North Brooman State Forest
State forests are managed for multiple uses and around one per cent of the estate is harvested for timber and regenerated each year, which means timber harvesting operations move around the landscape and the same forests are harvested and regrown many times over. Read more about how native forest operations are planned and managed in NSW State forests.
Current operations in North Brooman State Forest
North Brooman State Forest has been continually harvested for renewable timber and regrown for more than 100 years. The last time it was harvested was in 2005 and earlier operations took place in 1978, 1966, 1951 as well as prior to the 1950s. Wildfires have also impacted the forest many times.
There are strict rules in NSW that were developed by expert scientific panels to protect wildlife habitat, soil and water, biodiversity and cultural heritage during forestry operations. Forestry Corporation spends many months ahead of every operation carrying out a detailed planning process to develop harvest plans that comply with these rules and every time an operation is completed, the forest is regrown for the future.
Watch the video below for more information about the planning process.
Once the planning process is completed, a harvest plan is published on our Plan Portal. Harvest plans include detailed maps and instructions for operators.
Protection of significant trees
North Brooman State Forest contains a significant tree that has been recorded and protected for many years. The tree is known locally as Big Spotty and is one of the largest recorded spotted gum trees on the south coast of NSW.
This tree has for many years been permanently protected within an exclusion zone that is set aside for conservation and unavailable for timber harvesting. During the last harvesting operation in 2005, a 60-metre radius protection zone was established andclearly identified on the harvest plan. Over the coming months, a planning process will start for future operations in South Brooman State Forest and the protection zone will be clearly marked during that planning process and operations will remain outside of this protected area.
Exclusion zones make up more than half of the State forest estate, and these areas are mapped as part of the forest management zoning system that has been implemented in NSW State forests for more than 20 years specifically to protect areas and assets of high conservation value. These exclusion zones are in addition to the comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve network established under the Regional Forest Agreements, which protected approximately 83 per cent of public forests in NSW for conservation, largely in the formal national park estate.
The permanent exclusion zone that has already been established for many years, coupled with the conditions in place in the adjoining compartment and ongoing independent oversight will ensure ongoing protection of the tree locally known as Old Spotty, as well as other environmental features.
Read more about the forest management zoning system in our Forest Management Plans.
Community access and tourism
State forests are managed for a wide range of uses including tourism, biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage. Tourism is fully compatible with sustainable timber production because State forests are harvested responsibly and every harvested area is fully regrown.
Forestry Corporation works in partnership with community groups and regional councils to develop and maintain ecotourism and adventure activities while continuing to produce sustainable timber. In fact, State forests have more mountain bike tracks than any other type of public land and forests that are managed for both tourism and timber have won multiple tourism awards over many years. Forestry Corporation manages forests to balance the needs of multiple users. Watch the video below for more.