Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management (ESFM) Plans
Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management (ESFM) plans have been developed in the context of known information and the regulatory environment to provide blueprints for the ecologically sustainable management of NSW State forests. Forests NSW ESFM plans complement the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) which outlines agreed objectives and policies for the future of Australia’s public and private forests. The NFPS recognises that forests provide a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to the community and that their management should be based on sustainable management principles.
Each ESFM plan sets out the broad strategies, performance indicators and measurable outcomes for forest management in the relevant region over a five year period and relates to aspects of forest management such as natural heritage, Aboriginal cultural heritage, non-Aboriginal cultural heritage, nature conservation, forest health, sustainable timber supply, economic development, social development, forestry operations and consultation, monitoring and reporting. Forests NSW has implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) certified to ISO 14001:2004 standard to ensure a systematic and continually improving approach to managing, measuring and monitoring performance related to these aspects.
In accordance with the Forestry Regulation 2004, public comments on draft ESFM plans were received and considered during the public consultation process.
ESFM plans for the Native Forest regions of Eden, South Coast, Tumut, Upper North East and Lower North East were published in 2005. ESFM plans for the Planted Forest regions of Hume, Macquarie, Monaro and Northern, and the Native Forest regions of Western and Riverina have been published in 2008.
All Forests NSW Regions now have ESFM Plans in place, resulting in comprehensive and consistent forest management across all NSW State forests.
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