The Five Forests: Tilba, Bermagui, Murrah, Tanja, Wapengo, are part of the Bateman bioregion.

NEWS ALERT: Forests NSW is currently conducting logging activities in the Five Forests, with more critical koala habitat under threat in the near future. Read more

Who are Friends of Five Forests?

The Friends of the Five Forests (FOFF) are a community group implementing world's best natural resource management on the south coast of New South Wales in Australia. Decades of ignorance and greed have had a massive negative impact on in the environment of the Bateman Bioregion. Intensive broad-acre logging and burning have degraded our forests to the point where we risk losing the remaining forest cover.

Eucalyptus forests are declining and many of our coastal estuaries are rapidly filling with sediment. Many native animal and plant species are being pushed to extinction.

The last sightings of endemic Koalas on the South Coast were in the Five Forests and this population was nominated as endangered and likely to become extinct in 2001. The NSW Scientific Committee seems unable to reach a determination but also unable to find that the information provided in support of the nomination, is inadequate.

These steep coastal catchments have been subject to sustained intensive logging to meet unsustainable woodchip quotas and repeated burning over the past three decades. The continuing degradation of these forests threatens:

Flora and fauna biodiversity and consequently our climate
The quality and quantity of water in rivers, streams and estuaries
The fishing industry
Oyster Farmers
Aboriginal Heritage Values
Tourism
And our much loved recreational natural amenity.

FOFF believe it is time for positive change to the way we manage our soil, water, flora and fauna so that the environment, the community and the economy can all benefit.

Review fact sheets on koalas, catchments, dieback, and forest management claims.

See Sustainability Day information sheets (5 November 2006)

Or see how can I help?