Collecting or buying firewood? Look out for wildlife!
Posted on 17 April, 2023 by Ivan
Dead trees and fallen logs play an essential role in our local Box-Ironbark forest ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for countless living organisms from fungi to the invertebrates that sustain larger animals such as woodland birds and Brush-tailed Phascogales. Many of our local birds, reptiles and small marsupials also rely on tree hollows for nesting and shelter.
When people collect firewood from our native forests, removing standing dead trees or woody debris on the ground, they can contribute to a serious loss of biodiversity and affect the long-term viability of wildlife habitat. Therefore firewood collection requires careful management. While many of us rely on firewood to keep us warm over winter, we can make sure our firewood is from a sustainable source. If you are buying firewood, be sure to ask your supplier where it comes from and if you’re collecting your own wood, follow the Victorian Government firewood collection rules.
The State government of Victoria recently published a timely media article, highlighting the sad reality of illegal firewood collection in Victoria. The Conservation Regulator, an arm of the State Government, is urging people to help save critical wildlife habitat and protect Aboriginal scarred trees by sourcing firewood responsibly this winter. Details are provided below courtesy of the State Government.
Australian owlet-nightjar uses a hollow in a dead tree (photo by Peter Turner)
The sad reality of illegal firewood collection in Victoria
As many Victorians stock up their firewood supplies for winter, the Conservation Regulator is urging people to help save critical wildlife habitat and protect Aboriginal scarred trees by sourcing firewood responsibly.
Illegal firewood collectors have caused significant damage to parks, forests and reserves in recent years, with some areas like the Mansfield Swamp Wildlife Reserve in Northern Victoria losing an estimated 50 per cent of its old mature trees through timber theft.
Birds and reptiles as well as a range of native mammals, such as possums, gliders and bats, rely on hollows in both standing and fallen trees for habitat. The illegal collection of firewood, if made up of mature trees and limbs, also has potential to harm Aboriginal scarred trees. Once gone, an important piece of Aboriginal cultural heritage is lost forever.
Domestic firewood collection from public land is only available in designated areas during the autumn and spring firewood collection seasons. During these times people can collect a maximum of two cubic metres of firewood per person per day and a maximum of 16 cubic metres of firewood per household per financial year. Only fallen timber without hollows can be collected.
This year the Conservation Regulator is targeting firewood theft with Forest Fire Management Victoria and Parks Victoria through Operation Hollows. Authorised Officers are educating the public about the rules and penalising thieves. Anyone caught breaking firewood collection rules can face on-the-spot-fines of $740 under the Forests Act or a maximum penalty of $9,246 and/or 1 year jail if the matter is taken to court.
Last year the Conservation Regulator laid 625 charges and issued 85 infringement notices and 16 official warnings for firewood offences, including cutting or taking fallen or felled trees, and disturbing, damaging or destroying wildlife habitat. Cases which resolved in the Magistrate Court system faced convictions, fines and had chainsaws and trailers forfeited and destroyed.
It is also important firewood collectors understand their obligations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act . All Aboriginal places, objects and Ancestral remains are protected in Victoria. It is an offence to harm Aboriginal heritage and substantial penalties apply.
If you think you have found a scarred tree or other Aboriginal cultural heritage, contact your relevant Registered Aboriginal Party (if one has been appointed) or First Peoples – State Relations on 1800 762 003.
For details of where firewood can be collected, visit Forest Fire Management Victoria’s webpage on firewood collection in your .
More information about firewood collection rules can be found on the firewood regulation page.
The community can report the illegal cutting or removal of firewood anonymously by calling 136 186.
Information on financial assistance available for low-income people who buy firewood for heating can be found on the energy concession and page.
‘We can all do our part in protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage, wildlife habitat and biodiversity by knowing where, when and what firewood can be collected. It can take hundreds of years for nature to create tree hollows and habitat loss from illegal firewood collection has a serious impact on the future of our iconic native species’.
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