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Conservationists have delivered a serious alert that ongoing clearing of Western Australia’s northern jarrah forests for aluminum ore extraction will push the endangered rare cockatoo species "toward irreversible loss."

Clear Choice for Survival

A volunteer with Birdlife WA, who has long advocated campaigning for better protection of what he calls the state’s "forgotten" black cockatoo, said there is a clear choice that will determine the species’ fate. "It’s one or the other—Baudin’s or bauxite," he emphasized.

The dark-feathered, pale-faced bird, recognizable for its distinctive vocalization, is endemic to the south-west of the state.

Unique Features

Compared with the more widely recognized related species, the Baudin’s cockatoo has a longer, narrower bill, which functions like a surgical tool to extract seeds from marri nuts leaving intact the entire nut.

In recent years, BirdLife WA proposed the cockatoo for uplisting to critically endangered under state legislation, after research indicated the number of birds had dropped dramatically over the past 40 years.

Although global organizations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature classify the Baudin’s as critically endangered, the state’s threatened species scientific committee declined the nomination, citing lack of evidence.

Growing Pressures

Advocates now warn the cockatoo is under increased threat than ever due to proposed extensions of ore extraction in the key habitat area.

Aluminum producer Alcoa has expansion plans that would clear more than 11,000 hectares of the already heavily mined forest—equivalent to repeatedly clearing a landmark area.

Another metals company, South32, has also been given the green light by state and federal governments to remove over 3,800 hectares for the growth of its Worsley Alumina bauxite mine.

Essential Environment

Baudin’s black cockatoos depend heavily on old trees and hollows in the Darling Range habitat south-east of Perth as their key seasonal home.

Most of the population breed in the far south-west and migrate to feed in the woodland region between March and September each year.

Extractive industries in the area have a long history of what the Conservation Council of WA describes as "complete clearing"—removing all vegetation to reach the ore below.

"Pictures show of vast cleared areas, and there will be only a single tree remaining," said Matt Roberts.

Roberts stated that to secure the Baudin’s future, "we need to end forest extraction and habitat destruction for resources."

"These tree hollows can take hundreds of years to develop. They’re in ancient specimens. They can’t be rehabilitated or replaced at the speed that the Baudin’s needs them to be."

Public Response

The EPA recently opened Alcoa’s proposals for public feedback—marking the first time in six decades that the public has had the chance to review the mining activities in the area.

The feedback process received more than 59,000 submissions—the highest number ever in such a process. Nearly 90% were pre-written comments from an organized campaign, and the authority stated that the record volume highlighted significant public interest in the assessment.

Long-Term Impact

In its submission to the EPA, BirdLife WA said additional extraction in the global biodiversity hotspot would have "irreversible and catastrophic" effects for native avian species, including the three cockatoo varieties.

The group cautioned that the Baudin’s would become ecologically obsolete within five decades or sooner if the mining projects move forward.

Much of the proposed clearing is in the most vital areas, which include old, mature trees.

Company Response

An Alcoa spokesperson said the corporation believes environmental factors should be "purposefully considered and responsibly managed in alongside development activities necessary to produce aluminum, primarily for decarbonisation requirements."

"At existing and future sites, we have avoidance measures in place to safeguard ecologically sensitive zones," they noted.

The spokesperson said proposed mitigation measures include protecting nesting sites and establishing buffer zones around them.

Cultural Significance

Henryon commented that Baudin’s are so integral to locals, "we almost take them for granted."

"We have these birds flying around; they are part of the south-west’s identity. Can we accept their disappearance?" he asked.

"If we want to protect them, we need to preserve their habitat. If we’re fair dinkum about this, we must take action now."