The Wollemi Pines grow in the
Wollemi National Park, north-west of Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The park covers about 500 000 hectares and is the largest wilderness area in the state - a very rugged mountainous region of ridges, cliffs, canyons and undisturbed forest.
The sandstone ridges and canyon walls are covered by dry sclerophyll woodland and shrubland dominated by Eucalyptus species. A warm temperate rainforest in the deep canyons is dominated by Coachwood (
Ceratopetalum apetalum) and Sassafras (
Doryphora sassafras), with an understory dominated by ferns such as Sticherus (
Sticherus flabellatus). The Wollemi Pines grow on ledges in these canyons.
Given the degree of interest in the Wollemi Pine,
protecting it is crucial, and this is done through both legislation and site management. Under the NSW
Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) a fine of up to $220,000 and imprisonment of up to two years can be imposed for any damage caused.