History
The recent history of Australia's native forest management is rife with conflict. No one disagreed that the forests were important to us all. The stumbling block was the diverse range of opinions on their management and use.
The first comprehensive national attempt to settle the conflict was the 1992 National Forest Policy Statement. Governments then identified the concept of RFAs as the best means to achieve a win-win outcome for all stakeholders.
The Commonwealth and four State Governments progressively signed the 10 RFAs between 1997 and 2001.
The RFAs achieved a middle ground. They lay down guidelines, tasks and responsibilities for sustainable forest management. The 20-year agreements are ongoing, not static.
The forest debate ranges over a variety of topics. They include:
- Regeneration and regrowth forest
- Old-growth forests
- Woodchips
- Management on and off reserves
- Private land
- Plantations
- Fire
- Regulation of forest operations
- Other uses - including multiple use
- Endangered, threatened, vulnerable and rare species and ecological communities
The RFA process added considerably to our storehouse of knowledge of forest uses and values. It covered the entire spectrum - from their complex ecosystems to their mineral deposits, their heritage values and their importance to tourism and recreation.
For more information on Regional Forest Agreements please visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry website.