The I&I NSW Forest Science Centre of Excellence is co-located with Forestry Corporation, within Cumberland Forest at West Pennant Hills, and continues to deliver a significant part of the research and development objectives of this Government Trading Enterprise.

The Forest Science Centre is home to Forest Health Research (Biosecurity Research), New Forests (Climate in Primary Industries) and Forest Biodiversity and Ecology (Forest & Rangeland Ecosystems) programmes of I&I NSW Science Innovation and Performance.

Research and technical activities are focused on adding value to the planted forests, commercial services and native forests businesses of Forestry Corporation as well as the enhancement of forest resource development and sustainability within NSW. 

These services are provided by the three programme areas:  Forest Health Research; Forest Biodiversity and Ecology and New Forests.

Emphasis includes:

• establishment
• management, and,
• product quality of sustainable planted forests.

Research on the range of important potential benefits to be derived from returning trees to the rural landscape is also an important objective. Benefits include:

• sequestered carbon
• enhanced biodiversity, and,
• salinity mitigation.