Exposing environmental crime, corruption, and negligence.
Our mission
The ACF Investigations Unit is a watchdog dedicated to protecting nature and our climate by holding the government and private sector to account.
We investigate unethical, illegal, polluting and damaging behaviour, and advocate for policy change.
Logging in Toolangi State Forest, VIC. Photo: Dale Cochrane
ACF investigations
Exposing environmental crime, corruption, and negligence.
How we work
We follow tip-offs from the community, monitor irreplaceable habitats and high-risk pollution zones, and keep a watchful eye on the systems and decisions we expect to protect nature, climate and our democracy.
We look at aerial imagery, analyse public data, and obtain documents through targeted Freedom of Information requests. We speak with communities and scientists, go spotlighting with field experts, fly drones to gather evidence and spot threatened animals with infrared.
Once we’ve finished investigating a case, we assess the most impactful way to respond – including legal action, publicity, or advocacy.
Photo: 2017 David Carbo/Shutterstock.
Our Impact
2025
We wrapped up the findings of ACF Investigates, our crowd-sourced investigation of habitat destruction. We exposed over 90,000 hectares of unapproved clearing across 176 properties, and over 100 cases of potentially illegal habitat destruction to be reported to authorities.
2024
We exposed 50 beef properties with recent deforestation and demanded more from supermarkets that retail Australian beef. Shortly after, Woolworths committed to selling deforestation-free beef from the end of 2025. We also reported 38 cases of potentially illegal deforestation to the authorities.
2023
We partnered with international experts and used a state-of-the-art gas imaging camera to expose otherwise invisible methane pollution from coal and gas infrastructure in Qld and NSW. We found over 100 sources of methane, and the pollution was described as ‘on another level’ by our partners.
News and Reports
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