Forest management plans overview
Local Land Services (LLS) can provide advice and assistance to help you legally undertake forestry operations on your property under a Private Native Forestry (PNF) Plan.
There are some key things you should take away from this guide:
- You must submit a Forest Management Plan (FMP) and have it approved by LLS before forestry operations begin.
- You must submit your Commencement Notification to LLS within 30 days before commencing operations.
- Your Forest Management Plan and a copy of your PNF Plan approval must be available on-site during forestry operations.
- The landholder(s) and anyone else carrying out forestry operations must read, sign and date the Forest Management Plan and any amendments.
This guide to undertaking a forestry operation assumes that you already:
- have a valid PNF Plan
- have assessed your forest
- agree with your mapping assessment including any high koala habitat suitability.
- have followed advice on preparing to undertake a forestry operation.
You must have an approved Forest Management Plan before you begin forestry operations.
What is a Forest Management Plan?
A Forest Management Plan describes the proposed forestry operations within your Private Native Forestry Plan area.
It is the key communication tool between the landholder and all forestry operators. It includes details about:
- the type and condition of your forest
- known presence of any threatened flora and fauna
- harvesting/silvicultural methods you will use
- forest regeneration requirements
- environmental protection measures
- road and crossing planning.
When do I need a Forest Management Plan?
A Forest Management Plan (FMP) is a legal requirement under the Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice (PNF Codes).
You need an FMP before you begin timber harvesting or other logging operations on your landholding (except for small scale harvesting).
If you hold an existing Forest Operation Plan, you will need to update it to a Forest Management Plan. Contact pnf.info@lls.nsw.gov.au for assistance.
You do not need an FMP if the proposed operations meet the definition of ‘Small Scale Harvesting’ under Section 5.1 of the Codes. This refers to operations in which single trees of various ages are harvested at a low intensity.
Small scale harvesting allows landholders to remove 5 trees per hectare across either:
- no more than 5 hectares per year or
- up to a total volume of 50 m3 per year.
While this is not a traditional harvesting technique, it is included in the PNF Codes so landholders can remove a small number of trees without a large-scale harvesting operation.
While small scale harvesting operations do not need an FMP, you must still submit a Commencement Notification Form. You must also keep a record of the number of trees harvested or total volume, and the approximate area harvested in order to submit a Completion Notification Form.
Key considerations when selecting trees to remove using small scale harvesting include:
- whether you want to sell the timber, and what type of timber is saleable in such a small quantity
- the impacts of tree removal on the surrounding trees, such advanced growth or competing trees
- ensuring that the removal of habitat, recruitment or feed trees does not stop you from meeting the minimum standards for tree retention outlined in the PNF Codes
- ensuring that harvesting does not result in the removal of only the best trees or only a small number of species (high grading), leading to a decline in forest quality, resilience or a possible change in species composition.
FMP requirements under the PNF Codes
- Only the landholder or a person nominated by the landholder can prepare the FMP.
- The landholder and all forestry operators must read, sign and date the FMP.
- You must submit your Forest Management Plan to Local Land Services using the required template.
- Local Land Services must approve your FMP before forestry operations begin.
- Your FMP must be available on-site during forestry operations.
- You must update your FMP with any amendments and notify Local Land Services of the amendment(s) within 10 days.
- Your FMP is valid for the life of your PNF Plan. You must keep it for this duration or for at least 5 years after the completion of any forestry operations.
- You must provide your FMP including any amendments to any officer from LLS or an authorised officer from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on request.
Purpose of an FMP
Maps and a written component make up your FMP. The FMP will help the landholder and contractor in complying with the PNF code by:
- ensuring forestry operations are sustainable and environmentally sound. You must consider regeneration requirements and stand health to maintain a productive and viable, long-term asset
- ensuring that anyone conducting forestry operations is aware of the site-specific obligations and requirements in a forestry operation
- allowing for the landholder to add conditions (that are additional to those contained in the Code) to meet the management objectives for the landholding
- providing a ‘living document’ for the control of forestry operations. You can add to or amend this document with knowledge gained during the course of operations.
How to get started
If you do not already have a Forest Management Plan, send in your completed Commencement Notification form to pnf.info@lls.nsw.gov.au and Local Land Services will assist you.
What to include in a Forest Management Plan
It is important that you prepare a clear and ecologically sustainable forest management plan for your property.
The FMP should contain site specific details, such as:
- where operations will or will not occur
- the forest management objectives
- intended silvicultural practices to achieve objectives
- specifics on tree selection and tree marking (for retention or removal), including the timing
- details of any existing and proposed roading with particular attention given to drainage feature crossings
- the location log landings and portable mill sites
- site specific environmental conditions relating to riparian zones, threatened species records and significant environmental features.
Certification Plans
If you are seeking to have your PNF operation certified as supplying 'certified timber products', then you are also required to complete a Certification Plan. It may be useful to discuss this plan and its requirements with the contractor where applicable.
Notification requirements for harvesting
The PNF Codes require landholders to notify Local Land Services of the commencement and completion of forestry operations.
You must provide a Notification of harvesting operations:
- within 30 days prior to commencing forestry operations
- within 30 days following completion of forestry operations.
Commencement notification template PDF, 55.24 KB
Completion notification template PDF, 48.79 KB
Providing Local Land Services with notification helps us to provide you with additional support to assist you to achieve your forest management goals.
Your next steps
Once LLS has received, reviewed and approved your completed FMP, and has received your commencement notification, you can legally begin a forestry operation on your property.
View our Forestry management resources and guides to assist with harvesting and on-ground operations.
Contact Local Land Services NSW
Our team welcome your enquiries, feedback and comments.
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