The native forests of NSW are priceless biodiversity hotspots, carbon sinks and water sources and have enormous potential for recreation and tourism.
5.1 Stop logging public native forests and shift to plantations
NSW lags well behind other states that have developed plans to set their forestry industries on an ecologically sustainable footing.
5.2 Convert state forests to reserves by 2024
The biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and recreation values of state-owned native forests have always outweighed their value as a timber resource.
5.3 Protect forests to capture 1.5m tonnes of carbon per year
Logging native forests releases millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
5.4 Enhance Indigenous management and ownership
Aboriginal ownership and joint management and traditional management practices should be encouraged, along with opportunities for Aboriginal people to benefit economically from businesses centred on forests.
5.5 Ban native forest biomass for electricity and hydrogen
Repeal the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Amendment (Native Forest Bio-materials) Regulation 2013 to close the loophole allowing the burning of native forest biomass for electricity.