If you’ve ever wandered through one of Australia’s stunning national parks and thought, ‘That fallen log would make a great bit of firewood,’ you might want to think again—unless you fancy a fine that could make your eyes water and your wallet weep.

Recently, wildlife monitoring cameras caught a ute driver brazenly loading up their tray with timber from a protected area.

The footage has prompted a stern reminder from authorities: taking trees—dead or alive—from national parks is strictly illegal, and the penalties are nothing to sneeze at.


Why is taking wood from national parks such a big deal?

It’s easy to see a dead branch or a fallen log and assume it’s just ‘waste’—but in reality, every bit of organic matter in our national parks plays a vital role in the ecosystem.

Queensland’s National Parks department put it best: ‘We speak for the trees when we say everything within a national park and state forest is protected.’

Deadfall logs, branches, and even leaf litter are far from useless. They provide critical habitats for insects, fungi, mosses, and lichens, which in turn support birds, reptiles, and small mammals.


Remove them, and you’re not just taking a bit of wood—you’re stripping away shelter, food sources, and breeding grounds for countless creatures.

Plus, these materials help maintain soil health, prevent erosion, and support the natural decomposition process that keeps forests thriving.

When it comes to live trees, the consequences are even more severe. Cutting down living vegetation destroys habitats, disrupts native species, and can destabilise entire landscapes.

Tree roots help prevent erosion and keep waterways clean by filtering sediment. Remove them, and you risk turning a healthy forest into a degraded, polluted mess.


The legal consequences: Not just a slap on the wrist

If the environmental impact isn’t enough to deter you, the fines certainly should be. In Queensland, getting caught can mean an on-the-spot fine of around $1,378.

But if the matter goes to court, you could be facing penalties up to a staggering $137,850 for a first offence—and if you’re a repeat offender, that figure can skyrocket to $413,550.

And it’s not just Queensland. Across Australia, the rules are similarly strict.

In New South Wales, one person was fined $30,000 for collecting firewood in the Murrumbidgee Valley.

In another case, a man at Pinnacles Reserve near Townsville was hit with a $1,437 penalty for cutting timber in a protected area.

Why are the rules so strict?

National parks aren’t just pretty places to visit—they’re carefully managed to preserve Australia’s unique and often fragile ecosystems.

Every fallen branch, rotting log, and standing tree is part of a complex web that supports biodiversity, controls erosion, cycles nutrients, and stores carbon.

Removing even seemingly insignificant items can undermine decades of conservation work.

It’s not just about protecting plants and animals, either.

Healthy national parks help regulate our climate, keep our waterways clean, and provide spaces for recreation and relaxation.

When we take from these areas, we’re not just breaking the law—we’re robbing future generations of the chance to enjoy them.

What should you do instead?

If you need firewood, the best option is to buy it from a reputable supplier.

Many local councils and businesses sell sustainably sourced firewood that won’t land you in hot water.

And if you’re out enjoying a national park, remember: take only photos, leave only footprints.
Have you ever been tempted to take a ‘souvenir’ from a bushwalk, or do you have tips for enjoying our parks responsibly? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below.

Read more: Man’s $40,000 mistake with ancient trees sends urgent warning you didn’t expect