This week we would like to bring your attention to a cause that is close to our hearts. As local nature lovers, we're sad to hear that our North Coast koala populations have declined by 50% over the past 20 years.

We want to introduce you to an organisation doing all they can to support koala habitat. The North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) have been actively defending our public native forests from logging in northeast NSW for over 31 years. They have been instrumental in saving over 1 million hectares of native forests and high conservation value forests of northeastern NSW. The koalas and other threatened species depend on these forests and, therefore, they now rely on NEFA and you.

You can donate, or if you're local to the area, show your support by attending a fundraiser hosted by NEFA and other associated environmental groups. The fundraiser was scheduled for Saturday 10th July at the South Lismore Bowling Club, starting at 2 PM till 9 PM. (Due to COVID-19 restrictions impacting this area, the fundraiser has been postponed to Saturday, 31st July.)

NEFA is an organisation made up of volunteers and grassroots groups. Through public education and legal, political, media and community direct action, they have defended forests to remain a viable habitat for all the diverse animals that make it their home.

While they have made significant gains, there is still much work to be done. NEFA needs your help to continue this vital work, especially as ecologically sustainable forest management has been an abject failure in NSW. That's why NEFA are now seeking an end to the logging of native forests on public land.

If you are unable to attend the fundraiser but would like to donate, please go to NEFA.org.au home page, where you can check out the work NEFA is doing. Then, click on DONATE and help save our forests from being logged to extinction. And while you're there, scroll down and listen to Jack Thompson's powerful message when he asks "who speaks for the trees" and implores us all to stand up for our forests NOW.

You can also visit their #StandUp4Forests Facebook page, where you will see all the details and entertainment for this week's fundraiser, the Song & Dance 4 Forests event. Jimmy Willing, Jex Lopez, Mick Daley and S Sorrensen are just some local artists donating their time and energy to this event. 

So join us next Saturday and celebrate our native forests and the biodiversity within that sustains us all.   

If you can't attend or donate, use #StandUp4Forsts to help raise awareness and share this blog with your friends.