Most were living conventional lives in the Valley when they realised that the beautiful forests surrounding them were at risk, and they determined to do something about it.

"And They're Still Falling", a book launched at the Bega Valley Regional Gallery on Thursday, tells, in their own words, the stories of 23 of these women - how they rallied, lobbied, joined demonstrations, wrote letters, painted posters, organised meetings, fed tree-sitters and stood in front of bulldozers and logging trucks.

Many were arrested and two were gaoled.

Senator Bob Brown, in his foreword, says "This uplifting history will inspire more Australians to abandon our materialistic comfort zone to help rescue our magnificent planet from this era of unprecedented plunder".

Contributors to "And They're Still Falling" are Anabel Macdonald, Irina Dunn, Jean Greenland, Skye Etherington, Pat Thogersen, Sue Norman, Chris Nunan, Betty Thatcher, Deb Harris, Heather Meek, Moira Collins, Maya Middlewater, Venie Holmgren, Petra Thompson, Julie Collins, Alexandra Seddon, Judy Clark, Pauline Ryle, Marina Knight, Gabrielle Taysom, Olwyn Broder, Helen Neesen and Mae Vette, but it was Anabel Macdonald, Olwyn Broder, Moira Collins and Venie Holmgren who self-published the book.

It had been their idea, formed over a game of scrabble.

They were discussing the controversy in Wandella State Forest last year and reminded of their own experiences as forest activists.

They decided it was time their stories were recorded and those of other women involved.

At the launch Annabel Macdonald said she was proud of what had been achieved.

"There was a lot that we lost and a lot that we gained."

She said that bringing a book to the point of launching had been a stressful experience, but a worthwhile one.

Olwyn Broder warmly welcomed everyone to the launch and said she was pleased to be part of the project.

Moira Collins said their achievement had been 130,000 hectares of wild forests now safely in the South East Forests National Park.

"This would not have been possible without our men and our families," she said.

She then threw the gauntlet down to young people to continue the work of chronicling the fight to save the forests.

Venie Holmgren asked the large audience at the launch to treasure the book and read and reread it to absorb the spirit.

Launching the book, Heather O'Connor said she found the history of the forest campaign fascinating and said everyone owed the authors an enormous debt of gratitude.

"And They're Still Falling" is published by Ginninderra Press. It costs $25 and is available from Candelo Books.