The Wilderness Society

The Wilderness Society Life. Support. We work to support the living world that makes all life possible. Australia truly is the lucky country.

Our bush, forests and deserts are amongst the most beautiful on Earth. Our oceans are vast and pristine, and our soil is some of the oldest and most fertile on the planet. The 'Australian lifestyle' is dependent on access to healthy food, clean water, fresh air, and beautiful natural surroundings. While government has a role in protecting wilderness, it's up to all of us to recognise and promote n

ature in our day-to-day lives. The Wilderness Society is an independent, non-profit organisation working together with people from all walks of life to protect some of our most precious - and most threatened - places from destruction.

11/06/2026

We’re delighted to announce John Williamson is joining the judging panel for the 2026 Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature! 🙌 📚

Since 1994, the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children's Literature has celebrated excellence in books that promote a love of nature for kids. 🌳💚

As a singer-songwriter, performer and conservationist, John knows the power of storytelling to connect people to nature. Last year, his children's book ‘Voice of the Sea’ was shortlisted for the Environment Award for Children's Literature, and he is thrilled to join the judging panel in 2026.

👉 The shortlist will be announced on Thursday 18 June. Keep an eye out on our socials for the list of incredible, nature-focused books for children.

Around 2.5 hours from Naarm / Melbourne you'll find the magical forests of the Otways. You'll discover lush temperate ra...
11/06/2026

Around 2.5 hours from Naarm / Melbourne you'll find the magical forests of the Otways. You'll discover lush temperate rainforest, dramatic coastal landscapes and dozens of fresh-flowing waterfalls. 🌳🌿

It's a special place, permanently protected in a national park only since 2005, after years of community campaigning.

Working alongside Surf Coast communities through the 1990s, the Wilderness Society mobilised thousands of Victorians to protect this stunning region.

Through citizen science, non-violent direct action, business opposition and political advocacy, the campaign succeeded in ending industrial native forest logging in the Otways and securing protection for its incredible biodiversity—home to more than 7,300 plant and animal species.

The Great Otway National Park lies on the lands of the Wadawurrung, Gadubanud and Eastern Maar peoples. Today, the Great Otway National Park stretches from Torquay along the Great Ocean Road and into the lush Otway hinterland.

The Otways are proof that when we work together, we can protect the places we love. Wild then, wild forever. 💚

📷 Thanks to Tyson Waldron for sharing this beautiful waterfall photograph with us.

We are honoured to announce Aunty Munya is joining the 2026 Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature jud...
10/06/2026

We are honoured to announce Aunty Munya is joining the 2026 Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature judging panel!

Now in its 32nd year, the Wilderness Society's Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature champions books that connect kids to the natural world. 🌳💚

Aunty Munya holds degrees in anthropology and law, has practised as a solicitor and barrister, and has taught Indigenous legal subjects at the University of Melbourne and Southern Cross University.

You may also know her as the author of Ask Aunty: Bush Survival Skills, the winner of the 2025 Karajia Award.

We are deeply grateful to welcome her wisdom to the panel. 🌿

👉 Don't want to miss the shortlist announcement? Keep an eye on our socials, as the shortlisted books will be announced on Thursday, 18 June!

They’re turtle-y ancient! 🐢Sea turtles have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, changing very little over mille...
09/06/2026

They’re turtle-y ancient! 🐢

Sea turtles have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, changing very little over millennia.

Six of the world’s seven marine turtle species are found in the Great Barrier Reef, all following a fairly similar life cycle.

They grow up slowly, taking decades (around 20-50 years) before they’re ready to mate. During adolescence, they drift on ocean currents or find a place to hang out for years, before migrating up to 3,000km to breed.

Females and males head towards a nesting area located near where they were born. They both mate with a number of partners, with females storing s***m to fertilise three-seven clutches of eggs during mating season.

Each time a female lays a clutch of eggs, she drags herself up the beach to dig a nest, before returning to the sea to recover ahead of the next clutch.

Thank you to Jake Wilton for sharing this stunning image from the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Use if you’d like your photographs to be featured next!

