Have your say
Strategic assessment of forestry operations
The NSW Government is undertaking a strategic assessment of forestry operations in NSW Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) areas under Part 10 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
This strategic assessment will consider a landscape-scale approval for forestry operations in NSW RFA regions, before the end of the EPBC Act exemption on 1 July 2027. The assessment aims to provide a foundation for forestry operations and future decision-making while protecting Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES).
Feedback sought on draft Terms of Reference
The NSW Government is currently seeking feedback on the draft Terms of Reference for the strategic assessment. The draft Terms of Reference set out:
- the purpose and scope of the Strategic Assessment
- the proposed assessment approach
- the information and evidence to be considered
- the socio-economic considerations (including stakeholder engagement requirements)
- the expected outputs of the assessment.
You can have your say on the terms of reference at: Strategic Assessment of Forestry Have Your Say until 16 October 2026.
Native vegetation is vital for the health of our environment. It is intrinsic to our rural landscapes and regional communities, supports native animals and agriculture, and protects soils and water.
Clearing
The Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation Framework provides a structure for managing the clearing of native vegetation in New South Wales. Legislation under this framework is administered by:
- the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Local Land Services
- the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.
Clearing of native vegetation on rural land is legislated by the Local Land Services Act 2013 (LLS Act). This is administered by Local Land Services, with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the department) responsible for developing native vegetation regulatory mapping and compliance under the Local Land services Act.
The clearing of native vegetation in urban areas and land zoned for environmental protection is legislated by the NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 (formerly the State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) 2017), administered by local councils. This legislation also allows councils to manage vegetation clearing in their local area through a permit system.
The Biodiversity Offsets Scheme provides a framework for offsetting the impacts of development on biodiversity.
Conservation
Protecting and rehabilitating remnant vegetation can reverse the negative effects of clearing and habitat fragmentation. Revegetating and restoring native vegetation can improve the health of the land and rejuvenate ecosystems.
The Biodiversity Conservation Trust supports landholders to conserve native vegetation and biodiversity on private land. Visit the Biodiversity Conservation Trust website for more information.
Regulation
We are responsible for compliance and enforcement of land management activities that involve native vegetation under the Local Land Services Act. For more information, go to our Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator page.
Landcover change monitoring and reporting
We monitor and report on:
- clearing of woody and non woody vegetation, statewide and on land managed under the Local Land Services Act (Category 2 regulated land)
- long-term trends of woody vegetation change across New South Wales
- fire extent and severity.
This work provides a scientific basis for measuring the environmental, social and economic impacts of landcover change on our natural resources and biodiversity.
For more information, go to Landcover science.