National Forest Policy Statement

The Australian Government has committed to reviewing the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS), to ensure it meets Australia’s contemporary forest management objectives. This recognises that Australia’s forest industries, tenures and conservation reserves have changed significantly since the signing of the NFPS. The government is progressing the review with the states and territories through the Forestry Ministers’ Meetings forum.

The management of Australia's forests is guided by the 1992 NFPS. The NFPS was signed by the Australian Government and all mainland state and territory governments in December 1992 and by the Tasmanian Government in April 1995.

As signatories to the NFPS, the Australian, state and territory governments are committed to the sustainable management of all Australian forests, whether the forest is on public or private land, or reserved or available for production.

In developing the NFPS, governments were mindful of the important conservation values of Australia's forests and of the contribution that forest activities make to the national economy and rural and regional communities. This is reflected in the Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs), which were a key outcome of the NFPS.