Nineteen people are facing charges after firewood worth $1 million was allegedly harvested as part of what police are calling a "large-scale wood theft" operation in southern Tasmania.
In a statement, Tasmania Police said a "long-running" joint operation with Parks and Wildlife Services and the state-owned Sustainable Timbers Tasmania using "covert surveillance" helped uncover what they described as "substantial damage to defined patches throughout the forest" in the Tin Pot Marsh Creek reserve area, about 50 kilometres north east of Hobart.
They said about 1,295 hectares had been impacted.
Video released by Tasmania Police shows a truck laden with firewood stopped by police on a road in the area.
"Nineteen people have now been charged with a total of 241 offences directly in relation to the woodcutting activities occurring within this region," Senior Sergeant Phil Curtis of the Bridgewater Police Division said.
"These offences range from unlawful possession of property, trespass, cut trees or vegetation on Crown Land, unlawfully take any natural substance from Crown Land and fail to comply with a notice of demand."
Police said the public "should remember there are processes involved in the gathering of firewood and that permits are available from Sustainable Timbers Tasmania for the sole purpose of gathering firewood for personal use only", adding the sale of firewood obtained under those permits is not authorised.
"Illegal cutting of wood not only impacts on our parks and reserves, but police are also concerned of risks posed by the manner in which debris is left across tracks and in the forest canopy," Senior Sergeant Curtis said.
"This has the potential to interfere with access, such as for firefighting or posing a threat to people using the areas lawfully.
"People are reminded to be cautious when buying firewood and ask questions to ensure it has been sourced legally and ethically."
Anyone with information about illegal firewood gathering is urged to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au.
