In response to the devastating State of Environment Report, for this year’s Threatened Species Day, the Victorian Forest Alliance is co-hosting a rally in solidarity with a collective of grassroots environmental groups to raise awareness for native plants and animals at risk of extinction.
Lack of action on climate change and the on-going destruction of Country is fuelling the collapse of threatened species habitats across the country. We need healthy ecosystems that are thriving with biodiversity in order to effectively tackle the climate emergency. We are calling on governments to listen to the knowledge of Traditional Owners who have been caring for Country for over 60,000 years; listen to the climate scientists who warn us that protecting our remaining threatened species habitats is now critical; and listen to the community groups who are demanding real and meaningful action for a safer climate future.
Join us in solidarity on the streets of Naarm/Melb! There will be a range of voices speaking to the issue at hand, a celebration of unique and beautiful flora and fauna species and the unveiling of The Great Tree Project at the Treasury Gardens. This symbolic knitted tree tells a story of all the old giants of the forest, once vital habitat, that have now been lost to unsustainable logging.
Meeting spot: Naarm (Melbourne) Museum walking along Nicholson St. to Parliament House, finishing at the Treasury Gardens
Groups in solidarity: School Strike for Climate, Extinction Rebellion Victoria, Friends of the Earth Melbourne, Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH), Victorian Forest Alliance (Save the Little Dargo, Save Our Strathbogie Forests, Eco-shout, Wombat Forestcare, Nillumbik Friends of the Great Forest, ACF Melb North & north west, XR Forests, ACF MacNamara, Lawyers for the Forests, BEAM- Save Tallarook Forest, Friends of Noojee Trees, Kinglake Friends of the Forest, Knitting Nannas of Toolangi, Rubicon Forest Protection Group, The Great Tree Project, Warburton Environment, Kinglake Ranges Action for Forests Team, Forest Conservation Victoria, Toolangi Forest Protection Group, Environment East Gippsland, Friends of Bats and Habitat Gippsland, Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO), Gippsland Environment Group, Friends of Mallacoota, Friends of Alberton Wests Forest, Gippsland Community Fire Watch, Save Tyers/Boola Boola Trees, Preserve our Forests Mirboo North).
*We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Sovereignty was never ceded and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.