Before harvesting timber or undertaking forestry operations on your property, you must apply to Local Land Services (LLS) for a Private Native Forestry Plan. LLS can work with you to guide you through the approval process.
What is a Private Native Forestry Plan
A Private Native Forestry Plan (PNF Plan) is an approval for landholders to undertake ecologically sustainable forest management activities on their landholding.
A PNF Plan can be granted for a maximum of up to 15 years. As the landowner, you can specify the area that you would like the PNF Plan to cover.
Once assessed and approved by Local Land Services, the PNF Plan includes:
- a satellite image or aerial photograph of your property. This identifies where you can conduct forestry operations and areas that must be protected. Protected areas include rainforest, old-growth forest, threatened species habitat and drainage features
- access to a PNF Koala Prescription Map showing areas classified as ‘High Koala Habitat Suitability’ (HKHS)
- an agreement that outlines your rights and responsibilities under the relevant Private Native Forestry Code of Practice.
How to apply for a Private Native Forestry Plan
Complete the online application form to apply for a PNF Plan.
The following guide outlines the information you will be asked to supply.
You can contact a Local Land Services office for help, or email the Farm Forestry team via pnf.info@lls.nsw.gov.au
What you need to include in your application
To help Local Land Services staff process your application, it is important to provide the correct details.
You should also provide a map of your proposed PNF area. The NSW Government’s Spatial Map Viewer can be used to find property details and produce simple maps for this purpose. Follow the step-by-step guide to using the Spatial Map Viewer,
We can assist you to prepare your application and give guidance around finding property details and providing a map if required.
Landholder details
Your application must include the details of all landholders listed on the title records or it can not progress. Landholder details can be found on your title records for each lot.
You must have the authorisation of all owners of the property and any holders of forestry rights.
Where a company is the registered owner of the land, you must provide full names and capacity of each signatory authorised to execute the PNF Plan for, or on behalf of, that company. The identified signatories must meet the company requirements and, if there are more than one delegated signatory, ensure at least two are identified.
In the case of Power of Attorney, relevant authorisation documents should be submitted as a part of the application process.
Primary contact details
The primary contact is responsible for receiving all communication and documents in relation to the PNF application. They will be contacted by a Forestry officer upon receipt of the completed application.
The primary contact must be a landholder or delegate from the company listed on the title. Please supply all contact information, including name, phone numbers, email address and postal address.
Property details
You must list all lots included in your property for the PNF application to describe the land where the PNF Plan will apply. Include both lot numbers and Deposited Plan (DP) number (for example Lot X//DP XXXXXX).
Providing your property name and property street address will assist with the land description.
You can find this information on your rates notice, or by searching online platforms such as the Spatial Map Viewer.
Review the Native Vegetation Regulatory Map
You are required to confirm that you have reviewed the Native Vegetation Regulatory (NVR) Map for your property. This map shows the lands exempt and regulated under the Local Land Services Act 2013.
You can indicate that you are satisfied with the NVR mapping by selecting ‘No review necessary at this time’ when completing your application. Any areas that are currently mapped as sensitive regulated (including mapped rainforest and old growth forest) will be excluded from forestry operations on your property.
If you are not satisfied with the NVR mapping of your property, you can request a free map review. Once you have completed this review request, select 'Yes' on your PNF application.
PNF and excluded areas
You may have forested areas that must be excluded from your PNF area, or areas that you choose to exclude to suit your personal preferences and different management objectives.
All relevant documentation relating to existing approvals and management on your property should be provided to LLS as a part of the application process.
Your application should include:
- a description of the existing management and/or approvals on your property
- a map showing the areas to be included, the areas that cannot be included, and the areas you do not want to have a PNF Plan issued over.
Examples of excluded areas might include:
- Plantations - supply any approval information for plantation area including shapefiles from Plantations Regulation.
- Conservation agreements - supply details and maps, including documentation if you have sought to revoke any conservation agreement/s.
- Areas mapped under the Land Management Code - including areas with certificates or notifications issued under 60ZS of the Local Land Services Act 2013.
If none of these apply, LLS will assess your property and determine the maximum area of forest that can be managed under the PNF Code.
What happens next
After submitting your application, you and all listed landholders will be emailed a secure Docusign draft application to review and sign. This must be completed within 30 days.
Local Land Services will then contact you to discuss your application and assess your plan.
Officers will conduct a range of searches to assist in identifying biodiversity values specific to your property. These findings are important and Local Land Services will discuss them with you in detail.
If there are any issues preventing the approval, Local Land Services will notify you. If your application meets the conditions required by Part 5B of the Local Land Services Act, Local Land Services will send you:
- an approved PNF Plan
- Koala Prescription Map
- associated forestry operations documents.
Relevant documents include:
- a provisionally approved Forest Management Plan (FMP) and related map(s) showing site specific information
- a notification letter which includes lists of threatened species and Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) that may occur in the vicinity of the FMP area
- details of any known Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites within the FMP area
- a blank Commencement Notification form.
Understanding your PNF Koala Prescription Map
As part of your PNF Plan, Local Land Services will provide you with access to a PNF Koala Prescription map showing areas on your property (if present) that are classified as High Koala Habitat Suitability (HKHS).
You must manage these areas in accordance with the koala prescriptions in Appendix A of the relevant PNF Codes.
Find out more about High Koala Habitat Suitability as well as the process for requesting a review if you consider the PNF Koala Prescription Map of your property to be inaccurate.
Additional consents
In addition to an approved PNF Plan, you may require consent from your local council (if this is required by a Local Environment Plan or other planning instrument under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979), in order to conduct forestry operations on your property.
You may also require consent under other legislation, such as the Rural Fires Act 1997, Water Management Act 2000, or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to conduct activities that are associated with forestry operations.
Your responsibilities under a PNF Plan
Once a PNF Plan has been obtained, all forestry operations must be undertaken in line with the PNF Codes of Practice for your region.
Find out more in our guides to:
- Assessing your forest
- Preparing for a forestry operation
- Lodging a Forest Management Plan for approval
- Notification of harvesting operations.
Varying a PNF Plan
There are several situations where you may wish to change an approved PNF Plan.
An application to vary a PNF Plan applies if you:
- are proposing modifications to the approved PNF area
- have sold one or more lots of the property
- have purchased one or more lots adjoining the property
- have recently purchased a property with an existing PNF Plan and are interested in continuing forestry operations.
You can request a variation by completing the PNF Plan application form, and supplying information relating to what is to be varied.
You will need to supply the existing PNF plan number.
Terminating a PNF Plan
If you no longer wish to conduct forestry operations, you need to submit a termination application.
Complete the online form to terminate your PNF Plan.
Once the completed application from is received, a Forestry Officer will contact the primary contact listed. This person will receive all communication and documents about the PNF termination application.
All landholders listed on the title will receive a secure Docusign link to review and sign.
If you have any questions, you can email pnf.info@lls.nsw.gov.au
Monitoring of compliance and enforcement
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has the responsibility for monitoring and enforcing compliance of PNF operations across NSW.
The aim of the EPA’s compliance program is to ensure that landholders comply with PNF Plans and the PNF Codes. The EPA may undertake inspections either as part of a proactive compliance program, or in response to a complaint.
Prior to conducting an inspection EPA will contact the landholder or their representative to arrange an appropriate time to inspect the operation. All aspects of an operation may be inspected during an EPA visit including the FMP, the protection of environmental features, crossings of drainage features, retention of basal area and regeneration.
The EPA does not provide silviculture or harvesting advice, however a request for the EPA to attend your property to assess an operations compliance with the Code may be made by calling them on 131 555.
Contact Local Land Services NSW
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