Collecting firewood and craft timber from State forests

Timber for woodcraft, firewood and other domestic uses may be obtained from Forests NSW. As firewood is the most commonly sought after product, this page focuses primarily on firewood.

In order to help protect the forest environment, Forests NSW controls the amount of firewood and other products collected and the areas available for collection. Before removing any material from public lands, including State forests, the proper authorisations must be obtained.

Firewood and other timber may be obtained from State forests through either a "30-I" permit, or a timber licence. These can be issued by your local Forests NSW office.

A 30-I permit is a short-term permit for domestic use, usually valid from 2 to 3 days up to 2 to 3 months and for small quantities of timber only. The timber must be paid for in advance and a map of areas for collection and other basic conditions are attached to the permit. An application form may be required.

A timber licence may be obtained for commercial activities. Issue of timber licences is carefully controlled and subject to application and interview. Timber licences are usually issued on a yearly basis, but may be issued for shorter periods where practicable.

To operate under a timber licence, the licensee and any operators must be accredited in the safe and competent use of equipment, including chainsaws. Training or accreditation in relation to environmental care is also required and timber may only be removed in accordance with conditions attached to the licence and other regulations designed to protect the forest environment.

Rules for collecting firewood

Before collecting firewood from State forests you need to have a valid permit or licence and have paid for the wood that you want to collect.

When collecting firewood, you must carry your permit with you and record the details of any loads on the permit, before leaving the forest.

Your permit must be shown to any employee or agent of Forests NSW that asks to see it.

Only take fallen timber. Under a 30-I permit, you cannot cut down any standing tree either dead or alive or cut or break off any part of a standing tree for firewood.

Adhere to all permit conditions including any limits on what may be taken. These are designed to protect habitat and the forest environment.

Only collect firewood from the area shown on the map attached to your permit.

The use of agricultural tractors or other machinery to drag firewood timber out of a State forest is not permitted unless officially authorised.

Chainsaws must not be used on days of total fire ban.

More information on 30-I permits and timber licences can be obtained from the relevant Forests NSW office in the area from which you wish to collect timber. Prices may vary from area to area and from one year to the next. There are concessions on the price of firewood for pensioners.

Safety

The forest environment can be hazardous, particularly in areas that have been recently logged or disturbed. Please take care, and:

watch out for overhead hazards such as broken branches and dead standing trees as they may fall without warning.

if using a chainsaw, be competent in its use and only operate it when other people are a safe distance away (10 metres or more).

wear appropriate clothing including sturdy footwear and work gloves.

avoid working alone and have a first aid kit handy.

Types of firewood to use

The drier wood is the better it will burn. Not only is ‘wet' wood more difficult to ignite but wood with a high moisture content may produce more smoke and heavy deposits in chimneys and flues.

While wood collected from the forest is likely to have a higher moisture content, it is far more important how dry the timber is when used than when collected. Wet wood can be easier to cut and if stored correctly, wood with high moisture content may take less than 3 to 4 months to dry out enough to burn well.

To aid drying, pieces of firewood should be no longer than 600mm and should be stored off the ground and with good airflow. Splitting the firewood to the size in which it will be used can also help. To allow more time for drying before use in winter, it is useful to collect firewood during the warmer months.

The best wood for burning is a more difficult question. Though most woods have similar energy content, hard heavy eucalypt timbers have traditionally been the most favoured firewood species. This is because these dense hardwood timbers generally provide better fuel for the volume of wood, and last longer in burning. However most species of timber are suitable for firewood when dry, including in wood heaters.

Softwoods such as pine burn well, although they burn more quickly and may produce more chimney deposits. Oregon and cypress are good firewood, but will crackle and throw sparks, which may cause a fire hazard. A fire screen is strongly recommended on all open fireplaces.

Whatever species you use for firewood, ensuring that it is dry before use will help towards satisfactory burning.

Feel welcome to obtain more information on firewood or other timber from your nearest Forests NSW office.

Do not burn treated or painted wood!

Any timber that has been treated with a preservative or paint should not be burnt as the fumes and ash generated may be toxic. Preserved timber usually appears green to grey-green in colour and may have been used in poles, outdoor furniture or fencing.

Further information

For further information please contact Forests NSW information centre on 1300 655 687.