Private Native Forestry Plans

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

Follow the step-by-step guide to applying for a PNF Plan.

Download the PNF Plan application form.

Complete the from ensuring all current landowners sign the application, before submitting via email at pnf.info@lls.nsw.gov.au

You can contact Local Land Services for assistance at any time.

What you need to include in your application

• Landholder details.
• Primary contact.
• Property details.
• Confirmation that you have reviewed the Native Vegetation Regulatory (NVR) Map for your property.
• Excluded forest areas (if any).

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.

To process your application, you must have the authorisation of all owners of the property and any holders of forestry rights. Owner details must match Land Titles records and be accompanied by their signature.

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.  

Local Land Services staff can assist you to prepare your application and give guidance around finding property details and providing a map if required.

What happens next

After you submit your application, Local Land Services will 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:

1. Assessing your forest
2. Preparing for a forestry operation
3. Lodging a Forest Management Plan for approval
4. Notification of harvesting operations. 

If your approved plan requires future amendment, you no longer wish to conduct forestry operations, or you have sold the property, please contact your nearest PNF officer for advice on varying or terminating your PNF Plan.

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.