Victorian Forest Alliance

21/08/2026

Across the country people are tired of watching their forests trashed with government approval. That’s why we gathered this week in Canberra.

20/08/2026

One side of the road: burnt in the 2009 bushfires and again in 2021 with a planned burn. Five years on the understorey is a dense thicket of acacias stretching on for kilometres. As a result of the burn this forest has years more of heightened flammability ahead.

The other side of the road: burnt in the 2009 bushfires, now past peak flammability. The diverse shrub layer self-thinning and only a few years away from reaching a mature state of naturally low flammability that will last as long as we can protect the forest from more disturbance.

Graph based on millions of data points at all fire intensities. From Zylstra, P (2018) “Flammability dynamics in the Australian Alps”, Austral Ecology.

20/08/2026

19/08/2026

Across Victoria people want to see real solutions to bushfire risk. That’s why last week communities across Victoria from Lorne to Healesville to Lakes Entrance filled rooms to listen to bushfire scientist Dr Philip Zylstra. Hosted by community groups other guests included Gunaikurnai elder Marjorie Thorpe, and Natalie Hogan from Environmental Justice Australia.

It is increasingly clear that the old methods are worse than ineffective - planned burning and clearing are creating more flammable forests by promoting dense shrub growth, increasing wind by opening up the canopy, drying out the microclimate and causing shifts in vegetation communities towards drier fire tolerant species.

As documented in ‘Forest Country’ by Lewi Haskins, screened at many of the events, some of Victoria’s biggest trees and most precious forests are currently being logged under the guise of bushfire management.

We can’t log and burn our way out of bushfire risk.

Stay tuned for clips from last weeks talks.

17/08/2026

Sally McManus seems to have her priorities right:

✊staunch advocacy for workers and the most vulnerable in our society.

💥 uncompromising on corruption and violence.

🦜birding.

“Somewhere along the line, it’s hard to actually know when, the previous leaders of the CFMEU in at least three of the states completely walked away from union values and what was acceptable, for not just the majority but 95% of unions,” she said.

“That whole experience just caused the rest of the union movement to really sharpen what that line is that we say cannot be crossed, and that’s corruption and that’s violence.”

“Somewhere along the line, it’s hard to actually know when, the previous leaders of the CFMEU in at least three of the states completely walked away from union values and what was acceptable, for not just the majority but 95% of unions,” she said.

“That whole experience just caused the rest of the union movement to really sharpen what that line is that we say cannot be crossed, and that’s corruption and that’s violence.”

15/08/2026

Jumping spiders are small, very small, with the majority barely larger than a grain of rice. They are easy to identify as no other spider family has two relatively enormous eyes in the middle of the front eye row. These front eyes help them judge distance for jumping, track moving prey and recognise mates and enemies. Their six side eyes help them notice movement 360 degrees around them. When watching a jumping spider you can really see that it is also curiously watching you.

Some species can leap up to 40 times their own length, the equivalent of a human leaping the length of a school bus without a run up! Silk draglines acts like safety ropes when they leap.

Jumping spiders do not build sticky snare webs to catch prey, but they do make small silken shelters for resting, moulting and laying eggs. We presume that’s what’s happening here… (calling all entomologists!)

Jumping Spiders are famous for the complicated mating ritual of Peacock Spiders which involves leg waving, toe-tapping, abdomen twerking, and wing flapping (ie. dancing). But all species are unique and fascinating.

Jumping spiders are the world’s most diverse and abundant spider family, with over 500 genera and more than 5000 species, over 13 per cent of all spiders. Australia. where they are they are particularly abundant and diverse, is a jumping spider hot spot. Many species have not yet been described by science.

📷 Felicity Law

11/08/2026

11/08/2026

EVENT REMINDER: this Saturday, 15 August, 2.30pm at Mechanics Hall, Lakes Entrance.

Join fire behaviour scientist Dr Philip Zylstra and local surveyors to discuss planned burns and community safety.

Book your spot: events.humanitix.com/planned-burns-and-community-safety

11/08/2026

🗓️ THIS THURSDAY.
Book via the link in the comments.

Join Warburton Environment and 𝐿𝑒𝓌𝒾 𝐻𝒶𝓈𝓀𝒾𝓃𝓈 for an evening of film, science and community conversation exploring forest protection, cultural knowledge, fire, and the future of the Yarra Ranges.

The forum features two powerful short documentary screenings:

First Lore by filmmaker Ryan Tews centres First Nations perspectives on caring for Country, highlighting the importance of Indigenous-led conservation, cultural responsibility, and decision-making grounded in continuous connection to land and water. It is an ever-expanding collection of Aboriginal perspectives on respecting and protecting Country, reflecting the importance of Traditional Owners’ knowledge, authority, and governance in environmental care. Across environmental spaces, First Nations people continue to call for systems that properly recognise sovereignty, responsibility, and lived relationship with land, water, and all living beings. Conservation must centre Aboriginal leadership and support the empowerment of communities caring for Country.

Forest Country by Lewi Haskins continues to explore local forest impacts and growing community concern across the region. It is the powerful result of filmmaker Lewi Haskins’ promise to document and protect his forest community through film. Shot over the course of a year alongside activists, conservationists, and ecologists, it bears witness to the ongoing pressures on native ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, and the deep connection communities have to these forests.

This special extended cut of Forest Country includes new footage and additional interviews.

Fire behaviour scientist Adjunct Associate Professor Dr Philip Zylstra will present current research on planned burning, forest disturbance and bushfire risk. Drawing on decades of experience in fire management and ecological research, Dr Zylstra will explore how broadscale planned burning and forest disturbance can increase long-term fire risk, damage ecosystems and impact community health, while discussing alternative approaches to reducing fire severity and protecting communities.