Nearly 10,000 trees have been illegally felled due to a scourge of firewood theft that has escalated in parks and forests.
The silent toll taken on Victoria’s forests and parks has been revealed as public land authorities announce a crackdown on escalating illegal firewood take and habitat destruction threatening the survival of native wildlife and First Peoples cultural heritage.
In 2023, firewood thieves damaged or destroyed more than 9200 native trees or cleared roughly 462 hectares, an area greater than more than 170 MCGs.
Much of the stolen wood was sold on to unsuspecting Victorians by illegal firewood operators.
The Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria have launched Taskforce Ironbark, a joint statewide initiative targeting illegal commercial firewood removal from public land.
With winter here, the demand for cheap firewood is likely to increase due to the rising cost of living, exacerbating illegal firewood theft and the destruction of vital habitat.
To help buyers recognise reputable firewood sellers and tell if wood has been illegally sourced, they are encouraged to:
- Ask the origin of the wood.
- Seek a tax receipt with a business name and ABN.
- Ask why the wood is so cheap compared to other sellers.
The Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria said many of the trees targeted by thieves are large, old, slow-growing species that are unlikely to recover or be replenished in this generation or the next.
And their illegal felling directly risks the survival of threatened native species, including the red-tailed black cockatoo and the brush-tailed phascogale, which rely on hollows in both standing and fallen trees for habitat.
Authorised officers are conducting targeted patrols across public land and using intelligence-gathering methods, such as concealed cameras and community reports, to catch commercial firewood thieves.
Last year, the Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria issued 130 infringement notices and laid more than 220 charges related to illegal firewood gathering.
In Victoria, there are maximum penalties of more than $9879 and/or 12 months in prison for each charge, and chainsaws, trailers and vehicles can also be seized.
Suspicious sales and firewood theft can be reported to 136 186.
For more information, go to: https://www.vic.gov.au/sourcing-firewood