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Questions and answers about the regional forest agreement review

1. What is a regional forest agreement?
2. What is the difference between a regional forest agreement and a NSW forest agreement?
3. Will the regional forest agreements be reviewed?
4. What is the purpose of the regional forest agreement review?
5. What is involved in the regional forest agreement review?
6. When will I be able to comment on the regional forest agreement review?

1. What is a Regional Forest Agreement?

Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are made between the Commonwealth Government and State Governments, and have a term of 20 years.

RFAs are arrived at after a comprehensive regional assessment process. An RFA:

• takes into account many studies and projects carried out in relation to forest values
• identifies areas in the region required for the purposes of a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system 
• provides for the conservation of those areas
• provides for the ecologically sustainable management and use of forested areas in the regions, and
• provides for the long-term stability of forests and forest industries.

2. What is the difference between a Regional Forest Agreement and a NSW Forest Agreement?

NSW Forest Agreements are NSW Government documents setting out agreements between various NSW Ministers under the Forestry and National Parks Estate Act 1998. NSW Forest Agreements outline various NSW agency obligations, tasks and undertakings, or milestones. Relevant milestones in RFAs may also be mirrored in the NSW Forest Agreements.

Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia and State Governments. RFAs outline Australian and State Government obligations. The RFAs for NSW are the North East RFA, Eden RFA and Southern RFA.

RFAs are similar to NSW Forest Agreements in that they both set out the principles and framework for the cooperative management of forests and play a critical role in the ongoing conservation and sustainable management of NSW public native forests but the RFAs also deal with Australian Government legislation and obligations.

In recognition of the comprehensive studies and substantial reservations, native forestry activities in RFA areas are exempt from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Part 4, Division 4) and certain NSW planning controls.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 does not apply in respect of the carrying out of, or the granting of approval in relation to, forestry operations during any period that an integrated forestry operations approval applies to those operations (Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998, Part 4, Division 4).

3. Will the Regional Forest Agreements be reviewed?

Yes, a review process for RFAs has commenced.

4. What is the purpose of the Regional Forest Agreement review?

The purpose of the NSW/Commonwealth review is 'to provide an assessment of progress of the Agreement against the established milestones, and will include:

(a) the extent to which milestones and obligations have been met, including management of the National Estate;
(b) the results of monitoring of Sustainability Indicators; and  
(c) invited public comment on the performance of the Agreement.'

5. What is involved in the Regional Forest Agreement review?

The review will involve:

Phase 1 - A first report Draft Report on Progress with Implementation of the New South Wales RFAs (09200draftrfa.pdf, 2438KB) has been prepared that contains:

• background information on the agreement and its milestones
• consideration of milestone progress
• proposed outcomes from the review, and
• the results of monitoring of Sustainability Indicators.

During phase 1, the Independent Assessor will be chosen using selection criteria agreed by both parties.

Phase 2 – Public consultation or comment is invited on the first report Draft Report on Progress with Implementation of the New South Wales RFAs.

Phase 3 – Consideration of submissions and assessment is made by the Independent Assessor of the Draft Report on Progress with Implementation of the New South Wales RFAs. Comments from the public consultation process, and a response to these comments will be reviewed by the Independent Assessor.

A second report on the review will be released titled the Final Report on Progress with Implementation of the New South Wales RFAs and will include:

• a description of the process by which public submissions were considered and what additional information was used
• details from the report of the Independent Assessor, and
• further work that is required (such as the completion of incomplete milestones) and any recommended amendments to the agreements.

The Final Report on Progress with Implementation of the New South Wales RFAs will be tabled in Commonwealth Parliament as required by the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002.

Phase 4 - Publication of the Governments' response to the Review findings.

6. When will I be able to comment on the Regional Forest Agreement review?

Public consultation is invited on the first report Draft Report on Progress with Implementation of the New South Wales RFAs (09200draftrfa.pdf, 2438KB). Written submissions on the draft report should be mailed to: the Resource and Conservation Unit, Department of Environment and Climate Change, PO Box A290, Sydney South, NSW 1232 or emailed to info@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Submissions must be received by no later than Monday 7 September 2009, and should include your contact details. All submissions will be made publicly available unless you indicate otherwise.