Overview of Forests NSW
Nick Roberts
Forests NSW operates as a public trading enterprise. It manages the forests estate to provide timber now and into the future.
Nature and scope of activities
Forests NSW is a public trading enterprise within NSW DPI. Its role is to profitably and sustainably manage more than two million hectares of native and planted forests on behalf of the people of NSW. There are three main areas of activity – planted forest operations, native forest operations, and technical and business support services.
Forests NSW is committed to best practice in health and safety and provides a safe working environment for its people, contractors and visitors to state forests.
In addition to a sharp commercial focus there is a strong and demonstrated commitment to environmental performance. Conservation and advancement of forest values such as biodiversity, sustainability and the capacity of forests to serve as carbon sinks form major focal points of our forest management practices.
Branches
Forests NSW has six branches:
- Native Forest Operations
Manages the native forest estate in five regions across the state supplying native forest timbers to a wide range of customers for a variety of products as well as promoting environmental and biodiversity protection and recreational opportunities. - Planted Forest Operations
Manages the softwood and hardwood plantations in four regions across the state supplying plantation timbers to a wide range of customers for a variety of products as well as promoting environmental and biodiversity protection and recreational opportunities. - Commercial Services
Undertakes marketing, sales and delivery of native and planted forest products and develops new business opportunities as well as managing relationships with customers, contractors, investors and business partners. It also provides internal legal services and conducts timber inspections. - Land Management and Forestry Services
Identifies and implements technology solutions to support native and planted forest operations. Interacts with the community through the provision of information systems, prevention and suppression of fire, nurseries, regulatory compliance, sustainability and land management, and frameworks for the management of recreational activities in state forests. - Financial and Operational Business Services
Provides administrative services and operational support to the whole of Forests NSW, including formal accounting, reporting, taxation and internal treasury functions, transactional processing and administrative services, information technology, and records. - Human Resources
Manages human resources functions including recruitment, training, and health and safety.