The thefts have prompted multiple targeted police operations, Parks and Wildlife investigations and the seizure of thousands of dollars worth of logging equipment.

A 38-year-old man from Queenstown will face court in September on charges of trespassing, stealing and unlawfully using a chainsaw on reserve land after he was sprung travelling along the Lyell Highway with a ute and trailer full of wood, allegedly stolen from reserve land near Derwent Bridge.

Earlier in the year police also managed to uncover a $1 million illegal harvesting operation at the Tin Pot Marsh Creek reserve area.

On top of this, more than 100 trees in a single conservation area have been illegally felled since the start of the year, according to PWS.

It seems a combination of Tasmania's unique geography and abundance of forests in remote areas has created the perfect breeding ground for an "insidious" black market.

Paul Edwards and his wife Claire own a landscaping business at Wynyard. The eight-year-old business is also one of the few authorised firewood providers in the state, supplying wood right across the West and North-West Coasts

Mr Edwards has spent most of his working life out in the bush, where he sees things that "would shock a lot of people".

"I see (illegal operators) all over the place, they go up Oldina, up Calder and Preolenna. I've seen so many," he said.

"It is 100 per cent stealing.

"They don't seem to have this problem on the mainland. At least, not to the same extent."

He said the problem was so widespread and deeply rooted in Tasmanian culture that many buyers had no idea they were buying stolen goods.

"It makes it difficult then for the guys who are trying to make a living doing things the right way," he said.

"We can't compete with a guy with a chainsaw and a trailer who steals all his wood."

The PWS has been battling the issue for years, investigating operations, confiscating equipment and cleaning up the ugly aftermath of poorly-felled trees.

PWS North-West regional manager Nic Deka said 2020 had been no exception, and that most of the wood had gone to ordinary households.

"In just one conservation area in the central highlands, 122 trees have been unlawfully felled since the beginning of the year," he said.

"It appears that much, if not all of that wood has ended up being sold to householders, many of whom would probably be upset to learn they were buying illegally-sourced firewood."

In the North-West, four people have this year received infringement notices ranging from $336 to $2,688 for firewood-related offences on reserved land.

PWS officers have also seized chainsaws and equipment used in other offences, with these matters to go before the courts.

Mr Edwards said he estimated he could provide wood for another 800 families each year if all illegal operations were to suddenly stop.

"The average person burns about 12 (cubic) metres a year," he said.

"I reckon I'd sell about 1000 more ... actually that's being conservative, I could probably sell another 10,000 metres of wood. That's a million dollars a year. I could employ six more people, that's good local jobs."

The sight of a wood-stuffed trailer on the side of the road for the 'bargain' price of $100 may be a tempting sight for those fighting off a chilly winter, but - according to Mr Edwards - it is probably too good to be true.

"Some of those, the average person won't be able to tell, but they don't have a (cubic) metre of wood in there," he said.

"You could be paying $100 for a trailer load, but you're paying far more than if you'd gone to an authorised seller.

"You also don't know if they're dry or dirty. We stack our wood for months to make sure it's dry, these guys are chopping it, loading it straight in their trailer and selling it."

"The only way you're really going to have any idea is if you buy it through a reputable business ... we cannot afford to do the wrong thing."

As well as being a potential "rip-off", the entire process of unlawful harvesting is riddled with danger, can damage the environment and end up costing private and government forestry bodies thousands, says the PWS.

"There's more to it than just the environmental impact of taking out dry trees that provide shelter and habitat for wildlife. A lot of damage is also caused by pushing in new vehicle tracks, and bogging up existing tracks and fire trails," PWS manager Mr Deka said.

"There are also serious safety concerns. It's quite common to see an inexpertly-felled tree caught up in the branches of a nearby tree, which poses a risk of injury or worse if it happens to fall. An incident last year left a large tree "hanging" in a popular camping area, which cost $1,300 to have professionally removed before the reserve could be reopened to the public."

The Western District Bushwatch committee includes representatives from state and private forestry interests, and the topic of unlawful firewood cutting regularly appears on the agenda.

Committee chair, Acting Sergeant Emilie Dellar of Burnie Police, said firewood buyers could unwittingly put themselves at risk of police attention.

"People are reminded to be cautious when buying firewood and ask questions to ensure it has been sourced legally and ethically," she said.

Earlier this year a 38-year-old Queenstown man was arrested after being apprehended travelling on the Lyell Highway with a large ute and trailer full of wood.

Police allege the wood was stolen from reserve land in the Derwent Bridge area.

The man was charged with with trespassing, stealing, unlawfully using a chainsaw on reserved land and possession of stolen property.

The wood and the man's chainsaw were seized by Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife, and police seized an amount of cash as proceeds of crime. The man will appear in Queenstown Magistrates Court on 28 September 2020.

Sergeant Robinson said that investigations into illegal firewood gathering on the West Coast were continuing.

"We will be conducting a larger-scale investigation into illegal wood cutting using enhanced investigative tools and a broader inquiry network. We are very appreciative of the cooperation and support received from Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife during this operation".

The investigations are part of a state-wide effort.

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