09/06/2026

Last week, we joined with other environment and community groups at the Victorian parliament house to launch Victorians for Nature.

Victorians expect proper protections for nature.

Real nature protection in Victoria means a united effort to protect forests and the animals that call them home.

Genuine nature protections means:
❌ closing logging loopholes
🏦 proper funding for parks and protected areas
💪 real action to restore biodiversity

Together, we’re building a powerful community movement that can match the scale of the challenge facing nature in Victoria.

We’re proud members of Victorians for Nature.

08/06/2026

Meet the next judge joining the 2026 Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature panel, Linden Ashcroft!

For over three decades, the Wilderness Society's Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature has recognised the books that bring nature to life for kids. 💚

Linden grew up on Yorta Yorta Country in regional Victoria and is now a senior lecturer in climate science and science communication at the University of Melbourne. Her career has taken her across academia, the non-profit sector and government.

What sets Linden apart is her passion for making science make sense. She's a regular on community radio, a frequent public speaker, and has received many awards for her dedication to communication and outreach. We are delighted to have Linden on board! 🌿

👉 Don’t miss the shortlist announcement! Happening on Thursday 18 June, make sure you’re following our social media to be the first to know!

A professional sleeper. A long-haul flyer. A skyscraper with leaves. A gliding rectangle. Not your girl, but worth getti...
05/06/2026

A professional sleeper. A long-haul flyer. A skyscraper with leaves. A gliding rectangle. Not your girl, but worth getting to know.

Australia’s wild places are filled with characters worth protecting.

Together, we've spent 50 years showing up for Australia's wild places. Today and every day, we're in their corner! 🦜

Happy World Environment Day from us at the Wilderness Society. 🌏💚

We encourage you to step into nature this weekend and reconnect with your girl Mother Earth!

05/06/2026

Say hello to our next judge for the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature, Shelley Ware! 🙌 📚

Shelley is a proud Yankunytjatjara, Kokatha and Wirangu woman, experienced educator, author and media presenter known for her work across classrooms, community and sport. She is the author of We Are Matildas and has been an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation for over a decade.

Shelley’s commitment to amplifying culture and literacy to inspire the next generation makes her a natural fit for our judging panel.

Each year, the Wilderness Society's Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature shines a light on books that help the next generation fall in love with nature, just as we have. 🌳

👉 The shortlist will be revealed on Thursday, 18 June! Keep an eye on our socials to discover this year’s incredible collection of nature-inspired books for children.

Ultimate couple goals! 😍Gang-gang cockatoos mate for life, forming a great shared partnership for parenting.The female (...
04/06/2026

Ultimate couple goals! 😍

Gang-gang cockatoos mate for life, forming a great shared partnership for parenting.

The female (the one without the crimson head), picks their home—a tree hollow. Then they both work to prepare it for egg-laying by nibbling the sides of the hollow to line it with wood chips and dust.

They both incubate the eggs and care for them once they’ve hatched.

These charismatic birds are now endangered in NSW—forest destruction and bushfire have destroyed their homes.

A big thank you to Harry van der Zon for sharing this photograph of this cheeky gang-gang pair. If you’d like to be featured next, don’t forget to tag your photos with .

The Tasmanian Wilderness is the equal highest-ranked World Heritage Area. It meets an extraordinary 7 out of 10 World He...
03/06/2026

The Tasmanian Wilderness is the equal highest-ranked World Heritage Area. It meets an extraordinary 7 out of 10 World Heritage criteria.

Ancient Aboriginal heritage predates British colonisation by tens of thousands of years and remains significant to today’s Palawa, the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Logging near its boundaries, feral animals, increased bushfire risk and inappropriate tourism are all creating significant impacts and threats to its outstanding universal values.

Palawa people’s rights are not being respected or realised through decision-making.

Over 17 Australian organisations, including the Wilderness Society, have written to UNESCO and IUCN in 2024, twice in 2025, and in 2026.
Together, we are urging the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee to recognise that the risks are significant, and it should be uplisted to “significant concern level”.

👉 The Australian covered the story, linked in the comments (the article is behind the paywall!).

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