"I honour the wisdom of the Indigenous caretakers who teach us 'If you look after Country, Country will look after us'," says Merrilee Baker, a Mandjoogordap 'Nanna for Native Forests'.
"It is critical that we heed this advice in these times of the 6th mass extinction and climate chaos," Ms Baker said.
After personally witnessing the destruction with massive machines in the Helm Forest, and seeing the larger story presented by documentary film Cry of the Forests, Ms Baker worked to bring the film to Mandurah in a premiere screening at Reading Cinemas.
Cry of the Forests: A Western Australian Story is a locally-made independent documentary by Fremantle-based filmmaker Jane Hammond that details the ramifications of the destruction of native forests.
"It shines a spotlight on how we are cutting down native forests at the rate of 10 football fields every single day," a representative of the WA Forest Alliance said.
After City of Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams attended the Mandurah premiere of Cry of the Forest, narrated by well-known Noongar actor Kelton Peel, he commented that the film was "the most articulate account" he had seen of why we need to protect native forests.
Mayor Williams along with deputy Mayor Caroline Knight are personally sponsoring a free community screening of the documentary that will take place on Friday, March 5 in the Quarry Park Amphitheatre in Meadow Springs.
The event will begin at 6.30pm with music and a BYO picnic.
"It is wonderful to have the support of the mayor and deputy mayor in bringing this documentary to our community," Ms Baker said.
Those wishing to attend the free community screening of Cry of the Forest can register online.
Advanced registration is essential due to COVID regulations.