As part of the International Day of Forests (Sunday 21 March 2021) Forestry Corporation of NSW is highlighting the importance of sustainable forestry to NSW and regional communities.

Acting Forestry Corporation CEO Anshul Chaudhary said Australia is the sixth most forested country in the world and Australia’s forest sector, of which NSW is a significant part, plays a critical role in managing forests for generations to come.

“Forests are one of Australia’s greatest natural resources; and the value they contribute to our environment, climate, communities and economies is enormous,” Mr Chaudhary said.

“In NSW, we have been harvesting and regrowing State forests for over 100 years providing a renewable source of timber for house frames, floorboards, decking and power poles.

“Long-term sustainability and regrowing of our forests for the future is at the heart of forestry in NSW.

“We need to manage our forests actively and adaptively across all land tenures to achieve the best outcomes for the long-term.

“Central to this is working with the community, First Nations peoples, our industry and government to help manage our forests sustainably, together.

“Our forest management practices ensure that trees are continually replanted and regrown, continuing the cycle of regeneration of this ultimate renewable resource.

“In NSW we are growing 14 million seedlings right now in our nurseries to plant over the winter months to re-establish plantations, many of which were burnt in the 2019-20 bushfires.”

Forestry Corporation manages around two million hectares of natural and plantation State forests across NSW for environmental, community and economic outcomes. Around half of the forest estate is set aside for conservation.

Timber harvesting takes place on around one per cent of the estate each year under strict rules to protect wildlife habitat, soil and water and every tree harvested for timber products is regrown.

Media contact: Rod Campbell