Program governance – NRC forest programs

The Forest Monitoring and Improvement Program outlines its governance and engagement framework, including:

annual reporting
community engagement
oversight by the NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee.

NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee

A cross‑agency NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee has been established and is chaired by the Natural Resources Commission to provide independent oversight of the program’s design, implementation, review, and continuous improvement.

Member agencies involved in the broader program governance include Environment Protection Authority, Forestry Corporation of NSW, Local Land Services, Aboriginal Affairs, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Crown Lands.

To strengthen independence and scientific rigour, the Steering Committee includes 4 appointed external experts:

Professor Patrick Baker, Charles Bullard Fellow (Harvard Forest), former ARC Future Fellow, University of Melbourne
Professor Philip Gibbons, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
Dr Peter Hairsine, Centre for Water and Landscape Dynamics, ANU
Associate Professor Tina Louise Bell, Fire Ecology, University of Sydney.

The Governance Charter (July 2023) (PDF 141.64KB) guides these arrangements, ensuring accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across the Forest Management and Improvement Program activities.

Multi-agency collaboration

The program is collaboratively undertaken by NSW agencies working with universities, the private sector, scientists, communities and industry partners. This cross‑sector structure supports shared responsibility and consistent state‑wide monitoring.

Transparent data sharing

All agencies involved in the program are required to share monitoring data publicly under the NSW Open Data Policy. Data is made available via TERN, enhancing scientific collaboration, independent scrutiny and trust in forest management decisions.

Science‑driven, state‑wide evidence base

The program consolidates baseline data across NSW forests, including; canopy extent and condition, carbon balance, biodiversity occupancy and distribution, structural, imaging and acoustic data.