On 1 June, 30 passionate trail runners embarked on a 30km journey through Tallaganda State Forest, raising nearly $30,000 to help protect it from native forest logging.

An hour’s drive from Canberra, Tallaganda State Forest provides crucial habitat for the endangered greater glider, the world’s largest gliding marsupial. These unique creatures feed exclusively on eucalyptus leaves and depend on tree hollows for shelter. Once numerous across Australia’s East Coast, bushfires and habitat loss have seen their numbers plummet over the last two decades.

The run was organised to advocate for permanent protection of Tallaganda State Forest as part of Australia’s commitment to “30×30” – the global target to protect at least 30 per cent of Earth’s land and waters by 2030. The $30,000 raised will support the National Parks Association of NSW and Wilderness Australia in their campaign to convert the state forest into a protected national park.

“Environmental destruction is often out of sight and out of mind,” said Courtney Bright, the event organiser. “I wanted to show the running community what’s happening in Tallaganda and what we risk losing if we don’t stand up for this beautiful forest.”

The team of runners and volunteers were joined by representatives from National Parks Association of NSW, Wilderness Australia, WWF, South East Forest Rescue, and Canberra Forest Alliance, as well as ACT Minister Shane Rattenbury and event sponsor Paddy Pallin.

“This magnificent area is right on Canberra’s doorstep, but most Canberrans are unlikely to have heard of it, or know about its ecological importance,” Mr Rattenbury said. “I was grateful to be one of the runners, and help raise the profile of this important campaign.”

Andrew Wong, operations manager at Wilderness Australia, highlighted the importance of the event: “The 30×30 run is a great example of the power of natural environments to bring people together. Protecting Tallaganda State Forest from logging is critical for the survival of an endangered species, but also for all those intangible values like solitude, connection, and restoration. Tallaganda is worth far more to the community than the woodchips, sawlogs and firewood it contains.”

David Gallan, President of the Far South Coast Branch of National Parks Association of NSW, added: “It was great to see so many different generations in Tallaganda, running and volunteering to protect this valuable forest.”

“Greater gliders are being fast-tracked to extinction by logging,” said Dr Kita Ashman, runner and threatened species and climate adaptation ecologist at WWF. “It’s so important to have these events to come together to advocate for these precious places that threatened species like these rely on.”

The runners also shared their personal motivations and experiences. Doug Richards said: “I loved the Tallaganda 30×30 event. It forged a brand-new community of people committed to saving this native forest. As a trail runner, I care deeply for our natural world. But caring for the forest alone will not save it, so we must step up, be informed, raise awareness, and get involved. This felt like the beginning of something much bigger.”

Julia Murphy, another runner, reflected: “By running in Tallaganda, I got a first-hand experience of the forest’s beauty, and at the same time I saw some of the impact that logging has already had on it. It was equal parts breathtaking and heartbreaking. I was already ideologically opposed to logging in Tallaganda, but now I’m emotionally invested.”

The organisers hope to inspire a movement of 30×30 events, encouraging communities to organise runs, walks, and bike rides to advocate for protection of vital ecosystems in their local areas. They also aim to build on this initial momentum by expanding the Tallaganda event in 2025, promising further opportunities for involvement and growth in the campaign.

“We’ll keep running until this forest is protected,” said Courtney Bright.

Keen to be part of the next Tallaganda run? Follow Run for the Forests on social media (Instagram/Facebook) for contact details and updates. You can also make a donation to the Tallaganda National Park campaign here.