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2009 Environment Award for Children's Literature
This World Environment Day, the Wilderness Society is pleased to announce that True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet and Tuart Dwellers are the joint winners of the 2009 Environment Award for Children’s Literature.
2009 Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature announced
This World Environment Day, the Wilderness Society is pleased to announce that True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet and Tuart Dwellers are the joint winners of the 2009 Environment Award for Children’s Literature.
2010 Environment Award for Children's Literature
This World Environment Day, the Wilderness Society is pleased to announce that Something About Water and The Great Barrier Reef Book: Solar Powered are the joint winners of the 2010 Environment Award for Children’s Literature.
2010 Environment Award for Children's Literature
The winners of the 2010 Environment Award for Children's Literature are Something About Water by Penny Matthews, illustrated by Tom Jellett; and The Great Barrier Reef Book: Solar Powered by Dr Mark Norman.
2011 Environment Award for Children's Literature
This World Environment Day, the Wilderness Society is pleased to announce that The Tomorrow Book, written by Jackie French and illustrated by Sue deGennaro, is the winner of the 2011 Environment Award for Children's Literature.
$23m to protect Cape York Peninsula
THE Queensland and federal governments have announced $23 million to protect Cape York Peninsula ahead of a potential bid for World Heritage status. The Wilderness Society welcomed the funding but warned the money could be wasted unless the cape was protected from coal mining and other threats.
29 Organisations across Australia call on the Government to take 350 stance to Copenhagen
Twenty nine of the leading Australian environmental, research and union organisations joined together today in calling on the Australian Government to commit to supporting the stabilisation of 350 parts per million (ppm) greenhouse gas concentrations or lower at the United Nations climate change meeting in Copenhagen in December.
350.org - global day of action
The science is clear – to secure a safe climate future, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere needs to be reduced to at least 350 part per million (ppm), if not lower. We are currently at 390 ppm, and living with the beginnings of a climate crisis. 24 October is the 350 global day of action.
A great victory – but our forests are still under threat
For four years The Wilderness Society and its supporters have worked hard for the protection of Tasmania's world class forests, our freedom of speech and our democratic process - Gunns 20 victory, Latest threats, Take Action
A Peaceful Protest at the Annual World LNG Conference
Can you help appraise LNG industry insiders of the problems associated with a Kimberley gas hub? If so, come along to the World LNG Conference on Monday morning and help contribute to the debate in a peaceful way.
About the Poznan Climate Change Conference
In December in Poland, world leaders will take their first major steps since the climate forum in Bali last year on the most important journey ever faced by humanity. The Wilderness Society delegation will be urging world leaders, and especially Australian PM Kevin Rudd to take strong action to reduce logging and land clearing as part of the global plan to tackle climate change.
Activists target Gunns' pulp mill equipment supplier, Vienna, Austria
In a spectacular action in front of the headquarters of the Austrian company Andritz, Greenpeace and ECA Watch Austria held a protest against Andrtizs’ involvment in Gunns' pulp mill. Activists transformed the building’s main entrance into a tree-eating monster, pointing to the significant role Andritz will play in destroy some of the world’s last high conservation value forests.
Agreement 'a unique chance to move on'
Mr Bayley says that the significant new areas of reserves proposed by the three environmental signatories to the forest talks are necessary to protect native forests that the groups have determined have high conservation value.
Environment Minister Under Pressure to Save Bilbies
Environment Minister Tony Burke is currently under pressure to properly assess the impact that Woodside’s and the WA Department of Main Roads’ proposed land clearing at James Price Point will have on the illusive and vulnerable bilby.
'Animals in Love' Free passes to give away
In the tradition of The March of the Penguins, Microcosmos and Travelling Birds comes a new, stunningly photographed journey into the wonders of nature. As a special thankyou to all our wonderful ebulletin subscribers, we have 60 double in season passes to give away.
Anti-Reflex campaign in Blacktown
THE Wilderness Society red-carded Blacktown’s Officeworks store last week - crying foul over the company’s use of Reflex paper, which protesters claim is destroying native forests.
Arkaroola mine ban sparks legal threat
MARATHON Resources has left open the possibility of continuing uranium exploration in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, despite the Rann government yesterday announcing a ban on mining in the area. But the campaign manager for the Wilderness Society, Peter Owen, welcomed the government's decision and said the region was worthy of the highest possible natural protection.
