Nature conservation

Native vegetation

Monitoring Forest Agreements and IFOAs

A forest agreement sets out how national parks and State forests are to be sustainably managed. A forest agreement must include provisions that address:

  • Ecologically sustainable forest management (ESFM).
  • Sustainable timber supply from operations on land covered by the agreement.
  • Community consultation on forestry operations.
  • Arrangements relating to native title rights and interests or Aboriginal land claims.
  • Other matters the Ministers consider relevant that are within their Ministerial portfolios

These provisions are effected by a series of tasks and milestones.

Once a forest agreement is in place it is monitored to ensure its milestones are met. The progress on milestones must be reported on annually. Each annual report is public and available on this website.

What are milestones?

Milestones record the tasks (and their timing) that address the better management of forested areas. Examples of topics for milestones are:

  • The development of environmental management systems (EMS).
  • Preparation of management plans for areas of high conservation value.
  • Annual reporting on harvested timber volumes and other forest products such as firewood.
  • Expanding a coordinated approach to land management issues, such as pest, weed and feral animal control.
  • Exploration and engagement of joint venture initiatives with local landholders and Aboriginal people.
  • Monitoring of a set of criteria and indicators.
  • Developing strategies with stakeholders to provide cooperative management opportunities.
  • Preparing management plans for tourism and recreation within forest areas.

Monitoring IFOAs

When undertaking forestry operations on State forests and Crown timber land in the Upper and Lower North East, Southern and Eden regions, Forests NSW and its contractors must comply with the licences and conditions in the IFOAs.

Annual reports contain details of breaches and compliance with IFOAs for each region.

Annual Progress Reports

Progress on the implementation of NSW forest agreements and integrated forestry operations approvals is reported annually.

Annual reports provide details on:

  • achievement of milestones defined in each of the four NSW forest agreements
  • results of monitoring of ecologically sustainable forest management criteria and indicators
  • compliance with integrated forestry operations approvals for each region

Annual reports published to date are listed below. Note that some of the links and addresses contained within the reports may have changed since the reports were tabled.

For additional queries about any of these publications you can contact the environment line on 131 555, or email us.

Page last updated: 18 January 2012