State forests in NSW are managed sustainably to provide a supply of timber today and into the future, to protect the environmental values of the forest and provide community amenities.

Ecologically sustainable forest management

Ecologically sustainable forest management (ESFM) is our guiding philosophy. ESFM is about managing forests to maintain ecological principles and biodiversity while optimising the benefits to the community from all uses of the forest - all within the framework of running a profitable business for the people of NSW. This means more than just delivering our social, environmental and economic outcomes. It’s about being forest stewards, managing forests for today and tomorrow. Find out more about the ESFM plans which govern how we manage our forests.

Central to the concept of sustainable forest management is the ability to supply timber now and for future generations. To do this forest managers need to know how much timber is available for harvesting and how quickly it will grow back.

View the details of future yield estimates for native forests (922 kb, ).

Certification

Forests NSW has voluntarily elected to have its management of state forests certified to the strict Australian Forestry Standard - AS 4708:2007 (AFS). The environmental conformity, social benefit and economical viability of the AFS is recognised worldwide, through the Programme for Endorsement of Certification Scheme (PEFC). Forest management certification standards recognised by the PEFC, such as the AFS, are used in many leading countries as a critical indicator of the sustainability of a timber source in purchasing and procurement policies of many governments and companies. Such certification standards and procurement policies help to ensure that the origins of timber-based products are managed sustainably, that unregulated or illegal logging is prevented, and programs to tackle illegal logging are fostered, such as those of the European Union's FLEGT and the Government of Australia.

Most of the consumer demand for sawn timber and panel board products in NSW is met from our forests. Forestry in NSW is regulated in many ways. Timber harvested from NSW state forests is done sustainably. So by meeting the demand from NSW for timber from local sources, we are positively contributing to the sustainability of the world’s forests.

Find out more about forest management certification.

Forests NSW – growing homes for wildlife and people

Most of the consumer demand for sawn timber and panel board products in NSW is met from our forests. Forestry in NSW is regulated in many ways. Timber harvested from NSW forests is done sustainably. So by meeting the demand from NSW for timber from local sources, we are positively contributing to the sustainability of the world’s forests.

Find out what's in a house - enlarge image.

Did you know ...

• 1 in 4 Australian houses is made from timber form a Forests NSW plantation?
• timber grown sustainably in state forests offers a much smaller carbon footprint than alternative energy-intensive building materials?
• of the just under 2 million hectares of native forest, less than 3% is harvested annually to supply timber to the industry and community?
• the NSW Government (through Forests NSW) is the largest plantation owner in Australia?

Find out where the timber goes and what’s in a house.

Environmental management system (EMS)

Forests NSW environmental management system (EMS) is certified to ISO 14001 and sets the framework for achieving and continually improving our environmental performance by introducing a systematic approach to measuring and monitoring.

The EMS uses the four-step continual improvement cycle – plan, do, check, act - and is an effective way of identifying and implementing improvements.

Central to the EMS is Forests NSW forest management policy (PDF, 54kb) and the Ecologically Sustainable Management (ESFM) plans which outline broad strategies, performance indicators and defined outcomes for our management of state forests.

Publications

Download the following Primefacts:

• Forests and forestry in New South Wales
• Forest management certification
• Fire management in state forests
• Timber harvesting in native state forests
• Radiata pine 'The remarkable pine'

Key links

• Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (www.daff.gov.au)
• Australian Forests (www.australianforests.org.au)
• Wood - Naturally Better (www.naturallybetter.com.au)
• National Association of Forest Industries (www.nafi.com.au)

You may also be interested in ...

• Land use planning: State forests