The Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) is the umbrella body for conservation groups and organisations in Western Australia. It has been the co-ordinator, publisher and guiding body for issues of woodchipping in the South West of Western Australia, the logging of old growth forests, as well as providing input into government processes involved with all aspects of environmental protection and conservation.
The Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) was founded in 1972 as a non-governmental organisation with the aim of advocating for environmental protection and sustainable development in the state of Western Australia. It was established as a response to the growing environmental concerns associated with the expansion of industry, agriculture, and urbanisation.
Its origins were closely related to the Perth-based - Environment Centre of W.A., and the development and success of the environmental movement also saw subsequent development of the regional environment centres in Denmark, Albany, Margaret River and Busselton.
The Council played a significant role in the conservation movement of the 1970s, particularly in relation to campaigns aimed at protecting Western Australia's unique biodiversity and natural landscapes. The CCWA has been involved in numerous successful campaigns, from advocating for the preservation of native forests to opposing destructive mining practices in sensitive areas.
In 1981 the council was involved in a class action in the United States against bauxite miners Reynolds and Alcoa. regarding mining in the jarrah forests of the Darling Range east of Perth; the complaint was lodged with the U.S. Federal District Court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.ab[1]
Structure and Governance
The Conservation Council of Western Australia operates as a membership-based organisation, consisting of affiliated groups and individual supporters. It is governed by a board of directors, which is elected annually by the membership. The governance structure ensures that CCWA represents a broad spectrum of environmental interests across the state.[2]
The organisation's day-to-day operations are managed by a team of staff, headed by an executive director, who oversee various programs and campaigns related to environmental advocacy, policy development, and public education.
Campaigns and Advocacy
CCWA is known for its advocacy on a wide range of environmental issues, including biodiversity conservation, climate change, water management, and land use planning. Some of the Council's major campaigns include:
Stopping Deforestation: CCWA has long advocated for the protection of Western Australia's native forests, particularly in the South West and Kimberley regions. The Council has lobbied for stronger protections against logging and other forms of land clearing.
Climate Change Action: The CCWA has been at the forefront of pushing for greater action on climate change, calling for a transition to renewable energy sources and more stringent policies on carbon emissions.
Marine Conservation: CCWA has been involved in the campaign for marine park protection, particularly in the Ningaloo Reef and other ecologically significant marine areas off Western Australia's coast.
Policy Positions
The Conservation Council of Western Australia holds several key policy positions on environmental issues, including:
Strong protection for biodiversity, particularly in the face of increasing pressures from land clearing, climate change, and invasive species.
The establishment of new marine parks and the expansion of existing marine protected areas to safeguard Western Australia's coastal ecosystems.
Affiliations
CCWA is a member of several national and international networks of environmental organisations. It works closely with other advocacy groups, research institutions, and governmental agencies to further its conservation goals.
While the Conservation Council of Western Australia has been widely recognized for its efforts in environmental advocacy, it has faced criticisms from some sectors. Critics, including some business and political figures, have argued that the Council's advocacy can sometimes be too radical, opposing development projects that could potentially create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the state.
Despite these criticisms, CCWA maintains that environmental protection and sustainable development should go hand in hand and that long-term ecological health is essential for both the environment and the economy.
Affiliated groups
Notable member groups[3] of the council have included the Campaign to Save Native Forests, South West Forests Defence Foundation, West Australian Forest Alliance, and Great Walk Networking. Smaller, more transient single-purpose protest groups have found the council a positive custodian and advocate over the thirty years of its activities. Some groups are no longer current but their impact on the process of conservation and preservation in Western Australia have been significant in raising public awareness of issues.
Community incentive
The council created the Bessie Rischbieth Conservation Award to acknowledge the contribution of a volunteer in the community conservation sector in 1994.
a:.^Jarrah class action legal complaint: the Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc. (Plaintiffs) - v. - Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA) and Reynolds Metals Co., (Defendants), Feb. 1981. [Perth, W.A.]: Conservation Council of W.A, 1981.
↑ "About CCWA". Conservation Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
↑ "Our member groups". Conservation Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
Elston, Kylie, (1993) The origins of the Conservation Council in Western Australia 1955-1967 Murdoch University theses. History, Honours[1]
The Environment Centre of W.A. (1996) Community resource guide: a guide to information, speakers, and resources on environmental, social justice and other community issues Perth, W.A. The Centre. "Produced with financial assistance from the Gordon Reid Foundation"
The Environment Centre of W.A. (2001) Community resource guide, 2001: a guide to information, speakers, and resources on environmental, social justice and other community issues . Perth W.A.: The Centre.
McGrath, Clare B. (1984) Directory of conservation and environment groups in Western Australia assisted by the W.A. Department of Conservation and Environment. Perth, W.A. Conservation Council of W.A.. ISBN0-9593391-2-4
Monk, Ian D (2000) A history of the Conservation Council of Western Australia 1967-1977 Murdoch University theses. Master of Arts in Public History[2]
"Conservation Awards". Conservation Council of Western Australia. 2007-04-17. Archived from the original on 2010-10-09. Retrieved 2007-05-02. Past Recipients: 1994 Len Howard, 1995 Shyama Peebles, 1996 Barbara Churchward, 1997 Naomi Segal, 1998 Alex Syme, 1999 Peter Robertson, 2000 Rod Whittle, 2001 Joan Payne, 2002 Dot Hesse, 2003 Graham Chittleborough, 2003 Rachel Siewert, 2003 Andrew Thomson, 2004 Dr Harry Cohen, 2005 Dennis Beros
Further reading
The Greener times: official publication of the Conservation Council of Western Australia (Inc.). Perth, W.A: The Council, 1990-[3]
Forest information resource kit: an introduction to some key issues in the forest debate in Western Australia Conservation Council of WA with - WA Forest Alliance, and Wilderness Society (WA) Perth, W.A.: The Council, 1999.
Rundle, Graeme. The Perth Environment Centre: its beginnings. Greener times, Feb. 1998, p.12-13,
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