10 CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TREE SPECIES IMPACTED BY LOGGING IN NSW

Native forest logging in New South Wales continues to threaten not only biodiversity and climate stability, but also the cultural heritage of First Nations communities. Among the species impacted are trees that hold deep spiritual, ceremonial, and practical significance. This blog explores ten culturally significant tree species currently affected by logging in NSW, including their traditional Indigenous uses, current commercial exploitation, and the consequences of ongoing forest destruction.

1. Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora)

Country: Wiradjuri (Central NSW), Yuin (South Coast NSW), and others

Traditional Uses: Snow Gums are iconic alpine trees found in high-altitude Country. For the Wiradjuri people, they are associated with seasonal movement and ceremony. Their bark and leaves were used in medicinal preparations, and their locations often served as ceremonial sites. Snow Gums also play a role in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), marking transitions in Country and time.

The Snow Gum is very special to Wiradjuri and Gundungurra artist Sarah Levett. 

“The story in this artwork shows the beautiful Snow Gum tree. While these trees are extremely strong and can adapt to harsh environments, they are currently under threat from the logging industry. While these trees aren’t being directly targeted, they are currently collateral damage when nearby trees are being logged.

These trees hold a strong cultural significance in Wiradjuri culture and are a tree I personally connect with when I’m regularly walking on Country. The artwork also shows two animals that call the Snow Gum their home; the gugubarra (Kookaburra) and wambad (wombat), and shows the importance of the tree for their livelihood and overall well-being.“ - Wiradjuri and Gundungurra artist Sarah Levett

🌳 Key Areas Where Snow Gum Logging Is Occurring or Has Been Assessed in NSW

1. New England Tableland Bioregion This region includes Local Government Areas such as Armidale, Glen Innes Severn, Guyra, Inverell, Tenterfield, Uralla, and Walcha. Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) is part of the endangered ecological community known as the Ribbon Gum–Mountain Gum–Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland, which has been subject to clearing and timber harvesting.
2. NSW Crown Forest Estate The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) conducted a detailed assessment of Snow Gum and associated species (Black Sallee, Candlebark, Ribbon Gum) within grassy woodland communities on Crown land. These areas have been mapped and classified, indicating logging pressures.
3. Tallaganda State Forest

Logging in Tallaganda State Forest nearby to snow gum forest occupied by greater gliders and other forest owls has impacted the ecosystem and likely their movements and spatial dynamics.

Logging Impact: While not typically logged directly, Snow Gums are increasingly threatened by nearby logging operations and infrastructure development. Logging in adjacent forests disrupts the delicate alpine ecosystems they support, including habitats for the pygmy-possum and gyak (corroboree frog).

2. Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata)

Country: Yuin (South Coast NSW) and other primarily coastal areas

Traditional Names: Gubba (Yuin)

Traditional Uses: Spotted Gums are known for their striking bark and are deeply embedded in Yuin lore. They were used to make tools, canoes, and medicinal bark infusions. Their hollows provided shelter for animals and people, and they were often found near ceremonial grounds. The Yuin people also used the resin for sealing and healing wounds.

🌳 Forests Where Spotted Gum Logging Is Occurring or Planned

Spotted Gum trees (Corymbia maculata) are being logged in several forests across New South Wales, particularly in areas managed by the NSW Forestry Corporation. Here are the key locations:

1. North Brooman State Forest (South Coast NSW)

• Compartment 50A contains Big Spotty, the tallest known Spotted Gum in the world (over 70m tall).
• Logging operations are scheduled for 2027, with a 60m exclusion zone around Big Spotty.
• Despite this protection, environmental groups argue the exclusion zone is insufficient to safeguard the tree and its surrounding ecosystem.

2. Termeil State Forest

• Located near Ulladulla and Batemans Bay.
• Contains old-growth Spotted Gum stands, including Old Blotchy, which was recently incorporated into Murramarang National Park due to its ecological and cultural significance.

3. South Coast Forests (Batemans Bay Region)

• Logging studies have shown that Spotted Gum dominates biomass in these forests, with large trees contributing significantly to commercial log yields.

