This briefing paper presents an overview of plantation forestry in NSW. Plantation forestry characteristics covered in this paper include: legislative, policy and administrative arrangements; industry facts and figures; research into plantation species and products; and forestry education and training.

An historical overview of plantation forestry

Plantation forestry began in NSW in 1882. The Forestry Act 1916 was introduced as part of NSW's timber self-sufficiency policy. 

More recently, significant plantation forestry reforms commenced with the 1992 National Forest Policy Statement. In 1997, the Commonwealth Government launched Plantations for Australia: the 2020 Vision. The Vision aimed to treble the plantation estate between 1997 and 2020. Legislation instrumental to achieving the Vision includes the Commonwealth Managed Investments Act 1998, the NSW Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999, and several recent amendments of Commonwealth income tax assessment legislation.