Hello Koala Lovers,

It seems incredible to me that it is now 13 years since I attend COP 15 in Copenhagen where climate change was discussed and that the global temperature had to be kept below a 1.5°C increase. All these years later, we are still saying the same thing except now we have incredible events to bear witness to the fact that we, as a race are not changing our behaviour and the suffering just abounds.

It is the same with the Koala, and the AKF will just stick to our original message; that the forests of the east coast of Australia are important for the Koala, for millions of other species and also for existing carbon storage. Trees continue to breathe in CO2 and breathe out oxygen. Such a simple message, but it gets lost in the bandaid solutions that appeal to politicians.

This morning I am hearing “they” are going to compensate poorer nations that have been affected, which suggests to me that they will continue to allow things that are just not right.

Since Save the Koala Month, I have been watching an increase in activity of people on the ground trying to protect forests, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria and although there have been some great wins in court, I am not sure it is going to stop the bulldozers. I have also seen the Minister for the Environment making a lot of statements that suggest things are going to get better. Will it be enough for the Koala?

I was incredibly disappointed to see that the Minister, on her recent visit to Tasmania did not meet with Mr. Brown, one of Australia’s bravest environmentalists. As a Tasmanian myself, I think I am going to find it hard if she allows the destruction of those forests.

The AKF is still committed to a Koala Protection Act and I get the feeling that the Minister might be avoiding me like she avoided Bob. She says she wants to involve the community, but it is hard to take that seriously when she, like her predecessors, sidelines our letters, and worse still, our science.

Our team has some fantastic news to announce in a few week’s time and I think you are going to love it.

With thanks as always,

Deborah