These forests are ecologically mature and contain old-growth characteristics, yet are still subject to selective harvesting.

Logging Impact:

Logging has fragmented habitats and threatens mature trees like the “Big Spotty” in North Brooman State Forest. This widespread disturbance has had lasting impacts on biodiversity and forest structure. Spotted gum are a common hardwood plantation tree on the north coast of NSW. These plantations, if established through tree planting on cleared farmlands rather than re-classifying native forest as “plantations” following some silviculture, are a great sustainable source of timber for highly sought after for flooring and furniture when planted on cleared agricultural land. The loss of these trees disrupts cultural practices and ecological balance.

3. Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis)

Country: Walbunja (South Coast NSW, part of Yuin Nation), Bundjalung (Northern Rivers region, NSW) and other primarily coastal areas of Eastern Australia

Traditional Names: "Toi" is a First Nations name for Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis), used by people such as the Yuggera, Gubbi Gubbi, and Badtjala communities in Australia.

Traditional Uses: The Bundjalung people used blackbutt wood for making shields and canoes. Its bark was also used in traditional fire-starting techniques.

🌲 Logging of Blackbutt in Native Old-Growth Forests in NSW

1. Clouds Creek State Forest (Dorrigo Plateau)

• Contains old-growth Blackbutt stands (contiguous communities of Blackbutt trees).
• Logging operations have been proposed or attempted here, despite community opposition and ecological concerns.

2. Doubleduke State Forest (Bundjalung Country near Grafton)

• Logging was suspended in 2023 after community intervention revealed plans to fell giant old-growth trees, including Blackbutt.
• The area is habitat for greater gliders, koalas, and powerful owls.

3. Wild Cattle Creek State Forest

• Site of illegal logging of giant koala feed trees, including Blackbutt.
• Logging occurred in koala habitat, raising serious environmental and legal concerns.

4. Blackbutt Plateau (Northern NSW)

• Identified as an old-growth forest with significant conservation value.
• Subject of community-led campaigns against logging due to its biodiversity and ecological importance.

Logging Impact: Blackbutt are a common hardwood plantation tree on the north coast of NSW. These plantations, if established through tree planting on cleared farmlands rather than re-classifying native forest as “plantations” following some silviculture, are a great sustainable source of timber for highly sought after for flooring and furniture when planted on cleared agricultural land. Extensive logging has degraded Blackbutt forests, reducing biodiversity and access to traditional materials.

4. Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)

Country: In Gumbaynggirr, Dharawal, and Wiradjuri Countries and others in NSW

Traditional Names: Buringoa (Dharawal) Traditional Uses: The Forest Red Gum, known to many Aboriginal communities across NSW, has been a vital resource for tens of thousands of years. Its resin was used for sealing wooden tools and containers, while the bark and leaves were employed in smoke ceremonies for spiritual cleansing and healing. The wood was shaped into coolamons (carrying vessels), shields, and boomerangs, reflecting its strength and workability.

In Gumbaynggirr, Dharawal, and Wiradjuri Countries, the tree’s hollows were used as cradles for babies, and its leaves were burned in smoking ceremonies to welcome visitors and cleanse spaces. The tree’s presence in the landscape is deeply tied to Dreaming stories, often representing resilience, protection, and continuity.

🌲 NSW State Forests Where Forest Red Gum Is Being Logged

1. Riverina Region

• Forest Red Gum is a dominant species in floodplain forests such as:
  • Koondrook State Forest
  • Campbells Island State Forest
  • Perricoota State Forest
  • Gillenbah State Forest
  • Kindra State Forest
• These forests are part of the Riverina Red Gum IFOA region, and harvest plans are publicly available via the Forestry Corporation’s Western NSW portal.

2. Hunter Region

• Forest Red Gum is a key canopy species in the Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest, an Endangered Ecological Community.
• Logging has occurred in areas between Muswellbrook, Cessnock, Singleton, and Port Stephens, though much of the remaining forest is fragmented and disturbed.

