TEMPERATURES are dropping as winter sets in but the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is urging locals to “think green” when heating the home.

According to recent studies of home heating in the Goldfields, an estimated 6000 tonnes of firewood is collected annually from the region.

The DEC said removing this wood from Goldfields woodlands, combined with the emissions from wood fires, had a significant impact on the environment.

People may be collecting dead wood to use as firewood without realising how important it is to the environment.

Dead wood is an important source of shelter, nutrients and nesting sites for Goldfields animals including pygmy possums, echidnas, marsupial mice, bats, parrots and reptiles.

But homeowners can reduce their impact on the environment by:

• collecting wood for private purposes only;

• only taking already fallen dead logs (standing dead or green trees cannot be felled);

• restricting collections to one ute or trailer load at a time;

• not going offroad as it damages vegetation; and

• collecting from public firewood areas only.

The DEC said firewood cannot be sold, exchanged or traded for commercial gain, and reminded people it was a legal requirement to gain permission to enter and collect firewood from other land users.

Residents can purchase firewood from licensed crown land firewood contractors. They can contact the Forest Products Commission on 9021 8643.

For more information, contact the DEC on 9080 5555 or visit the office at 32 Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie.