Sustainable forest management

What is sustainable forest management?

Sustainable forest management is the key to managing forests for the long term. It is about finding a balance between all the different ways people use forests while maintaining the unique forest features the community values like biodiversity, clean air and water, habitat and cultural heritage.

This is management of the forest so that it meets the current needs of the community and of those in the future.  For example, sustainable forest management needs to produce enough timber for now and regenerate and re-plant so as to guarantee timber for future generations. 

Forest managers are well trained to understand how to maximise the timber we can get from harvesting operations and use science to ensure forest features are protected and the trees will grow back ensuring the forest remains healthy and productive for years to come.

How do we ensure out forest management is sustainable?

Forestry Corporation has implemented a number of regulations, certifications, procedures and reporting mechanisms so that we can assure the people of NSW that all of the forests are managed sustainably. 

These mechanisms include:

  • Certification to the Australian Forestry Standard – AS 4708:2007 which is a recognised sustainable standard as audited by the international Programme for Endorsement of Certification Scheme (PEFC).
  • Environmental Management System (EMS) certified ISO 14001
  • Ecologically sustainable forest management plans (ESFM)
  • The regulations governing timber standards include the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 and the Plantations and Reafforestation (Code) 2001.

Forestry Corporation performance against a number of sustainability indicators is reported on annually in the Annual Report.

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Page last updated/reviewed:24 Jul 2012