In the past, ‘dead’ wood (including Snakewood, A. xiphophylla) was collected from the surrounding landscape by some visitors for camping fires at Gnaraloo. This practice was discontinued by the Gnaraloo leaseholder in 2005 given associated adverse environmental impacts, including habitat, vegetative and soil disturbances and destruction. So-called ‘dead’ wood fulfils critical ecological functions and services & has been recognized elsewhere in Australia as ‘threatened ecological processes’.

Why is fallen ‘dead’ wood so important to the surrounding eco system?

• The collection of ‘dead’ wood for firewood causes habitat, vegetative and soil disturbances with associated negative impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. The removal of ‘dead’ trees and woody debris (whether standing or fallen) by human activity has been recognized as a factor contributing to biodiversity loss.

• Firewood collection generally involves removal of relatively undecayed fallen logs. Over the long term, the repeated loss of this material will reduce or eliminate the availability of fallen logs as habitat or nest sites. Removal of standing ‘dead’ wood reduces the availability of hollows over time and the input of material to the litter layer. This process is exacerbated by the failure of regeneration of associated plant communities and the resulting reduction in natural accumulation of ‘dead’ wood.

• Fallen ‘dead’ wood provides habitat for a suite of invertebrate, microbial and vertebrate species dependent on decaying wood for survival. Invertebrate species assist nutrient recycling in woodland ecosystems. Invertebrate species may feed, breed or shelter in ‘dead’ wood or may be predators or parasitoids dependent on species that live on ‘dead’ wood. Fallen wood comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, permitting habitat specialisation with some invertebrate species utilising only parts of the fallen wood or even decaying logs with a particular exposure to sun. Microbial organisms and fungi are also important in the breakdown of timber and recycling of nutrients back into the soil. Invertebrates may also feed on or in wood-decomposing fungi. In Australia, about 290 vertebrate species use tree hollows, many on an obligate basis (meaning ‘by necessity’ / restricted to a particular set of environmental conditions without which the organism cannot survive).

• Loss of invertebrate, microbial and vertebrate species that are dependent on ‘dead’ wood for habitat may adversely affect other species such as ground-dwelling mammals, snakes, goannas, skinks, frogs, beetles, bats and birds.

• Loss of fallen ‘dead’ wood will increase impacts of wind on the soil microclimate. Loss of surface moisture resulting from the removal of ‘dead’ wood will affect soil organisms below fallen logs as well as changing the above ground plant cover and will impact on associated invertebrates.

Illegal camping activities at Gnaraloo also has adverse environmental impacts, including habitat, vegetative and soil disturbances and destruction through firewood collection as well as waste impacts.

Gnaraloo does not allow the burning of firewood (including Snakewood) collected on Gnaraloo and/or from nearby areas on the way in to Gnaraloo. Firewood is sourced from offsite locations and sold onsite for use by visitors. We would greatly appreciate your support in this regard!

Thank you, the Gnaraloo team.