3. Private Native Forestry (PNF) Areas

• Forest Red Gum is also logged under PNF plans in privately owned forests, especially in the Riverina.
• These operations require approved Forest Management Plans (FMPs) under the PNF Code of Practice for River Red Gum Forests.

Logging Impact: Logging has significantly reduced the number of mature Forest Red Gums, especially in coastal and riverine areas. These trees take decades to form the large hollows essential for koalas, gliders, owls, and possums—many of which are totemic species for local Aboriginal groups.

In areas like the Hawkesbury and Cumberland Plain, logging and land clearing have led to habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of cultural practices. The decline in hollow-bearing trees has been documented even in newly protected reserves, indicating the long-term legacy of logging.

Moreover, the cumulative impact of logging across NSW has contributed to the endangerment of over 150 species, many of which depend on Forest Red Gum habitats. Despite its ecological and cultural importance, the species continues to be logged under native forestry operations.

5. Brown Barrel (Eucalyptus fastigata)

Country: Gundungurra (Southern Highlands, NSW) and others in Eastern NSW Traditional Uses: Brown Barrel trees grow in moist, high-altitude forests and are important for arboreal mammals like gliders. Gundungurra people used the fibrous bark for fire-making and crafting. The wood was used for tools and shelter, and the forests were part of seasonal harvesting cycles.

🌲 Where Brown Barrel Logging Is Occurring

1. Tallaganda State Forest (South Coast NSW)

• Contains old-growth forest areas with Brown Barrel among dominant species.
• The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has filed 29 charges against the Forestry Corporation of NSW for illegal logging activities here, including failure to protect habitat trees and threatened species like the Southern Greater Glider.
• Logging occurred in compartments with old-growth characteristics, despite legal protections.
• The World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, Wilderness Australia, and South East Forest Rescue teamed up to expose the destruction in Tallaganda. They have called for the NSW Government to commit to a transition out of native forest logging.

2. Styx State Forest (Northern Tablelands)

• Community monitoring revealed logging in areas with incomplete habitat surveys, potentially affecting old-growth Brown Barrel stands.
• Forestry Corporation NSW failed to conduct legally required Broad Area Habitat Searches (BAHS), raising concerns about impacts on mature forest ecosystems.

Logging Impact: Logging for timber and woodchipping has led to habitat loss for species that rely on these trees. The removal of old-growth brown barrels disrupts nesting sites and food sources for culturally significant fauna.

6. Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua)

Country: Dharawal (Illawarra region, NSW) and others in Eastern NSW

Traditional Uses: Messmate trees are known for their thick, stringy bark. Dharawal people used the bark to make ropes, containers, and fire-starters. The trees also provided shelter and were part of seasonal harvesting cycles. Messmate forests were used for gathering medicinal plants and conducting ceremony.

🌲 Where Messmate Logging Is Occurring or Impacting Old-Growth Forests

1. Clouds Creek State Forest (Dorrigo Plateau)

• Contains old-growth stands of Messmate and other wet sclerophyll species.
• Logging operations have occurred here, and the forest was targeted for expansion of logging zones in 2018.
• Conservation groups have documented breaches and habitat destruction in this area, including impacts on hollow-bearing trees essential for gliders and owls.

2. Wild Cattle Creek State Forest (Mid-North Coast)

• Messmate is part of the forest composition.
• The Forestry Corporation of NSW was prosecuted for illegally felling giant and hollow-bearing trees, including those used by threatened species.

3. Styx River State Forest

• Messmate is present and logging breaches have been documented in Styx River State Forest.
• Post-bushfire conditions intended to protect surviving wildlife were violated, including logging in prohibited zones.

Logging Impact: Messmate is logged extensively for construction timber and pulp. Logging has reduced the availability of mature trees, impacting both cultural practices and species that depend on them.

7. Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna)

Country: Dharug (Western Sydney region, NSW) and others primarily in Eastern NSW Traditional Uses: Sydney blue gums are common in coastal NSW and feature in Dreaming stories. Dharug communities used the wood for building materials, tools, and medicinal bark. The trees were also used in ceremonial structures and as shade trees during gatherings.

