Nanna Anne joins the Bob Brown Foundation BioBlitz and an action at a plywood and veneer manufacturer’s factory during her trip to Tasmania.
Nanna Anne joined 200 enthusiastic citizen scientists at the Bob Brown Foundation’s (BBF) BioBlitz in November 2025. BBF puts on an amazing long weekend of data collection, learning and community building in the Tarkine. This was the 11th BioBlitz so the data set is growing.
Data is collected using Inaturalist and is used to pressure governments, both state and federal, to protect this incredible Gondwanaland ecosystem for future generations.
“I can’t believe that it is still vulnerable to mining, native forest logging and unchecked development. This is a vulnerable remnant of a 180 million years in the making,” said Nanna Anne.
Each day volunteers go out to survey different threatened environments under the guidance of scientists who share their knowledge and enthusiasm. Volunteers choose between a number of different sights (5-8) including a dawn and night survey, and at each site there are 4-6 different survey groups to choose from.
“Choosing the location and groups was impossible as I wanted to do them all,” said Nanna Anne.
During the two and half days Anne joined the following surveys:
- Coastal grasslands and orchids threatened by 4WDs on the beaches,
- Forest night survey of moths and insects threatened by logging,
- Rainforest threatened by a silicon mine expansion – data collected on birds, orchids, fungi, lichen and slime mould, bugs and spiders.
This was only half of the surveys available and in the evenings talks were on the program too.
Anne also attended a Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA) workshop so she could join an action the following Monday – see more below.
“The food was 100% vegan and the best food I’ve ever eaten – tasty and nutritious,” said Nanna Anne. “The young chef was amazing. I’d come back just for the food!”
Participants either pay in full or volunteer – driving minivans, kitchen prep, wash up etc. People either sleep in a bunk house, tent or their own van.
“Places are in demand so if you are interested in going next year I suggest you put your name down so you can be sent the booking details,” Anne said. “I hope to go again next year, maybe some Nannas would like to join me.”
Takayna BioBlitz 2026 – Thursday – Sunday 4-8 November
BBF Action (Monday after BioBlitz)
Bob Brown is mostly associated with saving the Franklin River from being dammed. He, with thousands of others used non-violent direct action (NVDA) to create such a noise that Bob Hawke made a promise in his election campaign to stop it – the rest is (good) history.
Bob has been fighting native forest logging for decades. His last arrest was in February 2024. His work will be continued until native forest logging is a thing of the past.
Ta Ann is a Malaysian company based in Sarawak Borneo that manufactures plywood and veneer from Tasmanian native forest timbers. If the demand dried up for these showy products, then perhaps there would be less need to take action.
Action at Ta Ann industrial facility Smithton Tasmania
Sixteen BBF forest defenders split into two groups. Nine walked through the open door of the workshop and sat down in a circle, immediately causing the factory to shut off the machines. Outside seven protesters, including Nanna Anne, unfurled banners, chanted slogans and generally kept an eye out. The police were called and names and addresses of the nine protesters inside were taken before being asked to leave. All protesters left the site peacefully.
So what was achieved you may ask? Jenny, Campaigns Director and Action Organiser from BBF, stresses that “This protest helps us keep up the pressure and allows us to keep the community informed on how and where our Tasmanian native forest timbers are being used. We try to hit all points in the supply chain – logging, removal, manufacture, sales. As the planet continues to heat up these old forest carbon sinks are being flattened and often burnt – for what? company profits and a possible grand design? Not on my watch!”
Little Nannas have FOMO
Nanna Anne visited Oura Oura, Bob Brown’s place that he and his partner Paul gave to Bush Heritage Australia in 2011. The little Nannas were not going to miss out.
