As temperatures drop across Victoria, authorities are urging residents to pay closer attention to where their firewood comes from, warning that illegal harvesting continues to fuel significant environmental damage across the state.
Thousands of trees are being removed from Victorian forests and national parks every year to supply an underground firewood market, according to state authorities. The practice is not only stripping public land of mature trees but also destroying habitats relied upon by native wildlife.
The warning comes as Crime Stoppers Victoria and the Conservation Regulator launch a new awareness campaign, Illegal Firewood: The Cost is Wild, aimed at helping consumers understand the consequences of purchasing unverified firewood.
Officials estimate that approximately 9,000 trees are illegally taken from Victorian forests annually. The scale of the damage is substantial, with the area affected each year comparable to nearly 180 Melbourne Cricket Grounds.
While many consumers may simply be looking for affordable heating fuel during winter, authorities say some purchases may inadvertently support criminal operations involved in the illegal timber trade. Investigators have increasingly linked commercial-scale firewood theft to organised groups targeting public forests for profit.
Victorian Environment Minister Enver Erdogan said the impact extends far beyond the loss of timber. Forest ecosystems that have developed over generations can be permanently altered when mature trees are removed, reducing habitat for wildlife and changing the character of public landscapes enjoyed by local communities.
Native species are particularly vulnerable because older trees often contain hollows used for nesting and shelter. Once these trees are removed, replacement habitat can take decades to develop, leaving many animals with fewer places to live and breed.
The environmental impact has been documented in several parts of the state. Recent evidence collected near Stratford in the Bow-Worrung State Forest revealed established trees reduced to stumps and sections of habitat severely degraded by illegal harvesting activity.
Authorities say the problem is not isolated to one region. Illegal firewood collection has affected forests north of Shepparton, areas of the Otways, the Grampians and parts of eastern Gippsland, all of which contain important native ecosystems.
The Conservation Regulator’s dedicated enforcement initiative, Taskforce Ironbark, continues to investigate large-scale illegal harvesting operations. Since July last year, enforcement actions have resulted in 54 charges being heard, with penalties including fines, convictions and the seizure of equipment such as chainsaws and trailers.
Acting Chief Conservation Regulator Callie Donaldson said community information remains one of the most effective tools for identifying illegal operators. Authorities are encouraging residents to report suspicious activity, including chainsaws being used in forests late at night, large quantities of timber being removed from public land, or sellers unable to explain where their firewood originated.
Consumers can reduce the risk of supporting illegal activity by purchasing from reputable suppliers, asking questions about the source of the timber and requesting receipts that include a business name and ABN. According to the Victorian Government, legally sourced firewood generally comes from plantations, licensed commercial operators or private land where appropriate permissions have been granted.
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Additional information about legal firewood purchases is available through the Victorian Government’s official guidance on buying firewood in Victoria.
Growing winter demand for heating products has also contributed to increased consumer spending across the home improvement sector. The trend is reflected in major retail investments, including Australia’s biggest Bunnings store opening in Frenchs Forest, highlighting continued demand for household and outdoor products during the colder months.
For authorities, the message is straightforward: a lower price should never be the only consideration when buying firewood. Taking a few minutes to verify where timber has come from can help protect Victoria’s forests, preserve wildlife habitat and reduce demand for illegally harvested wood.
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