🌲 Key Native Old-Growth Forests Impacted by Logging of Sydney Blue Gum

1. Blue Gum High Forest (Sydney Basin Bioregion)

• This forest type is dominated by Sydney Blue Gum, Blackbutt, and Forest Oak.
• It is listed as a Critically Endangered Ecological Community under NSW law.
• Remnants occur in areas like St Ives (Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve), Pymble, Pennant Hills, Wahroonga, and Hornsby.
• Logging is not permitted within protected reserves, but fragmentation and historical logging have severely reduced its extent to less than 200 hectares, with most remnants under 20 hectares.

2. Coastal and Hinterland Forests (Mid-North Coast)

• Sydney Blue Gum is grown in plantations and regrowth forests in areas like Coffs Harbour–Urunga, often on land previously cleared for agriculture.
• However, many plantations were established after logging native forests, leading to biodiversity loss and ecosystem simplification.

Logging Impact:

Sydney Blue Gum logging has occurred historically and continues in specific areas, though the forests are now a critically endangered ecological community. Logging was a primary reason for historical clearing for construction timber, while urban development is the main threat today. In the east of the Great Dividing Range, Sydney Blue Gum often thrives in gullies with deep, fertile soils, where it was logged for construction and was historically part of extensive wet sclerophyll forests.

Remnants of these forests can be found in areas from the mid-north coast of NSW to southern Queensland, often inland from the coast in regions like the Hastings Forest Way and around Port Macquarie. 

Valued for hardwood timber, Sydney blue gum is logged for furniture and construction. Logging has led to habitat loss for gliders and parrots, and the removal of mature trees affects cultural landscapes.

8. Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera)

Country: Gumbaynggirr (Eastern NSW) and others primarily in Eastern NSW Traditional Names: Wuubanga (Gumbaynggirr)

Traditional Uses: On Gumbaynggirr Country and across eastern NSW, the Red Bloodwood tree has long been revered for its healing properties. Its deep red sap, known as kino, was traditionally used as an antiseptic to treat wounds, insect bites, and skin infections. The sap’s astringent qualities helped stop bleeding and prevent infection. Hardened resin was also used as a natural adhesive—for binding stone spearheads to wooden shafts and sealing containers.

The bark and sap were sometimes used in smoke medicine during cleansing ceremonies, and the tree’s wood was carved into tools and ceremonial items. Bloodwood sap was occasionally used as a dye or mixed with ochre for body painting and artwork.

To the Gumbaynggirr people, the Red Bloodwood is more than a tree, it is a spiritual entity. Its “bleeding” sap is symbolic of life force and sacrifice, often referenced in Dreaming stories and oral histories. The tree is considered a guardian of Country, and its presence in forests is tied to ancestral knowledge and seasonal indicators.

In Gumbaynggirr art and storytelling, the Red Bloodwood often appears as a totemic symbol, representing resilience and healing. Its bark and sap are used in ceremonial practices, and its flowers attract birds and insects that are also part of the cultural ecosystem.

🌲 NSW Native Forests Where Red Bloodwood Is Being Logged or Affected

1. Flat Rock State Forest (South Coast NSW)

• Logging operations have occurred here, with community protests halting some activities due to breaches of environmental regulations.
• Red Bloodwood is a common species in this forest type, which includes dry sclerophyll communities.

2. Sheas Nob State Forest (North Coast NSW)

• Also under scrutiny for illegal logging practices, including non-compliant habitat surveys.
• Red Bloodwood is part of the forest composition, especially in sandstone-based ecosystems.

3. Boyne, Olney, and Styx River State Forests

• These forests are among those where Forestry Corporation NSW has been accused of unlawful logging, including failure to protect habitat trees.
• Red Bloodwood is present in these forests, particularly in low-fertility sandy soils and dry ridges.

Logging Impact: Despite its ecological and cultural value, it remains part of NSW’s native forest logging operations.

Logging has fragmented Red Bloodwood forests, particularly in coastal and sandstone regions where the species thrives. This fragmentation disrupts traditional harvesting practices, reduces access to medicinal sap, and threatens fauna that rely on the tree, such as gliders and cockatoos.

