As a National Finalist of Miss Earth Australia, I intend to use this amazing opportunity and platform to raise awareness of the destruction and deforestation of our natural forests and the severe effect on Australian wildlife

Australia has become one of the top deforesting nations in the world and is the only developed nation on the list of deforestation hotspots, as well as a global leader in wildlife extinction despite being having the largest biodiversities of animals and plants. Around 5,000 square kilometers, of virgin bushland and advanced regrowth, are cleared annually.

Australia has lost 25% rainforest, 45% of open forest, 32% woodland forest, and 30% of mallee forest in the past 200 years 

"Nearly a million hectares of forest have been cleared just in Queensland and New South Wales and just in the hotspot areas," - Dr. Martin Taylor, Senior Scientist with WWF Australia

Today there are over 1000 endangered species of plants and wildlife in Australia, with one-third being critically endangered. These include the Gouldian Finch, Mountain Pygmy-possum, Wallabies, and our iconic Koala.

Hundreds of koalas have died during the logging of their habits, wombats are being buried alive by bulldozers and thousands of animals are starving due to the loss of their environment.

The once-a-decade review of our national environment laws is no longer serving its purpose to protect our nation's wildlife and their habitats, nor our waterways or air clarity. There urgently needs to be stronger laws that prevent the destruction of wildlife habitats, ensure the preservation and restoration of the nation's forests, and harsher punishments for the negligence of the environment and animal welfare. 

Skin, scales, feathers, or fur we all deserve protection in our homes! Please sign to help me give a voice to our nation's wildlife.