Private native forestry and our oversight role

What is PNF?

Private native forestry (PNF) is the sustainable management of native forests on private property for timber production. Private native forests are the largest single component of NSW’s native forest estate, accounting for 37 percent of NSW native forests. PNF is a key resource for the NSW forestry industry and an important land management option for landholders. The rules for PNF are outlined in the PNF codes of practice.

Two agencies in NSW have key roles in private native forestry. Local Land Services provides support and advice to landholders and is responsible for approving PNF plans. The Environment Protection Authority monitors compliance to ensure PNF operations follow approved PNF plans and the relevant PNF code of practice.

In May 2022, the NSW Government released revised PNF codes following our advice into finalising the codes.

Our role

We are overseeing monitoring, assessment and adaptive management requirements introduced in the revised codes. The PNF codes task the NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee, independently chaired by the Commission to:

• propose and oversee a monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework for PNF
• undertake annual checks that the evidence base is up to date, identify emerging evidence from monitoring and research, and opportunities for improvement
• formally assess the data and evidence from the program (and any other lines of evidence) every five years to consider if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a review of the codes
• oversee updates to the PNF koala prescription map.

We are also overseeing additional projects including:

• a scientific and risk-based review of threatened species protections in the PNF codes
• a process to verify and improve the PNF koala prescription map and underlying models.

This work is supported by funding from Local Land Services of $1.5 million over two years, as part of a larger $28 million farm forestry package.