The loss of mature trees also impacts cultural continuity, as older Bloodwoods develop hollows used by sacred animals and for ceremonial purposes. Logging in areas like the Newry State Forest, which includes Bloodwood stands, has sparked Indigenous-led protests due to the destruction of sacred sites and habitat.

9. Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera)

Traditional Names: Indigenous names for the Turpentine tree (Syncarpia glomulifera) include Boorea (or Booreeah) from the Dharawal language, and Killiorra from the Ku-ring-gai area

Country: Bundjalung (Northern Rivers region, NSW) and others primarily in Eastern NSW Traditional Uses: Turpentine trees are known for their durability and resistance. Bundjalung people used them for building and ceremonial poles. The bark and resin were used in traditional medicine, and the trees were part of sacred sites and seasonal movement patterns.

🌲 NSW State Forests where Turpentine logging is or has occurred

1. Tallaganda State Forest (Southern Tablelands)

• Logging operations here have led to 29 charges against the Forestry Corporation for environmental breaches, including destruction of habitat trees.
• Turpentine is part of the canopy in this forest type, especially in transitional zones between wet and dry sclerophyll forests.

2. Doubleduke State Forest (North Coast, Bundjalung Country)

• Logging was suspended in 2023 after community intervention revealed plans to fell giant habitat trees, including Turpentine.
• The forest supports endangered species like the greater glider, koala, and powerful owl.

3. Styx River State Forest

• Allegations of illegal logging have been raised here, including failure to mark habitat trees and conduct proper surveys.
• Turpentine is present in mixed sclerophyll forest types in this region.

4. Yambulla State Forest (Near Victorian Border)

• Forestry Corporation was fined $360,000 for logging 53 protected eucalypt trees in this forest.
• While Turpentine is not the dominant species here, it may be present in transitional zones (areas that serve as a boundary between two different regions or ecosystems, where characteristics of each region intermingle).

Logging Impact: Due to its high silica content which makes it resistant to marine borers and therefore ideal for sea immersion, Turpentine is highly valued for marine construction such as marine pilings. As a result, Turpentine is logged extensively. Logging reduces the availability of mature specimens and affects cultural practices tied to these trees.

10. Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)

Country: Githabul (Northern Tablelands, NSW) and others primarily in Eastern NSW Traditional Uses: Tallowwood is revered for its strength and longevity. Githabul communities used the wood for tools, weapons, and ceremonial structures. The forests were used for cultural gatherings and resource harvesting, and the trees were part of sacred landscapes.

🌲 NSW State Forests Where Tallowwood Is Being Logged

1. Wild Cattle Creek State Forest (Mid-North Coast)

• Known for its biodiversity and presence of koala habitat.
• Tallowwood is among the species logged here, and the Forestry Corporation has faced legal action for felling hollow-bearing trees.

2. Cumberland State Forest (Sydney Basin)

• While not actively logged today, this forest includes Tallowwood among its native species and was historically used for forestry research and trials.

3. Styx River State Forest

• Logging operations here have included Tallowwood, and breaches of environmental regulations have been documented.

Logging Impact: Tallowwood is considered a Primary food tree species for koalas in the Central Coast. Logged for durable hardwood, tallowwood forests have been degraded by logging. The loss of old-growth trees impacts cultural continuity and biodiversity.

How we can act and why we must

Logging in NSW continues to destroy critical habitat, release carbon emissions, and cost taxpayer money through subsidies to Forestry Corp. But beyond the environmental and economic costs, it erodes the cultural fabric of First Nations communities. These ten tree species are not just biological entities, they are living archives of story, ceremony, and survival.

Ending native forest logging is not just a conservation issue—it’s a cultural imperative. By protecting these trees, we honour the deep wisdom of Country and the communities who have cared for it for millennia.

We all need trees – to breathe, to belong, to survive. But Australia is still logging native forests. 

We’re calling on our leaders to end this destruction. Add your name to thousands of voices calling to end native forest logging in Australia before it’s too late.

It’s time to end native forest logging in NSW.