Protesters lock on at Helms

Mrs Patterson has been rehabilitating and releasing Black Cockatoos into Helms forest from Jamarri, which borders Helms, for more than 20 years. More than 100 rehabilitated Red-tailed, Baudin's and Carnaby's Cockatoos have been released into Helms from Jamarri. They now live and breed in Helms forest and rely on it for feeding and nesting habitat. 

Since 1999 Mrs Patterson, with her husband David, who passed away in January, have been campaigning for the protection of Helms forest.

Helms is critical endangered Black Cockatoo habitat and without it, Mrs Patterson fears there will be a collapse in local cockatoo populations.

"I am doing this for David. He wanted so badly to protect Helms forest, and if it came to it to stop the logging himself," Mrs Patterson said. 

"I spoke to David's mum about taking this action yesterday, and she said, "Do it Dee, do it for David and for the cockatoos." 

Mrs Patterson single-handedly manages Jamarri Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre, currently caring for over 60 cockatoos, including four baby cockatoos. She is a strong, formidable grandmother who has taken this stand with a peaceful determination. 

"We are going to lose the Black Cockatoos if we don't stop logging native forests," she said.

"The Barnett Government is pushing them to extinction and I will not sit by while this happens." 

WA Forest Alliance convener Jess Beckerling said there was scientific consensus that habitat loss was the driver of extinction.

“A recent scientists' statement endorsed by 35 experts called for the protection of Black Cockatoo forest habitat," she said. 

"The Barnett Government’s new proposed laws, which would see protesters jailed for up to two years for stopping work, will not stop people from taking necessary stands such as Dee's to prevent the logging of threatened species habitat," Ms Beckerling said. 

"Helms forest needs to be urgently protected for the local cockatoo populations' survival, and without people like Dee, Lian Sinclair yesterday and several others over the past couple of months, this forest will be lost and cockatoos further endangered," she said.

“Police are likely to say that she has put herself in danger and that they are concerned for her welfare. Dee is in perfect health, she is a powerhouse who single-handedly manages her large property and cares for more than 60 cockatoos. She is perfectly safe and in very good spirits.” 

FPC General Manager Vince Erasmus said the FPC recognised the right of people to make their views known about timber harvesting, but did not sanction activities that were both unsafe and illegal.

“The FPC is concerned that the protestor’s actions could compromise the safety of both themselves and workers,” he said.

"Protection of habitat for cockatoos is an important responsibility of the FPC and its harvesting contractors and this is completed in accordance with procedures arising from the Forest Management Plan.

"Detailed planning and preparation is undertaken to meet the requirements of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2014-2023 for every harvest area. Harvesting operations cannot proceed until appropriate management strategies and arrangements are in place to protect the range of forest values, including measures to mitigate the impact on black cockatoos. The current FMP introduced a new requirement to keep additional habitat elements, such as large marri trees for black cockatoos," he said.

"Extensive mature forest surrounds Helms, including national park and conservation areas that contain many old trees suitable for cockatoo foraging and nesting. Habitat for cockatoos and other flora and fauna are set aside to ensure environmental values are protected, including the nearby Blackwood River National Park (3,910 hectares) and Wiltshire-Butler National Park (8,840 hectares)."

The news comes right on the heels of new legislation making this form of protest an offence.