As Al Gore calls for action on climate change the Wilderness Society targets carbon polluters
As international advocate for action on climate change Al Gore addressed a joint session of two corporate governance conferences in Sydney today, members and supporters of the Wilderness Society protested, calling on investors to help with urgent reform of carbon polluting companies such as Tasmanian native-forest woodchipper Gunns Ltd.
As UN Climate talks resume, protecting natural forests and peatlands and enforcing safeguards must be top priorities
BONN, Germany – As talks resume here today toward a new global deal to prevent catastrophic climate change, negotiators will be seeking a way forward on the challenge of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).
Australian coal mine plan sparks opposition
AUST-PAC Capital's plan to mine coal on the Cape York peninsula has aroused massive controversy. Those opposed to the development include various Australian environmental groups, including the Wilderness Society, but pro-development Aboriginal leaders support Aust-Pac Capital's plan to construct an underground coking coalmine on Aboriginal land.
The Kimberley: Australia's latest environmental battle ground
Threats are now looming over the region, in the form of plans for large scale industrialisation. If these threats are not addressed urgently, some of the world's most pristine oceans and unspoiled landscapes will be replaced with regularly dredged shipping channels, massive pipelines, and smokestacks emitting huge volumes of polluting gases
Bangkok at a turning point for forests and climate
Leading observer group urges delegates to return to original intent to protect forests and indigenous rights
Big support to stop coal seam gas mining while impact is assessed
MORE than two-thirds of Australians - or 68 per cent - support a moratorium on coal seam gas mining until more is known about its environmental impacts, a national poll shows, with 18 per cent opposed.
Bike to Broome 2400kms in 5 days - to help Protect the Kimberley
Over five days, two teams of 10 riders completed an around-the-clock tandem bike ride to raise awareness and to oppose the building of the proposed gas processing plant at James Price Point, 40 kilometres north of Broome.
Biomass: a good idea or a good excuse?
Forestry Tasmania says a decision not to include biomass in the list of renewable energies under the Federal Government's carbon tax means it has missed an opportunity to deliver more reliable power to regional communities. The Wilderness Society has been campaigning to stop the development of the wood-fired power plant in the Huon Valley and welcomes the exclusion of biomass from the Government's renewable energies list.
Bonn climate change talks start with Australia hiding emissions from logging
Australian Government negotiators at the United Nation's climate change talks in Bonn are colluding with other developed countries to hide almost 400 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year from forest logging, The Wilderness Society revealed today.
Brisbane Supporter Event
Come along to a special event with our Queensland campaign team to celebrate our important conservation achievements, and build a stronger environment movement to protect the best of Queensland's amazing wild places. 6:30 Thursday 1 September, Brisbane Workers' Community Centre in Paddington.
Bronwyn tells her story...
Bronwyn Hannah – Queensland Wilderness Defender State Manager - Read Bronwyn’s story of what it is like working as a Wilderness Defender Campaigner
Broome against boom
AS the blood-orange and crimson sunset works its magic on Broome's Cable Beach, it is easy to understand how this northwestern piece of paradise has managed to capture the imagination of travellers and the souls of those who call it home. Long-time residents fear they are about to be swamped by an investment spike that the WA Premier proudly boasts he hopes will turn Broome into a new Dubai. The Wilderness Society will fight to encourage Woodside to reconsider its plans and opt for a floating gas production platform, or to land its share of the Browse Basin gas farther south, at existing facilities.
Broome fears future as the next Dubai
AN environmental standoff reminiscent of Tasmania's Franklin dam blockade is brewing in northern Australia. A pending federal government decision to potentially declare west Kimberley Australia's biggest National Heritage area is fuelling an escalating dispute over Woodside Petroleum's $35 billion James Price Point gas hub project. The Wilderness Society has pledged a national campaign to bolster local community opposition and target potential financiers of the gas hub plan that WA Premier Colin Barnett has said he hopes will transform Broome into the next Dubai.
Broome ‘No gas hub’ campaign strengthens
This week hundreds of Broome residents met Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke at a ‘picnic in the park’ to tell him what they thought about Woodside’s plans for a huge industrial processing plant in their backyard.
