Melanie Riley
OPERATION Red Gum is underway for another year, targeting suspected firewood thieves across the South East.
National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) have recently launched their annual Operation Red Gum and are working in partnership with plantation owners, Victoria’s Conservation Regulator, South East councils and SA Police to combat thief of firewood in the area.
Firewood is being stolen from parks, reserves and native forests in South Australia and Victoria, which has devastating results on flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species.
NPWS South East Senior Ranger Kieran Gosden said firewood theft has always been a problem in national parks and native forest reserves in the South East, but they had seen an increase in recent years.
“We did see over the last five years, and during COVID as well – there was definitely a shift where we saw a bit of an increase, but there is always a pattern that this time of the year and in the colder months is when illegal activity picks up,” Ms Gosden said.
“It’s important for us as wardens to enforce the legislation within these reserves so we actually make an impact and focus on what is happening.”
Habitats are being destroyed or removed throughout these areas due to the illegal activity which has seen not only dead wood being taken, but living 100-year-old red gum trees have been cut too.
If found guilty, consequences include fines of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for two years and seizure of their equipment, and offenders can also face charges from police.
“We are targeting illegal wood theft, but it does connect to other criminal activity as well,” Ms Gosden said.
“We have got people coming out with several vehicles and several trailers taking tons of red gum, they’re felling living trees, they’re not just taking dead wood.
“It is a bigger issue than people might think – it is quite heart-breaking to come across hundreds of trees being felled in the forest at once.”
Ms Gosden said fallen hollow trees often support endangered species and other fauna like snakes, koalas and other small mammals.
“A lot of these trees that do get taken – whether it is red gum, blue gum, stringybark, manna gum or even wattles – these are all very important parts of the environment and they all play a part in the ecosystem,” she said.
“If that tree has fallen limbs on the ground, they are actually a very important habitat for our native plants and animals.
“These trees also form bigger parts of plant communities and the impact of taking them away is huge – there’s a bigger picture there.”
Ms Gosden said the responsibility was not only on those sourcing the wood, but those purchasing wood from other merchants and encouraged prior research before purchasing.
“Ask the right questions like where did the wood come from? Can you get a receipt? And why is the wood so cheap? If they can’t answer these questions, it is most likely obtained illegally,” she said.
“There’s not a lot of our forests left, so it’s very important to protect it.”
OneFortyOne silviculture manager Adrian Lynch said the impact on biodiversity of the native vegetation is the biggest concern for OneFortyOne.
“People are driving into these areas, driving over native plants, orchids and all of the understory, they’re dropping big trees on other trees and getting rid of habitat for our native species,” he said.
“We don’t like to see it because we want to maintain and manage those areas, we don’t want to see big trees cut out.
“A lot of the trees they’re targeting are big red gums or big stringybarks that are 100 plus years old and have hollows which are habitat for animals like the endangered red tailed black cockatoo.”
Mr Lynch wanted those sourcing firewood illegally to reconsider their decisions and understand the consequences of their actions.
“It is illegal to come in and steal the wood and you really need to find a better way if you can,” he said.
He urged those purchasing for fires to ensure sellers have legally and environmentally responsibly sourced the wood.
“Cost of living is a huge factor and that impacts everyone and trying to keep the house warm is a stretch for everyone,” he said.
“Whether you have an electricity bill or you have to buy wood – just make sure that whatever you’re using comes sustainably.”
Both Ms Gosden and Mr Lynch encouraged the community to reach out to the NPWS team for any questions, and to contact their respective local councils for more information on where to legally source firewood and to obtain roadside vegetation permits.
Anyone with information regarding illegal firewood theft is urged to contact SAPOL on 131 444, National Parks on 8735 1177, Victoria’s Conservation Regulator on 136 186 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.
