Winds of change for silvicultural practice in NSW native forests

Summary This paper reviews the development and current implementation of silvicultural practice in native State forests in New South Wales and how it can deliver ecologically sustainable forest management. The requirements for providing long term sustainability of timber products to the timber industry, and the conservation of biodiversity within native forests are often conflicting. As one means of resolving conflict, changes to silvicultural practices which take greater account of the ecological attributes of the forests are examined. State Forests, as custodians of State forests in New South Wales, are developing systems to ensure silvicultural decisions are based on the best scientific, ecological and socioeconomic knowledge. To be successfully implemented, these systems will need to satisfy economic, community and political expectations.