IFOAs effectively set out rules to protect native plants, animals, important habitat and ecosystems, soils and water in native forestry operations on public land. They also set requirements to achieve ecologically sustainable forest management in NSW.
There are 4 IFOAs in NSW:
This map identifies the forestry regions of NSW, which are covered by separate forestry approvals. In coastal regions, public native forests are subject to NSW Forest Agreements and Regional Forest Agreements with the Commonwealth.
Coastal IFOA
On 16 November 2018, the NSW Government updated the rules for native timber harvesting in NSW's coastal forests.
The NSW Government has remade the IFOAs for the Upper North East, Lower North East, Southern and Eden regions into one Coastal IFOA, which is efficient, effective, and enforceable, and reflects modern best-practice regulation.
The Coastal IFOA includes new rules to protect plants, animals, ecosystems, soils and waterways during native forestry operations on State Forests. These include minimum standards to preserve important wildlife habitat, which will be complemented by existing protected areas such as habitat corridors, old growth forest, rainforests, streams and wetlands.
EPA compliance monitoring
The EPA regulates FCNSW's compliance with the IFOAs - maintaining an active native forestry compliance program to help ensure compliance with the IFOAs and to promote continuous improvement in environmental performance.
