Could this be the year we stop logging rare forests in NSW?
The Wilderness Society: Creative
Photography in remote NSW was via the immensely talented Krystle Wright
In NSW, and other Australian states, the logging industry is failing today. It continues to harvest rare forests despite widespread community opposition and is losing money in several states. Despite this, it continues to be supported by governments across the political spectrum. With close to three-quarters of people polled in NSW against logging such invaluable wilderness, could this be the year we save these precious places?
Two campaigns combine
The Wilderness Society in Australia was born of the first wave of environmental activism in the 70s in Tasmania and the success of the Franklin Dam case. Today it campaigns across a spectrum of issues in the environmental arena. Two of these campaigns: ‘Deforestation’ and ‘Community Rights’ came together early in 2023 with a desire to communicate popular opinion on logging and that our elected representatives must follow our wishes.
The chosen creative was simple and powerful.
“Saw the stop the chop ads out in the real world… we think they look great!”
— Victoria Jack, NSW Campaigns Manager
Media was purchased to reach those in communities who felt most strongly and could influence policy change.
Going bush
Research showed that there was overwhelming support in Sydney for a change in policy around logging in NSW. Tapping into our community rights, that policy should reflect the views of the people, proved a harder point to land. All can agree that we are tired of the adversarial nature of politics on issues we’d call a ‘no brainer’ at most BBQs. To bring the beauty of remote wilderness to the streets of North Shore, Manly and other locales we loaded up the Landcruiser and headed north to meet renowned documentary film-maker and photographer Krystle Wright.
Rare and bushfire-affected forests in the Styx and Oakes forests in Northern NSW were photographed.
A change of heart
Policies in the new NSW Labor government are a shift from the previous Conservative government and reflect more closely the views of the community on environmental policy and nature preservation. There is support for the Great Koala National Park and also some better protections for forests. While there is some way to go at a state level, voting in seats where this campaign was active shows an accelerating change in views. There was a +22% vote in North Shore for Climate 200-backed independent Helen Conway and her progressive environmental policies. In Manly a +27.6% vote for independent Joeline Hackman and a +17.3% vote for independent Karen Freyer in the well-heeled seat of Vaucluse also signal a shift. People in NSW across the political spectrum want forests protected, today.
From the sidewalks to the surf beaches, NSW is clear that logging rare forests must end.
“The scientific evidence is clear: industrial logging of native forests is a pathway to more destructive bushfires, a worsening biodiversity crisis and wildlife extinctions.”
— Tim Beshara, Policy & Strategy, The Wilderness Society.
Change is up to us, we just need a reminder now and again.
Skills, people and details
Warren Davies
Senior Strategist/ Project Manager
Seamus Fagan
ACD-Senior Art Director
Shyaire Ganglani
ACD-Senior Copywriter
Rebecca Maher
Senior Designer
Photography
Krystle Wright
Services
Strategy, Art Direction, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Photography & Production.
SDGs
Life on Land (#13) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (#16)
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