This pilot will help landholders design their own plan for long-term forest stewardship that is matched with advice and incentives to help meet their needs.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $60,000
- Application opened: 4 October 2022
- Application closed: 15 November 2022, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Farm forestry generates benefits for both landholders and regional communities by supporting economic diversity and regional timber supply chains, in addition to maintaining biodiversity, soil health, carbon storage and water quality.
However, landholders often face barriers to engaging in farm forestry such as knowledge gaps, legacy forest management issues and associated cost burdens of management.
The NSW Forest Stewardship Pilot is the first of its kind in Australia to recognise the multiple benefits of farm forestry and address these known barriers through providing expert advice and incentives - an approach supported internationally by a range of land managers, environmental groups, industry and academics.
Through the pilot, landholders will be offered expert advice and incentives to:
- Improve environmental, cultural, social and productive outcomes of private forests
- Diversify the productive value of land and sustainable development of the timber industry
- Foster Aboriginal forest values, practices and engagement
- Collaborate with forest managers and engage in partnerships with the private and public sector
- Use active and adaptive management for continual improvement and long-term forest stewardship
- Improve understanding of private forests in NSW through monitoring, research, innovation and investment.
The pilot will be run by Local Land Services and overseen by an independent panel of forestry and natural resource management experts.
This program is administered by Local Land Services.
This program is funded by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Eligibility
The Pilot assists forest owners where good stewardship will support multiple forest uses and enhance long-term forest health.
Aboriginal forest owners and managers are encouraged to apply, including Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Aboriginal Corporations, Ranger Groups and joint managers.
We also encourage participation from landholders who are new to forest management and people experiencing challenges in managing their forests, including following significant events such as wildfire and flooding.
Who can apply
Landholders will need to meet the following eligibility criteria to participate:
- a forest area that is at least 10 hectares in size
- an existing Private Native Forestry Plan (PNF Plan) or is willing to obtain a PNF Plan for a period of up to 15 years
- clear and achievable forest management objectives
- ability and willingness to undertake forest management for environmental, cultural, social and/or productive outcomes
- willingness to consider partnerships, collaboration, or co-contributions.
Types of projects funded
If your application is successful, you will have ready access to expert advice which can help to:
- evaluate the range of possible values and uses of your forest
- focus your objectives so that they are compatible with resources, skills and experience, and
- circumstances
- plan out achievable forest management activities as part of a longer-term, whole-of-property plan
- understand effective forest stewardship practices, including rules and regulations, to ensure healthy and resilient forests
- recognise and plan for risks including natural disasters
- identify needs for training, advice, education and resources
- connect with other forest managers and partners.
Incentives will be provided to support and recognise your achievements. These could include onground advice in forest planning and management, technical assistance, and shared-cost or areabased financial incentives (up to a cap of $60,000 per participant). These will be developed in consultation with landholders and tailored to their needs.
Most recent recipients
Grant recipients
This overview is based on the period between June 2023 and October 2023.
Recipients received funding from this grant
Total funds approved for recipients of this grant
What your application needs to include
Read the NSW Forest Stewardship Pilot Guidelines (PDF 87.48KB) before submitting an EOI.
Address the eligibility criteria
To be eligible, landholders must have:
- a forest area that is at least 10 hectares in size
- an existing Private Native Forestry Plan (PNF Plan) or is willing to obtain a PNF Plan
- clear and achievable forest management objectives
- ability and willingness to undertake forest management for environmental, cultural, social and/or productive outcomes
- willingness to consider partnerships, collaboration, or co-contributions.
Address the assessment criteria
Forest details
There are three questions relating to current condition and history of the forest:
- characteristics and key details about the forest
- health of the forest, disturbance history and condition of the forest
- management of the forest to date.
Forest stewardship overview
Forest stewardship priorities
From a list of 10 topics, rank which you want to consider in your Forest Stewardship Agreement (using 1 for the most important and 10 for the least important).
Forest stewardship assistance
From a list of 10 areas, rank which you would like advice or assistance for in your Forest Stewardship Agreement (using 1 for the most important and 10 for the least important).
Proposed actions and objectives
There are six questions your proposed actions and objectives, including:
- actions you want to take and why
- what support is required
- estimated costs
- type of co-contribution.
Start the application
Landholders are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (PDF 135.39KB) to be part of the NSW Forest Stewardship Pilot.
Read the NSW Forest Stewardship Pilot Guidelines (PDF 87.48KB) before submitting an EOI.
Submit signed EOIs to ffp@lls.nsw.gov.au or Local Land Services, 117 Bull Street, Newcastle West, 2302.
After the application is submitted
Applications are assessed by the independent panel and Local Land Services.
Local Land Services will decide on the successful applicants and provide notification of the outcomes of the assessment on the Local Land Services website and the NSW Government Grants and Funding website.
Support and contact
See more information on the Local Land Services website.
Phone: 1300 795 299
Email: pnf.info@lls.nsw.gov.au