Dream nears reality for Nannas with native-forest logging set to end

The Nannas for Native Forests movement have watched their dream leap to the brink of reality after the McGowan Government announced native logging would come to an end in WA by 2024.

Expected to save about 400,000ha of native forest, the move will preserve almost two million hectares of vegetation and protect 9000ha of high conservation value karri forest.

For the Nannas, who founded their organisation about 18 months ago, Tuesday’s announcement was a big step in the right direction.

The group now boasts about 400 members across the Great Southern and have earned plenty of plaudits, including from artist John Butler.

Theda Mansholt, the “grand nanna” for Albany-Denmark, welcomed Premier Mark McGowan’s announcement, but said the devil would be in the detail.

“It’s a very positive sign ... It’s a good start but we still have issues with the leases that Alcoa have and we have to see the details,” Ms Mansholt said.

The decision comes ahead of a new 10-year Forest Management Plan for 2024-33 with the current 10-year plan expected to finish in 2022.

With existing projects, including those being run by Alcoa not expected to be impacted by the announcement, Ms Mansholt said there was still work to be done.

“Alcoa do bauxite mining and when the bauxite is mined, the jarrah trees are cleared and then the bauxite is taken,” she said.

“Because the bauxite is what supports the growth of the trees, they will never be able to replace that forest again ... and they’re very unique and very important.”