Tallaganda 30x30: Run for the Forests

Team fundraiser

Courtney Bright and 18 others are organizing this fundraiser to benefit National Parks Association of NSW Inc.

Only an hour’s drive from Canberra and stretching along the crest of the Great Dividing Range, Tallaganda National Park and Tallaganda State Forest provide vital habitat for the nationally endangered greater glider—the world’s largest gliding marsupial.

While approximately one-third of the Tallaganda landscape is protected with national park status, the state forest has been heavily logged in recent years, with most of the harvest turned into low-quality products like pulp and firewood. Logging has been paused since August 2023 thanks to pressure from conservation organisations (WWF Australia, Wilderness Australia, and South East Forest Rescue) and the local community, but it’s expected to recommence within the next six months.

As a team of 30, we’re running 30 km through Tallaganda to call for its protection as part of Australia’s commitment to 30x30—the global target to protect at least 30% of Earth's land and waters by 2030.

We’re fundraising to support National Parks Association of NSW and Wilderness Australia as they collaboratively campaign to convert Tallaganda State Forest into a protected national park. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Paddy Pallin, whose generous support means that 100% of our fundraising efforts will go toward this campaign.

Raised funds will be used by National Parks Association of NSW and Wilderness Australia toward the following activities:

BioBlitz: Scientists and volunteers will survey at night for greater glider den trees in Tallaganda State Forest, which once identified, are protected with a 50 m radius exclusion zone that can’t be legally logged. The BioBlitz will focus on forest sections that are scheduled for logging within the next year.
Desktop study: Collating all available data and information on the conservation values of Tallaganda State Forest, including lists of threatened species and threatened ecological communities.
Reserve proposal: Writing a proposal to outline the rationale and vision for adding Tallaganda State Forest to Australia’s National Park Reserve System, with input sought from scientists and the local community. This proposal will be submitted formally to government.
Documentation: Producing a range of reports, maps, photographs, and videos to make the case to government for the reserve proposal and to promote Tallaganda to the general public.
Media: A range of media work to promote Tallaganda and manage the politics of the national park campaign.
Coordination: Seeking support from the wider conservation movement for the reserve proposal.
Administration: Staff time to collect information, write reports, do fieldwork, edit videos, distribute campaign information, manage website and social media content, as well as travel and accommodation for the extensive fieldwork component.

As trail runners we spend countless hours exploring our natural world; national parks and wilderness areas are our happy place. We’re excited to support National Parks Association of NSW and Wilderness Australia as they work to protect the places we love for future generations. We hope to inspire a movement of 30x30 events, where communities organise 30 km runs, walks, and bike rides to advocate for protection of important ecosystems in their local area.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! The run will take place on June 1st 2024, and we’ll be sharing photos, videos, and updates on the Run for the Forests blog, Instagram, and Facebook.

Route scouting for Tallaganda 30x30! We'll run a very special course that takes us through pristine forest and sections that were logged about 5 years ago. The route showcases what we stand to lose if we don't stand up for the places we love.

An adorably fluffy greater glider. These critters sleep in tree hollows during the day and come out at night to munch on eucalyptus leaves. They can glide up to 100 m between trees, using their long tails as a rudder for steering. They are listed as endangered nationally. Photo by David Gallan.

Two greater gliders snuggling in their tree hollow home. Tree hollows suitable in size for greater gliders take up to 250 years to form. Photo by Ana Gracanin.

Exploring logging compartments in Tallaganda State Forest in June 2023.

South East Forest Rescue protesting in Tallaganda State Forest shortly before the first Stop Work Order in August 2023. Photo by South East Forest Rescue.

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