A new documentary film highlighting the threats to Western Australia’s native forests and their real value in mitigating climate change will have its Melbourne premiere at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on July 25. Cry of the Forests was made by independent WA-based filmmaker Jane Hammond in partnership with the WA Forest Alliance. Ms. Hammond explained that Cry of the Forests takes viewers to the heart of the south-west forests to see first-hand the threats faced by these critically important ecosystems. Cry of the Forests includes footage of the rarely seen destruction happening in WA’s forests on a daily basis.
Ms. Hammond said that the film is a riveting cinematic journey through these stunning forests and their unique wildlife. It is here that the audience is introduced to people risking everything in an effort to protect the forests they love. “Cry of the Forests showcases the cultural, recreational and eco-tourism values of the south-west forests and their importance to small businesses including bee keeping. But underpinning the entire story is the climate crisis and the message that our forests have a special role to play in mitigating and slowing runaway climate change.” Ms. Hammond commented “Forests, especially mature forests, store and draw down massive amounts of carbon yet we are chopping them down for low value products like woodchips, charcoal and firewood. This is a film with a focus on WA but with a universal theme of the need to end deforestation and protect what is left of native forests for climate and biodiversity worldwide.”

WA Forest Alliance campaign director Jess Beckerling said the film was a wake-up call for all Australians. “Our forests need us to protect them, but we also need them to protect us. The question really is, will we act in time to save them or will we lose the opportunity to look after our forests and the invaluable role they play in carbon storage and sequestration?” Ms. Beckerling commented “At this point in history we urgently need to be protecting our forests for climate and for life. This is a film that every Australian should see.”
The film screens at Cinema Nova in Lygon Street, Carlton on Sunday July 25