'S FAVOURITE TREE

Celebrating National Science Week (August 13 - 21)

The towering Mountain Ash forests of the Yarra Ranges

You may have already voted in the Guardian's 'Bird of the Year' survey earlier this year - now the ABC is turning our attention to Australia's incredible native trees. From the tallest flowering tree in the world to termite-resistant timbers, deciduous plants, banyans and plenty of edible fruits and nuts, Australian natives really are incredibly wild, wonderful and diverse.

There are going to be three rounds of voting - Round 1 consists of 32 different species, and on August 12 this list will be pruned to 20, and then to the top 10 the following week. Even if you just read through the short descriptions to familiarise yourself with some of Australia's most iconic trees, it's well worth a look. And while you're there, you might as well pick out your top 3!

Vote for your top three Australian native trees here.

💚 🌳 💚

A HUGE WIN IN TAKAYNA/TARKINE

Setting a strong precedence in environmental law

Image: Bob Brown Foundation

You may have seen the fantastic news earlier this week. On August 1st, heavy machinery owned by mining company MMG was removed from takayna/Tarkine, under the watchful eye of Bob Brown Foundation forest defenders.

This came about after a long-fought legal battle, that came to a verdict in the Federal Court on Monday 26th July. The Federal Court justice, Mark Moshinsky, ruled that the 'precautionary principle' had not been considered when then Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, approved the tailings dam in takayna/Tarkine in early 2020. This particular site has been home to a Defenders Camp for years, during which, volunteers have conducted surveys to identify and document a range of incredible native species, including the majestic Tasmanian Masked Owl. The area is flagged for use as a tailings dam, to extend the life of a 85-year-old zinc, copper and lead mine, owned by mining company MMG. If the dam is approved, 285 hectares, or 350 soccer pitches, of rainforest would be cleared (not to mention the toxic sludge pumped through the Pieman River).

The Masked Owl is considered endangered, with only ~500 breeding pairs remaining. takayna/Tarkine is also home to other native wildlife such as nesting wedge-tailed eagles, quolls, Tasmanian devils and the Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Crayfish. But why has this ruling finally stuck, and what is the significance of the masked owl?

To understand this, we need to understand the significance of 'precautionary principle in environmental law. The precautionary principle was first stated in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in 1989, stating 'Nations shall use the precautionary approach to protect the environment. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, scientific uncertainty shall not be used to postpone cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.' The principles of the Rio Declaration went on to influence the Australian National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, which proceeded the now-existing Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (commonly referred to as the EPBCA).

The ruling by Justice Moshinsky stated that Minister Ley did not apply the precautionary principle when approving MMG's application. Environmental department officials representing Ley had not considered if the drilling and surveying work for the tailing dam would cause serious or irreversible damage to the habitat of the Tasmanian masked owl. The BBF said this decision was one of the most significant in environmental law since the EPBCA was brought in, as it shows 'the precautionary principle must be employed when the effects of a proposed development were unclear.' It's exciting to think what scenarios this precedence could be applied to going forward - it is a huge step in the right direction for the protection of wild places.

So, what's next for the MMG tailings dam? The decision now lies with our new Minister for Environment, Tanya Plibersek. In the meantime, the proposed site will remain machinery free, and the masked owls can live in peace. Who knows which way the Minister's decision will go - so far, her two decisions since taking office have been to destroy the Gelorup corridor woodland south of Perth, and yesterday's decision to knock back Clive Palmer's coal mine project near Rockhampton, on the grounds that it would impact the Great Barrier Reef. Who knows which way this will swing? To read more about this landmark decision, here is an in-depth article from The Guardian.

If you'd like to reach out to Minister Plibersek and encourage her to save takayna from destruction, you can send a letter to her office via this BBF website - takaynadarkowls.com. And finally, a huge thank you to all of the BBF forest defenders for continuing to stand up for takayna/Tarkine, and to everyone who participated in or donated to takayna Trail. I'm sure this outcome would not have been made possible without your donations and support.

✊🏽 🦉 ✊🏽

AWE-GUST

Share your special moments with us!

To be involved, simply tag @forwildplaces in your social media posts and we'll announce the weekly winners each Friday. Prizes include sweet as Fractel 'Pilliga' hats, cosy ioMerino tees & a FWP Annual Membership!

🤗 💛 🤗

We hope you can take some time to get outside this weekend, connect with friends, family and nature, and continue to keep up the fight to protect and celebrate our wonderful wild places.

And, as always, thank you for taking the time to support wild places!

Hilary & the For Wild Places team

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We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

This email was written on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. To these people, we pay our respects.

Always was, always will be.