Tours and Biodiversity Survey

In October, the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) will be conducting tours of this unique and beautiful region. People who have not had the chance to see it before can take a guided tour of areas of high conservation value as well as inspect the current type of timber and firewood operations.

Tours will depart on three weekends: 5th—8th, 12th —15th and 19th –22nd of October. Mondays and Fridays are included to allow for travel to and from the area. Two nights are needed so make your trip worthwhile – there is a lot to see. Contact details**

The NPA is also planning another Community Biodiversity Survey in the Pilliga for the week of

10th—17th of November. Click here for contact details

The collecting of logs for firewood is a significant threat to our woodland birds and mammals. They are important components for our wildlife as their hollows provide homes and refuge for many of these animals.

Firewood collection is widespread in the western woodlands, such as the Pilliga because the ironbark and box wood are preferred by firewood consumers. Over 10,000 tonnes of logs and standing dead trees are taken from the Pilliga alone each year.

Logs are also important for an often-overlooked part
of our native fauna, the reptiles.

The Pilliga is home to over 60 species of reptile. A study I undertook on the use of habitat components by the reptile fauna in this local area confirmed the importance of logs for these creatures. In fact logs by themselves proved to be the most significant single component for the woodland reptile fauna.

This is because logs provide a range of refugia for reptiles. Hollows are important homes for the larger reptiles, the dragons, goannas and snakes. But more important for reptiles is the underbark space found on fallen logs and the microhabitat found under and around the base of logs.

Underbark space is important for a range of geckos and skinks, there are about 10 species that use this microhabitat in the Pilliga. Even more important is the underlog microhabitat, home to over 30 species of reptiles, which include small snakes, geckos, skinks and legless lizards.

Firewood collecting jeopardises the most important home for reptiles in the western woodlands, important centers of biodiversity and important for woodland function. It is time that use of this resource is stopped or better controlled. Logs have a life inside, but also have life on top and underneath!