Biosecurity

Biosecurity is about preventing, detecting and managing pests, diseases, weeds and other biological threats that can affect forests, biodiversity, timber production, neighbouring landholders and the wider community.

Forestry Corporation of NSW manages biosecurity risks across State forests and other land we manage through prevention, surveillance, early detection, pest and weed management, forest health monitoring and preparedness for biosecurity emergencies. This includes established threats such as weeds and pest animals as well as new and emerging plant pests, diseases and other biosecurity risks. This broader approach reflects FCNSW’s internal biosecurity framework and plans.

Our approach to biosecurity

Effective biosecurity relies on preventing threats where possible, detecting problems early and working with government agencies, neighbouring landholders and other stakeholders to manage risks across the landscape.

Our approach includes:

• Prevention and biosecurity hygiene to reduce the risk of pests, weeds and diseases being introduced or spread through the movement of vehicles, machinery, people, plants, soil and other materials.
• Surveillance and early detection to identify new or unusual pests, diseases and symptoms as early as possible.
• Forest health monitoring to help identify pests, diseases and other factors affecting the health of native forests and plantations. FCNSW’s internal framework recognises forest health monitoring as an important preventative input to biosecurity and early detection.
• Weed management to prevent the spread of weeds and manage priority weeds across the forest estate.
• Pest animal management to reduce the environmental, economic and community impacts of introduced pest animals.
• Emergency preparedness and response so we can support rapid action when a serious or exotic pest or disease is detected.
• Working with others, including government agencies, Local Land Services, councils, neighbouring landholders and other land managers, because biosecurity threats do not stop at property boundaries.

Publications

Forestry Corporation Biosecurity Management Policy

Forestry Corporation  Biosecurity Emergency Management Plan