Help tell the story of Australian deforestation

After 30 years away from Australia, acclaimed wildlife photographer Paul Hilton was shocked upon his return to learn that his home country has some of the highest deforestation rates in the world. It is the only first world country that is still clearing so much land.

 

Australia has one of the fastest rates of biodiversity loss of any other country and you really have to ask why?

He has seen this play out before across the world whilst spending time documenting palm oil expansion in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He's witnessed huge trees being felled, orangutans being locked into small pockets of forest and poachers moving deeper into normally inaccessible areas.

 

It was a wake up call to see similar activities repeated right in the backyard of where his children are growing up.  

The WWF estimates that 500,000 hectares of woodlands are bulldozed each year, 60 million trees/saplings and shrubs are killed or damaged and 75 million animals are killed each year. 

Paul had to ask himself: "Is anyone aware of this destruction?"

Here in Australia, koalas have become locally extinct in many neighbourhoods due to habitat destruction and fragmentation of forest cover and connectivity. We often see koala crossing signs when driving - but where are the koalas?

 

This happens all in the name of progress for development and essential infrastructure.  Australian deforestation is occurring most rapidly in New South Wales and Queensland in the name of perceived development needs and for agricultural grazing. It doesn't have to be this way.

 

What is Australia without its iconic wildlife? When have we become so disconnected from the beautiful country we call home? And from what the world knows us for?

 

It's 2021 and the climate crisis is real. The age of pandemics is upon us. We must rethink how we interact with nature. Forests act as vital carbon sinks and the scientific community issues more and more warnings about viruses that exist in these last wild places.

After contemplating these deep issues, "Kalamunda" the documentary was borne.


We are heading to the frontlines of deforestation to showcase the destruction but also the beauty that we stand to lose if we don’t change the way we act.

We know change is possible. 

We share solutions to transition away from this antiquated way of thinking.  It is possible and we are appealing for your assistance to tell this story as we head into a critical federal election next year.

 

The pandemic posed multiple challenges to completing this documentary and was a breaking point for funding. Border closures delayed filming and now there is a shortage of funds to complete filming and editing. We are grateful for any contribution - individual, business and corporate sponsorship welcome.

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https://www.kalamunda.org 

Who is Paul Hilton?

Internationally acclaimed conservation photojournalist Paul Hilton is a wildlife crime consultant and has partnered with some of the largest conservation NFPs such as the Rainforest Action Network, Greenpeace, WildAid  and the Oceanic Preservation Society.  He's dedicated his life to his craft, becoming renown for photojournalism that opens our eyes to faraway places and brings dangerous stories to our living room.  Paul is now passionate about bringing awareness to Australian conservation issues and finding solutions for a better future.