Karina Doughty

August 8th 2006

The Wilderness Society

2/288 Brunswick St.Fitzroy 3065

(03) 9038 0888

Dear School Principal

During the months of August and September, we kindly invite your school to participate in an exciting state wide project for the protection of Victoria’s endangered species.

September has been declared Biodiversity Month by the Federal Department of Environment and Heritage, with September 7^th officially National Threatened Species Day. This day aims to encourage greater community support and hands-on involvement in the prevention of further losses of Australia's unique flora and fauna.

In support of our endangered species, The Wilderness Society is working with schools across the state to produce "endangered species flags". These flags will represent schools and children who strongly believe that we should protect our old growth forests and water catchments for the habitat of endangered species, for clean air, water and our collective future.

We would love for your school to be involved in this important and creative project.

Each child will be provided with a coloured flag and asked to create a drawing of an endangered species which require old growth forests for their survival. We hope to have at least 1000 flags completed by the end of September. Joined together like a Tibetan prayer flag, the completed "endangered species flags" will symbolize the voices of the species and children – two groups whose future depends on our decisions today.

Every school that creates 100 flags will be visited by a costumed endangered species. These special visits are an opportunity to further educate your school’s children about the characteristics and threatened status of the animals.

Please find enclosed a sample flag and overleaf illustrations and information about some endangered species. Were you to be interested, The Wilderness Society would be more than happy to assist in running a school workshop with you.

Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing about your interest in this project.

Yours sincerely,

Karina Doughty

Community Campaigner

The Wilderness Society

ph 9038 0888

fx 9038 0800

mob 0416181171

May the Forest be with you!!!!!!