Community, environment and industry
Forestry Corporation of NSW has been managing environmental sustainability, tourism and renewable timber production in NSW’s State-owned commercial native and plantation State forests for more than a century.
We balance environmental conservation and community recreation with timber production and access for other primary industries such as grazing and beekeeping to ensure our forests sustainably deliver multiple benefits to the community for the long term.
- permanently protect a million hectares for wildlife and conservation
- welcome millions of visitors a year
- harvest less than one per cent of native State forests each year to produce renewable timber for a range of purposes.
We are independently certified to the Australian Standard for Sustainable Forest Management and, as a state owned corporation, have an independent Board of Directors and deliver an annual financial return to the people of NSW.
Forestry Corporation produces around 14 per cent of the timber produced in Australia annually and is a major player in the Australian wood products industry, which employs 22,000 people in NSW and adds $2.4 billion a year to the economy.
Our Softwood Plantations Division manages Australia’s largest softwood plantation estate, responsible for more than 230,000 hectares of pine plantations in the central west, south and north of NSW. Our Hardwood Forest Division manages around 40,000 hectares of hardwood timber plantations and has stewardship of two million hectares of coastal native forests, cypress forests and red gum forests. For more details on the scope of Forestry Corporation’s management email info@fcnsw.com.au.
Forestry Corporation's purpose is to grow sustainably, manage commercially and support communities in a changing world. We value respect, integrity and innovation and the wellbeing of our people and communities.
Sustainable business
Sustainability has always been a core principle underpinning our forest management.
As a business that relies on continually producing timber and other products and services from the same land, the sustainability of the forests we manage is fundamental to our long-term success.
Sustainability is built into every aspect of our business, from environmental management to community partnerships, staff wellbeing and profitability. We publish detailed data on our website and in our annual sustainability report each year.
Forestry Corporation continues to meet the environmental, social, economic and sustainability criteria of the Australian Standard for Sustainable Forestry Management – Responsible Wood (AS4708:2021).
Professional and ethical business
Forestry Corporation is committed to being fair, honest, safe and responsible in all that we do.
We have a suite of policies which guide decision making and staff behaviour. Forestry Corporation's Code of Conduct is supported by policies on issues like Fraud and Corruption Prevention, Diversity and Inclusion and compliance with the Competition and Consumer Act.
Forestry Corporation has zero tolerance to fraud or corruption. Acts of fraud and corruption by staff, contractors, customers, suppliers or any other stakeholders present a significant threat to the business and is illegal. Forestry Corporation is committed to:
- fostering and maintaining the highest standards of ethical behaviour where fraud/corruption is not tolerated.
- promoting a culture that operates fairly, effectively, and efficiently and deals with situations where fraud/corruption has either been attempted or has occurred.
- ensuring that management maintain effective control systems and procedures to protect against fraudulent/ corrupt activity.
- acting promptly when fraud/ corruption is detected, both to bring the fraud/corruption to an end and to discourage others who may be inclined to commit similar conduct
Forestry Corporation recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment.
Forestry Corporation does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct. We will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford fair and just process to the person who is the subject of the disclosure.
Report wrongdoing or suspicious behaviour
You can report wrongdoing or suspicious behaviour:
- to Forestry Corporation by contacting our Audit and Risk Manager or the CEO via email at info@fcnsw.com.au. If you wish to make a Public Interest Disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosures Act, please see our policy for further guidance.
- to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)