26 June 2026
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has welcomed the valuation of carbon in our native forests, saying it strengthens the case for an end to native forest logging in NSW, and provides governments with the funding pathway to make it happen.
NCC particularly welcomed the removal of the proposed deferred harvesting pathway in the Improved Native Forest Management method and stronger safeguards to prevent logging and clearing from simply shifting elsewhere.
Nature Conservation Council NSW Senior Forest Campaigner Clancy Barnard said the proper valuation of carbon was a significant win for forests and the community organisations that participated in the consultation process, and have long argued forests are worth more standing.
“The proposed deferred harvesting pathway was the central concern raised by the conservation movement,” Mr Barnard said.
“That is a genuine win for community advocacy and gives the final method a much stronger and more credible foundation.”
NCC also welcomed stronger safeguards designed to prevent logging and forest clearing from simply shifting elsewhere.
“It is particularly encouraging to see requirements to monitor and account for any increase in private native forestry,” Mr Barnard said.
“Ending logging in public forests must not lead to more pressure being placed on native forests on private land.”
Mr Barnard said the experience in Victoria demonstrated the importance of ensuring native forest timber did not continue to reach mills through other forms of large-scale clearing after commercial logging in public native forests had ended.
“Ending native forest logging must mean ending native forest logging, not allowing the same timber to continue entering the market through another regulatory pathway,” he said.
“Mr Barnard said he hoped that today's announcement would lead to an end to native forest logging in NSW.
“The economic case for native forest logging has already collapsed, and this gives the NSW Government a clear pathway to end it while generating substantial revenue by protecting public native forests,” he said.
“For decades, taxpayers have been asked to underwrite the destruction of public native forests. This method gives NSW the opportunity to reverse that equation and earn revenue by protecting and restoring them.”
“That revenue could fund a fair transition for affected workers, create secure regional jobs, improve forest management, build new recreation facilities and restore forests degraded by decades of logging,” Mr Barnard said.
“This is an opportunity to replace a declining, loss-making and environmentally destructive industry with a better-funded model of regional employment and forest stewardship.
“NSW has a genuine opportunity to join Victoria and Western Australia in transitioning out of native forest logging and towards a secure, plantation-based timber industry.
“Any credits generated under the scheme should only be used by hard to abate industries, and not for the continuation of fossil fuel projects.”
ENDS
Background
Modelling by Mandala Partners for the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation estimates that ending logging across NSW native state forests could generate around 1.5 million ACCUs each year and more than $1.5 billion in revenue over 15 years.
The modelling estimates that this investment could support around 1,700 ongoing regional jobs in forest restoration, pest and weed control, fire management, monitoring and the protection of cultural and environmental assets.
Media contact: Anna Greer
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Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request