Home is where the hollow is

Published on 17 August 2025

Tree hollows and fallen logs provide important homes for Australian wildlife, but they’re disappearing at an alarming rate.

Trees are essential for native wildlife to find food, shelter, and places to roost and nest. Hollow-bearing trees are especially important because many species use these hollows daily and seasonally to nest and raise their young.

In New South Wales, at least 174 animal species rely on tree hollows, including 46 mammal species, 81 bird species, 31 reptile species, 16 frogs and countless invertebrates. Of these species, 40 are threatened, and the availability of hollow-bearing trees is crucial for their survival.

Tree hollows take hundreds of years to form but are quickly disappearing due to human activities like land clearing. They are not easily replaced. However, we have the opportunity to act and make a difference.

Which Clarence Valley wildlife rely on tree hollows to survive?

How can I help?

• Retain and protect all trees with hollows, even dead ones.
• Allow for the regeneration and re-growth of native vegetation.
• Leave fallen logs and debris on the ground.
• Educate yourself, neighbours and your community about the importance of tree hollows as homes.

Retain, protect and regenerate native vegetation

• Retain all trees with hollows, including standing dead trees.
• Allow leaf litter, fallen logs and branches to accumulate in all habitat areas, including in and around farm dams.
• Fence remnant bushland, isolated trees in paddocks, stream banks and rocky areas.
• Leave native vegetation along rivers, streams and between properties and any patches of bushland.
• Include local native trees that produce hollows in your revegetation plan.
• Consider installing nest boxes as a last resort if there are very few natural hollows.

Think twice about firewood collection

• It’s prohibited to remove firewood from national parks, state conservation areas and nature reserves.
• Question where your firewood is being sourced from and only purchase firewood from a supply chain that complies with the National Voluntary Code of Practice for sustainable firewood collection.
• Report incidents of illegal firewood collection to the NPWS on 1300 072 757 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
• Collecting firewood is permitted in some state forests, however anyone wishing to collect firewood must obtain a permit before doing so and ensure they follow the associated permit conditions. Contact the Forestry Corporation.
• Consider converting wood fires to energy efficient home heating alternatives.