Welcome to our September newsletter.
Wattle is blooming, spring is in the air and there’s plenty happening for Victoria’s forests. September is packed with events, action and opportunities to get involved and have your say. Read on and get involved!
In this edition:
- 5 September | Grassroots action at Fed Square: Make a postcard for threatened species
- 3 September | EJA webinar: Are the Feds’ new nature standards up to the job?
- 7 September | National Threatened Species Day: Let Them Eat Cake? Get creative for the Feds’ Threatened Species Bake Off
- 8 September | Treaty webinar for organisations: Learn how your organisation can support Treaty
- 5 September, 10 October & 17 October | Regenerative Futures: Free talks exploring creativity, climate adaptation and justice
- 12 September & 3 October | Greater Glider night walks: Search for endangered gliders with BEAM
- 13 September | Vote Climate 2026: Kick off the Victorian election campaign with Lighter Footprints
- By 7 October | Have your say: Recovery Plans for two threatened cockatoos
- A national movement for forest protection: VFA joins historic Canberra meeting
MAKE ART. MAKE NOISE. PROTECT OUR FORESTS. | SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
Join VFA and Paradoxa Collective at Fed Square for a day of art, connection and grassroots action as part of RESET. Workshops at Planting Party. Info HERE
Drop in to create a postcard inspired by threatened plants and animals and write a message to decision makers calling for an end to logging and outdated planned burning. It’s a chance to turn creativity into action and have your voice heard for Victoria’s forests.
Saturday 5 September | Fed Square | The Test Garden (see below map) | 10-3pm
EJA WEBINAR: ARE THE FEDS’ NEW NATURE STANDARDS UP TO THE JOB?
Thursday 3 September | 1pm
EJA's score card
Want to know just how inadequate the Feds’ new EPBC environmental standards are? Join Environmental Justice Australia’s free webinar on Thursday 3 September at 1pm to find out what they mean for threatened species and the environment.
THREATENED SPECIES DAY: LET THEM EAT CAKE?
National Threatened Species Day is 7 September, and the Federal Government is celebrating once again with a Threatened Species Bake Off from 1-15 September.
Nothing says “protect threatened species” quite like a baking competition while the same government pushes ahead with weak environmental standards that will fail to properly protect the species and habitat they are supposed to safeguard.
So, in the spirit of government irony, get creative! Bake a threatened species, celebrate our incredible wildlife and use your creation to call for real protection. We’d love to see some of Victoria’s threatened forest species on the menu. Fabulous example from 2021- won the People's Choice Award – Greater Gilder – Felicity
VICTORIANS FOR NATURE : JOIN US FOR THE MELBOURNE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Wednesday 23 SEPTEMBER | 5.30pm | NORTHSIDE WINES, NORTHCOTE
VFA is proud to be part of the Victorians for Nature Alliance, bringing together environmental organisations to build a powerful campaign for nature.
Come along to the official in person launch, meet the alliance, hear what we’re building and connect with others ready to take action. There’ll be merch, campaign materials, food and plenty of good people, so come along and join the fun! Venue: Northside Wines.
TREATY WEBINAR FOR ORGANISATIONS | TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER, 12pm to 1pm
Want to better understand Treaty and how your organisation can support it? Join Gellung Warl for this free online webinar to hear directly from First Peoples’ Assembly members about the Treaty journey, the role of Gellung Warl and how organisations, community groups and allies can get involved. Free, online and open to First Peoples and allies.
REGENERATIVE FUTURES TALKS | BURRINJA
What could a genuinely regenerative future look like? This free three part series brings together artists, researchers and changemakers to explore creativity, regenerative systems, climate adaptation and justice.
5 September: The Imagination Gap
10 October: Healing Cultures
17 October: Living Through It
1.30pm to 3.30pm | Burrinja | Free
All talks are free. Check out the program and book your place at Burrinja.
BEAM GREATER GLIDER NIGHT WALKS
Saturday 12 September & Saturday 3 October
Join BEAM after dark to search for the nationally endangered Southern Greater Glider and discover the habitat they depend on. You may also spot Sugar Gliders, Koalas and possums along the way.
VOTE CLIMATE 2026 CAMPAIGN KICK OFF
Sunday 13 September | 3pm to 5pm | Canterbury
With the Victorian election looming, it’s time to make sure voters know where candidates stand on climate and forest protection. Join Lighter Footprints and Kooyong Climate Change Alliance to kick off the Vote Climate 2026 campaign, with candidate forums, a climate scorecard and plenty of ways to get involved.
Come along, get involved and keep climate on the election agenda. RSVP HERE
Have Your Say: Recovery Plans for Two Threatened Cockatoos
The Australian Government is seeking public feedback on draft National Recovery Plans for the Gang-gang Cockatoo and the South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo.
Photo credit: Lisa Roberts GunaiKurnai Country 2025
Recovery plans set out the actions needed to halt the decline of threatened species and support their long-term recovery. This is an important opportunity to help ensure these plans are informed by the best available science and community knowledge.
Submissions close 7 October 2026. If you care about protecting Victoria's forests and wildlife, we encourage you to review the draft plans and have your say.
Read the draft plans and find out how to make a submission on the DCCEEW website.
A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR FOREST PROTECTION
The VFA was in Canberra on 17 and 18 August for the first national gathering of its kind this century, bringing together national, regional and grassroots forest organisations to work collectively towards ending native forest logging and clearing across Australia.
VFA has signed on to the Forest Protection Principles, joining more than 50 organisations calling for an end to native forest destruction and permanent protection of our native forests.
Credit Hilary Wardhaugh
Recommended Reading
17 August Logging and the slow disappearance of Australia’s large old trees (commentary), David Lindenmayer
In the Monthly feature, Calling the Shots, Katherine Wilson. Debate over a new fishing and hunting “super agency” in Victoria has highlighted the intersection between the gun lobby, union leaders and the Labor Party
31 August Do 'fuel breaks' stack up for us and our forests?, Chris Taylor & David Lindenmayer
Thank you from all of us at the VFA 
Thanks for standing with Victoria’s forests. Every voice, every action and every connection helps build a stronger movement for nature. See you out there!
With heartfelt thanks and solidarity,
Nic- Secretary, Victorian Forest Alliance
https://www.victorianforestalliance.org.au/