NSW forest assessments, agreements and approvals
Helping trees and jobs live together
NSW forest assessments
The Forestry Act 2012 provides for assessment of the natural, economic and social values of our native forests and their timber resources. The NSW forest assessment process has resulted in:
- detailed studies of forest resources and forest values
- over 1.8 million hectares of new national parks, and more than 500,000 hectares of informal reserves created in NSW
- security of timber supply to industry, and creation of new jobs
- funding for industry development assistance and restructure
- ecologically sustainable forest management enshrined in legislation.
Crown forestry regions of NSW
This map identifies the forestry regions of NSW, which are covered by separate forestry approvals, and in the coastal regions are subject to NSW Forest agreements and regional forest agreements with the Commonwealth.
Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals
The Forestry Act 2012 provides for integrated forestry operations approvals (IFOAs) that permit forestry operations on State forests and set approval conditions. IFOAs are in place for the Upper North East, Lower North East, Eden and Southern Regions of eastern NSW and the Brigalow and Nandewar, South Western Cypress, and Riverina Red Gum regions of western NSW.
NSW Forest Agreements
20-year Forest Agreements are current for the coastal forest regions - the Upper North East, Lower North East, Eden and Southern Regions of eastern NSW.
NSW forest agreements set the framework for co-operative management of forests by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Forestry Corporation of NSW. NSW Forest agreements contain provisions for promoting ecologically sustainable forest management, sustainable timber supply, community consultation and Aboriginal involvement in forest management (including native title rights).
The coastal regions also fall under State and Commonwealth regional forest agreements (RFAs). RFAs are bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and State governments.
Regulating native forestry on public land
The EPA oversees compliance with the IFOAs to ensure that native forestry harvesting operations are carried out according to the rules set by the approvals. The EPA Crown native forestry regulatory program includes:
Developing operational policy, compliance priorities and guidelines for native forestry on public land
Licensing forestry operations on State forests
Compliance assessment and law enforcement through investigations
Auditing operations, and monitoring corrective actions in response to those audits
Responding to incidents reported by the community or self reported
Education and training activities for forestry operators and community members
Reporting compliance outcomes.
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Page last updated: 08 March 2013
