Year in review 2025–2026

Chief’s message

Kate Gavens
Chief Conservation Regulator

To achieve this, we deliver a range of initiatives focused on preventing harm, education, compliance monitoring and enforcement. We continue to make significant progress across the range of regulatory initiatives we deliver.

We are stemming the commercial, illegal trade of firewood. Through our statewide initiative Taskforce Ironbark, we targeted organised criminal syndicates who are removing commercial quantities of trees from Victoria’s forests. Since July last year, Taskforce investigations have led to the intercept of a number of illegal operators, the seizure of equipment used in these illegal acts and 54 charges heard, with offenders facing court convictions, fines and the confiscation of trailers and chainsaws. This operation not only protects Victoria’s biodiversity but also contributes to public safety and protecting legal operators.

Our focus to protect threatened species led to the launch, with RSPCA of our Net Swap pilot program to reduce the impacts of illegal fruit netting on grey-headed flying foxes and bird species. Hundreds of Melbourne households exchanged illegal fruit tree nets for wildlife-safe alternatives across five councils. In total, 614 illegal nets were surrendered and recycled, and 359 legal nets distributed. This program will be expanded in 2026–2027.

We continue to address wildlife crime through both proactive and reactive approaches. In a recent case, a Warrandyte man was fined $12,000 for cruelty to reptiles in his care and issued a 10-year control order to limit the number of wildlife he can own in the future.

It is great to see so many Victorians out enjoying the great outdoors, whether it is camping, trailbike riding, walking, mountain biking or four-wheel driving, we are out patrolling to educate about the rules in Victorian forests and to point out some great spots for recreation along the way.

We have strengthened our partnership with Crime Stoppers Victoria, expanding community reporting pathways beyond wildlife crime to include forest offences. Together, we launched the “Illegal Firewood: The Cost Is Wild” campaign to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of illegal firewood collection and encourage the purchase of legally sourced firewood.

Our work continues to be strengthened by the valuable input of community members, stakeholders and partners who support us by sharing information, insights and feedback. We thank these networks for their ongoing collaboration and remain committed to building strong relationships to help protect Victoria’s native environments and wildlife.

I hope you enjoy reading about our achievements in this Year in Review. I look forward to continuing our work and sharing it with you again in 2026-2027.

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