Forests NSW ten key ESFM strategies
From the Winter 2008 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
Each ESFM Plan contains objectives and targeted outcomes in each of these strategy areas.
Natural heritage
The identification, management and contribution to maintaining the full suite of natural heritage values in forests across the landscape. Values such as carbon sequestration, vegetation structure for biodiversity, soil and water quality, and other intrinsic values for adaptive management purposes are included.
Aboriginal cultural heritage
State forests are important to the maintenance and use of natural resources, and the preservation of artefacts and sites, integral to Aboriginal cultural heritage. Forests NSW identifies, protects and manages Aboriginal cultural heritage values on State forests in cooperation with Aboriginal communities.
Non-Aboriginal cultural heritage
There are items or places with heritage significance to the community that they wish to keep for future generations. Non-Aboriginal cultural heritage values on State forests are protected and managed in cooperation with local communities.
Nature conservation
Nature conservation in State forests is managed through the protection and active management of dedicated and informal reserves, and protection of other values and areas by prescription and adaptive management.
Forest health
The health and productivity of State forests will be maintained or enhanced to support nature conservation, timber production and other ecologically sustainable uses. Appropriate silvicultural strategies, monitoring and response to insect and disease outbreaks, implementing regional management plans (including annual operational programs for pest animal and weed control) and fire management are covered.
Sustainable timber supply
The supply of timber products from native forests and planted forests will be maintained within ecological and market constraints in a long-term framework. Strategic inventory and growth monitoring programs will be undertaken where necessary to support modelling of current volumes and future yields of forest products.
Economic development
The economic returns from planted forests and native forests will be maximised, along with their contribution to the economic wellbeing of NSW. This means meeting existing timber supply commitments and contracts and optimising returns on plantation and other investments, as well as participation in carbon trading through the production of NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificates. Grazing, apiculture and tourism within State forests will continue, with other ecologically and economically sound new business development opportunities encouraged and facilitated.
Social development
The contribution of Forests NSW to the social wellbeing of the communities in which it operates in NSW will be maximised where possible. Part of this will be continuing to provide local and regional employment, both directly and through strong forest-based industries. Regional road management to service timber harvesting, forest protection and management and community/non-timber uses will be implemented. The use of State forests for natural resource education is encouraged, while hunting is supported under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002.
Forestry operations
Adaptive management processes will be implemented to ensure forestry operations are safe for workers, meet legislative and regulatory requirements, and are ecologically sustainable.
Consultation, monitoring and reporting
Consultation, monitoring and reporting will be undertaken to achieve transparent and accountable professional forest management. Forests NSW consults with relevant stakeholders on strategic and operational issues. The maintenance of key forest values will be monitored and made available in the Social, Environmental and Economic (Seeing) Report, and also in the annual Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management (ESFM) reports that monitor progress to the Montréal criteria contained in each plan and assists in improvement of strategies.
Montréal criteria
- Conservation of biological diversity
- Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems
- Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality
- Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources
- Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles
- Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of societies
- Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management.
See www.rinya.maff.go.jp/mpci/criteria_e.html (www.rinya.maff.go.jp) for more information on these criteria and associated indicators.
Leah Flint - Communications, Maitland
