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Will you support better protection
of The Northern Jarrah Forests?
The Northern Jarrah Forests (NJF) are some of the most diverse temperate forests left on earth. These ancient forests, and rivers that flow through them, have been under Noongar custodianship for tens of thousands of years and continue to hold unique cultural heritage values. Today the NJF is a vital tourism and recreation asset for WA loved by the people of Perth, and is a last refuge for many threatened species including Black Cockatoos, forest Quokkas and Woylie.
Unfortunately, more than a century of logging and clearing for mining, agriculture and development alongside a lack of management oversight, has had major impacts on the ecosystem. A recent scientific study which examined 35 years of rehabilitation, revealed that large-scale rehabilitation of the Jarrah forests from strip-mining has failed (receiving 2/5 stars‒well below the minimum standard), confirming that intact Jarrah forests are irreplaceable.
The NJF region is also vital to water quality and supply for the Perth and Peel region, with the WA Water Corporation and the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation stating that if mining continues within drinking water catchments, there will be irreversible impacts on water quantity and quality, due to contamination concerns, including by PFAS. With its many breathtaking trails, rivers and campgrounds, the NJF is a popular outdoor recreation hub, yet even bushwalking is not allowed in Reservoir Protection Zones whilst the same areas are actively mined. In 2024, the NJF experienced a devastating ‘forest collapse’, which saw huge swathes of drying and dying native vegetation after the record hot and dry summer. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the NJF is one of a handful of Australian ecosystems at risk of collapse due to climate change. However, the report also finds that the risk can be substantially reduced by avoiding and reducing deforestation and forest degradation from inappropriate management and land use.
The End Forest Mining Alliance are seeking the following commitments from decision-makers in order to protect the unique and threatened Jarrah forests.
Will you commit to:
- Supporting the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to undertake ‘Strategic Advice’ to examine the cumulative impacts of pressures on the NJF bioregion, as a matter of urgency, and make recommendations to the WA Government on its long-term protection and management
- Delivering a network of protected areas in the NJF by 2030 in line with the existing commitments to protect over 700,000ha of South West forests as well as ‘30 by 30’. This must be enabled by comprehensive and adequately funded engagement with Noongar peoples, the urgent exclusion of high conservation values areas from existing and future mining tenements and Strategic Advice.
- Enacting public participation in the re-negotiation of or development of new State Agreement Acts for miners operating in the Northern Jarrah Forests.
References:
Campbell, T. et al. 2024. Standards-based evaluation inform ecological restoration outcomes for a major mining activity in a global biodiversity hotspot, Restoration Ecology, e14236.
Milne P, 2024. Worries of ‘irreversible’ damage to jarrah forest by Alcoa. WAtoday, June 25.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022. Working Group II contribution to Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Final Draft. Chapter 11 page 24
Jarrahdale Forest Protectors (JFP) is a local NFP organisation whose objective is to preserve the Northern Jarrah forest (Darling Range) for the benefit of our community future generations, biodiversity and it’s role in climate control.
We seek to protect the Northern Jarrah forest in particular forest around Jarrahdale from logging and bauxite mining.
We are running a campaign called “Save Our Jarrah” Visit our Facebook page
We are a member of the WA Forest Alliance – and the End Forest Mining alliance-you can find our more on their website.
Donate to our Containers for Change account: C10665228
If you wish to write to your politician you can download our letter template click here.
AIMS
To inform the public and key decision-makers of what is happening in the forests of Jarrahdale and the imminent risk of losing important biodiversity, cultural and heritage values of the Northern Jarrah Forest, and to protect Northern Jarah Forrest near Jarrahdale for future generations.
In the past, there has been extensive logging and mining in the Jarrahdale area. The intention of JFP is to preserve a section of easily accessible forest in this high rainfall location so that it may recover from the effects of past activities, to remain as a restored forest as a legacy for all people.
Some benefits of Preserving the Jarrah forest…
- Preservation of the existing forest to nurture: Bio-diversity – plants, animals and insects
- Rainfall retention, water production
- Carbon Storage
- High-quality Jarrah Forest
- Carbon sequestration
- Honey production
- Recreational activities both passive and active
- Employment opportunities
- Education and research
- Tourism
