The Natural Resources Commission has invited public comments on a strategy to establish a State-wide monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement program for NSW forests.
In a statement, the Commission said the program would include forest monitoring, evaluation, research and reporting on both public and private land across the State.
“It will generate information aimed at improving adaptive management of NSW forests, including State forests, national parks, private native forests and Crown forested land,” the Commission said.
“Specifically, the program will incorporate requirements for the monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement of forest management and environment protection under the three NSW Regional Forest Agreements and four NSW Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals.”
It said this would include NSW’s obligation to report against indicators for ecologically sustainable forest management.
“The program will build on a range of existing forest monitoring, evaluation and research initiatives and provide opportunities for coordination and partnership,” the Commission said.
Included in the program would be annual forums for forest monitoring.
The Commission said that it and the NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee would engage with the community, environment and industry stakeholders on the program’s design, implementation, annual reviews and major reviews.
The 18-page draft strategy can be accessed at this PS News link with public comment open until 4 July.