Broome protester escapes conviction
A 52-YEAR-OLD Broome woman who chained herself to a drilling rig for 37 hours to protest land clearing at James Price Point has escaped conviction.
Calendars, Diaries, Books & Recycled Gift Wrap
Calendars, Diaries, Books & Recycled Gift Wrap With images from Australia’s leading landscape and wildlife photographers, our stunning 2009 calendars and diaries are the ideal gift for loved ones overseas or here at home. Buy Now »
Call for government to stop Forestry Tasmania logging native forest
ENVIRONMENTAL groups want a review of Forestry Tasmania because they are worried its continued logging of old-growth native forests goes against the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Campaign to Protect the World’s Intact Forests to Tackle Climate Change
The Wilderness Society has spotted a glaring omission in negotiating text for the Copenhagen Climate Change agreement – protecting the world’s forests has gone missing! More than 25% of annual global emissions come from the clearing, logging and disturbance of forests. It’s simple; we can not secure a safe climate without protecting the world’s forests.
Campaigners call for change on UN forest definitions to protect the climate
Bonn – As climate change negotiations resume here this week, a coalition of environmental campaigners has called on the UN's scientific and technological advisory body 1 to create a new forest definition that differentiates natural forests from plantations. This is needed to prevent global efforts to protect forests and the climate from being undermined, according to the Ecosystems Climate Alliance (ECA).
Cancun Climate Conference - Forests in the spotlight
After the disappointment of climate talks at Copenhagen last year expectations from Cancun were mixed. While no one expected much, if any, progress on new global emissions reduction targets, the whole future of the United Nations Climate process was hanging in the balance
Cape coal project will 'destroy' reef region
A PROPOSAL for a coal mining project on Cape York in the state's far north has met with opposition from the Queensland Wilderness Society (QWS). QWS says Aust-Pac Capital's Wongai Project north-west of Cooktown, in far north Queensland, is being assessed by federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.
Cape York coal rush on
COALMINING companies have swooped on Cape York, lodging a raft of new applications to explore for a rare, highly valuable form of coal. The Wilderness Society's Gavan McFadzean said the Cape was the "next big target" for the coalmining industry, but warned it could have disastrous environmental consequences.
Cape York listing timetable 'ridiculous'
EXISTING mines will be excised from the proposed Cape York world heritage zone under the Gillard government's revamped strategy to nominate much of the peninsula for listing by 2013. Greens groups applauded the renewed commitment to World Heritage, but the Wilderness Society said all "potentially destructive developments" should be put on the backburner until the listing was approved.
CYP Indigenous Conservation Estate
Abstract tier 2 for an article called "Cape York Peninsula’s Indigenous Conservation Estate".
Cape York Protected - But Not From Miners
A FUNDING package to protect the Cape York Peninsula is good news but that area is still vulnerable. A moratorium on mining in the area is needed until a World Heritage assessment is complete, argues the Wilderness Society's National Campaign Director, Lyndon Schneiders.
Caution urged for Northern Food Bowl idea
THE Coalition has said it is developing a plan to dam rivers in the Northern territory, Queensland and Western Australia so that agriculture can be stepped up across the Top End. Scientists and environmentalists are warning against the idea. River Campaigner for the Wilderness Society, Glen Walker, featured in story.
Celebrate World Environment Day with the Wilderness Society
June 5 is World Environment Day. Each year on this day, world attention is focused on the environment, and in particular, on positive programs that work towards protecting and restoring the world's natural heritage. The Wilderness Society is holding events right across Australia. Find out about events in your state.
Cement Creek picnic - Sunday August 14th
Come and celebrate the International Year of the Forests by joining local residents for a BBQ in the beautiful forests surrounding Warburton in Victoria's Central Highlands.
Climate change insurance
AS part of the federal government's big sell on its carbon tax package, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet will this week address a Melbourne conference being held to explore the catastrophic consequences of global temperatures rising by 4C over the next century. The Wilderness Society welcomes key elements that rule out the burning of native forests to produce renewable energy and the creation of a $1bn fund to protect carbon held in nature.
Companies plan fracking at WA gas sites
"... we're all drinking that water, we're washing in that water... and some of the chemicals they're using are extremely toxic." Eneabba farmer Wendy Mills expresses her anxiety about the process of hydraulic fracturing. The Wilderness Society of WA is driving a push to impose tougher regulations on the industry in WA.
