Victorians are being urged to ensure their firewood purchases this winter are not supporting a black market that is destroying wildlife habitat and removing thousands of trees from forests across the state.

Crime Stoppers Victoria and the Conservation Regulator have launched the Illegal Firewood: The Cost is Wild campaign, encouraging Victorians to check their firewood has been legally sourced and report suspicious activity.

Around 9,000 trees are illegally removed from Victorian forests and national parks each year – clearing land equivalent to nearly 180 Melbourne Cricket Grounds – with much of that timber sold as firewood to unsuspecting buyers.

Victorian Environment Minister Enver Erdogan said many Victorians may not realise the role they play when purchasing unverified firewood.

“Our forests are home to unique wildlife and ecosystems that have taken generations to grow. Illegal firewood collection by criminal operators destroys these shared spaces, stripping landscapes of beauty and habitat and impacting the experience for all Victorians,” Mr Erdogan said.

Crime Stoppers Victoria Chief Executive Stella Smith is asking Victorians to pause before buying firewood.

“Saving money on cheap firewood is not worth contributing to the destruction of forests and wildlife habitat that should be protected for future generations,” Ms Smith said.

“If you do not know where your firewood has come from, you cannot be sure it has been sourced legally.

“People often think they are simply buying cheap firewood, but in some cases, they may be unknowingly supporting environmental crime or even organised crime.”

Authorities warn the illegal firewood trade is more than theft. It is driving significant environmental harm by removing mature trees, destroying ecosystems, and damaging critical habitat for native wildlife.

Recent footage captured in the Bow – Worrung State Forest north of Stratford highlights the impact, showing an example of once-established trees reduced to stumps and areas of native habitat left severely degraded.

This campaign supports the Conservation Regulator’s ongoing efforts, through its statewide initiative Taskforce Ironbark, to target organised criminal syndicates removing commercial quantities of trees from Victoria’s forests and national parks.

Content across Crime Stoppers Victoria’s social media platforms will direct Victorians to a campaign webpage with information on illegal firewood collection and how to report suspicious activity.

Victorians are being encouraged to buy from reputable suppliers, ask where the firewood was sourced, and request a receipt with a business name and ABN.

Illegal firewood activity is impacting forests across Victoria, particularly north of Shepparton, in the Otways, Grampians and parts of eastern Gippsland.

Since July last year, Taskforce investigations into illegal firewood collection have led to 54 charges heard, with offenders facing court convictions, fines and the seizure of trailers and chainsaws.

Acting Chief Conservation Regulator Callie Donaldson said community information plays an important role in identifying and disrupting illegal activity.

“We’re targeting criminal networks that are cutting down commercial quantities of trees in our forests to sell on for firewood,” Ms Donaldson said.

“These criminals are driven by profit, at the direct expense of our forests and the wildlife that rely on them.

“By reporting suspicious firewood activity and choosing legally sourced firewood, the community can help us stop the damage being caused by illegal firewood operators.”

Suspicious behaviour, including chainsaws operating in forests late at night, or sellers unable to verify where the wood was sourced, can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

Legal firewood is typically sourced from plantations, commercial suppliers, or private land with appropriate permits.