Cross-tenure methods, data and reports

What is the extent and condition and health of NSW forests?

NSW has about 20.5 million hectares of forest, spanning some of the most diverse forest types in Australia. Monitoring forest condition and health at this scale is complex and challenging. Forests range from sub‑alpine to semi‑arid and subtropical systems, each facing different pressures and future trajectories.

Project FE1: Baselines, drivers and trends forecasts extent, condition and health

Project FE2: Helping NSW forests recover after bushfires

Project FE3: Mobile laser scanning of NSW native forests

Forest monitoring and improvement program TERN data portal

Where do forest‑dependent species live, and how might this change over time?

NSW forests are home to many animals and plants that depend on forest habitats. People want better information about where these species live and they continue to thrive in our forests. This includes birds, frogs, bats, tree‑dwelling mammals and many threatened plants. Understanding their distribution helps guide conservation and forest management.

Project BD1: Baselines, drivers and trends for species occupancy and distribution

Project BD2: Fauna monitoring on North Coast forests

Project BD4: Koala and habitat response post-wildfires

How healthy are forest soils and water catchments, and how might soil condition, water availability and quality change over time?

Forested catchments help keep waterways healthy by supplying clean water with low levels of sediment and nutrients. Reducing soil erosion is important to protect both soil and water in forest areas and is essential for maintaining other forest values.

Project SW1: Baselines, drivers and trends for forest water catchments

Project SW2: Baselines, trends and drivers for soil stability and health in forest catchments

Project SW3: Evaluating Forest road networks to protect waterways

Is timber harvested in a sustainable manner?

NSW forests support a $7 billion forestry and wood products manufacturing industry in NSW. More than 15,750 people in NSW are employed in this sector. Over 40% of these jobs are found in regional towns. NSW has committed to managing its native forests in an ecological manner to provide sustainable wood supply over the short to long-term for the industry.

Project PC1: Baselines and trends in wood supply

How are Aboriginal values and knowledge included in forest management, and how can this be strengthened?

NSW forests are culturally, socially and economically important for Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal‑led, Country‑based assessments, monitoring and research are helping strengthen Aboriginal involvement in forest planning and management.

Case studies: Aboriginal cultural values and renewal in NSW forests post-wildfire

Fauna monitoring on indigenous protected areas

Aboriginal land management

How are forests supporting social, cultural and economic benefits, and how might this change?

Forests support social, cultural and economic benefits, including jobs in tourism, forestry and apiary. They give Aboriginal peoples strong connections to Country and create local opportunities. Forests also provide places for people to enjoy nature, supporting health and wellbeing. To manage them well, we need reliable information so forests can continue to deliver these benefits for NSW.

Project SE1: Forest‑dependent jobs

Are NSW forests storing more carbon than they release and how might this change under different future conditions?

People are increasingly concerned about climate change, which means there is more focus on how carbon moves through the environment and how plants store carbon. Forests in NSW play an important part in the global carbon cycle because they capture and store carbon as they grow. Keeping healthy levels of carbon stored in forests is an important sign that our forests are being managed sustainably.

Project CC1: Carbon balance of NSW forests