Please Join the Wilderness Society for a dynamic panel discussion around the idea of the Great Forest National Park (GFNP) and the stories of people who are at the heart of it.
Launching the new fabulous Guidebook with stories and perspectives from the diverse range of people involved in this community driven nature initiative.
Guest Speakers:
Sarah Rees - Great Forest National Park Co-Creator and Campaigner
Chris Taylor - ANU Forest Ecologist and Great Forest National Park Co-Creator
Jo Hopkins - Wilderness Society Victorian Campaigns Manager
Associate Prof Jen Martin - Scientist, Author and Ambassador for the Wilderness Society Nature Book Week
With a specific focus on the importance of community story telling to win Campaigns, the discussion will highlight the power of people to speak up about what they believe in and how its the stories which inspire action for change.
Only 60 kilometres north east of Melbourne exists the Central Highlands of Victoria, home to the world's tallest flowering plant, the Mountain Ash, and one of Australia's most endangered mammals, the Leadbeater's Possum. Both are threatened by ongoing clearfell logging and wildfires. The creation of the Great Forest National Park would not only safeguard the habitats of endangered species and protect these critical forests, but also protect carbon stocks, water supplies, and lower the risk of bushfires. Adding a proposed 355,000 hectares to the existing protected forests will combine a number of individual national parks to form the Great Forest National Park
When: 6:30 - 8:00pm | Friday 17 October 2025
Where: Readings Hawthorn, 701 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn
What is Nature Book Week:
Nature Book Week, hosted by The Wilderness Society, is an annual all-ages celebration of nature-themed books and storytelling. Particularly celebrating nature-themed children's literature through readings, storytelling events, and workshops, culminating in the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature. The week aims to foster a love of nature a deeper connection with the environment by promoting books that connect them to the natural world.