Media Contacts
For national and international media enquiries, please contact Alex Tibbitts our National Media Adviser: Phone: 02 9282 9553 (International +61 2 9282 9553) Mobile: 0416 420 168 (International +61 416 420 168) Fax: 02 9282 9557 (International +61 2 9282 9557) Email: alex.tibbitts@wilderness.org.au For state and local media enquiries, please contact the relevant state media spokesperson.
The Wilderness Society Inc Admin Office contacts
57E Brisbane St Hobart, Tas, 7000 Phone: 03 6270 1701 Contact details for the National Administration Office of The Wilderness Society Inc.
Delegates from countries that have taken up the REDD forest pledge
List of countries that have taken up the REDD forest pledge
Court orders Sylvia Creek logging halt
AN ENVIRONMENT group has won a temporary injunction to stop logging in a Victorian forest that may contain endangered possums.
Crab may halt bauxite mine
A NEWLY discovered crab about the size of a 10 piece might stop mining giant Rio Tinto's new $900 million Cape York bauxite mine. The Wilderness Society's Glenn Walker said yesterday the crab would be threatened, nearly 30,000ha of bush cleared and a river destroyed if the big mine was approved.
Crazy northern schemes torpedoed by reality check
In late September, Australia’s leading scientific research organisation, the CSIRO, provided a much needed reality check to mad schemes to turn northern Australia into a giant irrigated farm.
CSG mine's mountain of unwanted salt
COAL seam gas (CSG) mining at just one Queensland site will produce three million tonnes of salt - enough to raise a pile 10 metres high and 11 kilometres long, senators have been told.
Currents of change in Australia’s Wild Blue Yonder
Stretching from Shark Bay to the WA/NT, the North West bioregion - our wild blue yonder - includes over 1 million km2 of tropical and subtropical Commonwealth waters. A world-wide study of oceans ranked our Kimberley seas alongside Antarctica and Arctic seas as being the least impacted by humankind. Yet the draft plans released by the Australian Government on August 24 protected only 1% of the shelf and outer slope habitats where most marine life is found.
Day 1: Highlights from Poznan - Countdown to Copenhagen
Today 11,000 people representing governments, the scientific community and academia, environmental and indigenous non-government organisations descended on freezing Poznan, Poland in what is the most important meeting ever to reach agreement on how to reduce and adapt to climate change.
Day 10: Highlights from Poznan - Countries missing in action on climate targets
The Wilderness Society delegation is still madly pumping out media, holding press conferences, writing submissions into the climate process and holding as many bilateral meetings as possible with delegates from around the world.
Day 11: Highlights from Poznan - Door left open for forest protection in Copenhagen
With so many proposals flying around for perverse outcomes in the climate change negotiations, The Wilderness Society delegation has succeeded in making sure that the protection of forests as carbon banks is still on the table for Copenhagen. The forest live to fight another day.
Day 12: Highlights from Poznan - Goodbye Poznan, Hello Copenhagen
World leaders and Ministers have now arrived in Poznan to sign off on progress made over the past two weeks by their government delegations.
Day 2: Highlights from Poznan - EU and Poland 'fossilised' at first awards
On each day of the Poznan climate talks, the international coalition of environmental groups under the banner of 'CAN' (Climate Action Network) present a 'Fossil Award' to the country who for that day, has showed the worst behavior in reducing climate change at the conference.
Day 3: Highlights from Poznan - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation.
Tonight The Wilderness Society and Birds International will host an event at Poznan on the critical role the protection of native forests must play as part of global efforts to reduce climate change.
Day 4: Highlights from Poznan - Germany, Norway lift the bar - Australia, Japan stumble
News that Australia has delayed announcing a 2020 emissions target and that it may be as low as a 5 – 15% reduction on 1990 levels, is drawing criticism at Poznan. South Africa led the chorus, calling on Australia to announce a much higher target ASAP.
Day 5: Highlights from Poznan - Excuses, excuses...
As soon as The Wilderness Society and the other non-governmental delegations arrived in Poznan, governments were keen to hose down expectations of how much progress would be made in establishing a new agreement on reducing climate change, and setting tough emissions reductions targets.
