TY - JOUR
T1 - Forest conversion and timber certification in the public plantation estate of NSW
T2 - Implications at the landscape and policy levels
AU - Cadman, Tim
AU - Macdonald, Kate
AU - Morgan, Edward
AU - Cadman, Sean
AU - Karki, Sikha
AU - Dell, Matthew
AU - Barber, Gregory
AU - Koju, Upama
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - This paper investigates the clearance of native forests and native vegetation for plantation establishment, otherwise known as forest conversion, in the state-owned plantations of New South Wales, Australia. It begins by describing Australia's forests, plantations, and forest conversion, continues with an outline of the history of public hardwood plantations in New South Wales, and explores the regulatory frameworks that allow this practice to happen, and the responses adopted by non-state environmental governance systems, notably forest certification, to address this problem. The paper presents a case study analysis of conversion in the hardwood plantations of northern NSW, and concludes that the current regulatory environment facilitates deforestation, with cumulative impacts at the landscape level, and that without government intervention, efforts to prevent this by non-state action will only be partially successful, leading to ongoing habitat and species loss. The failure of existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to adequately acknowledge, define, and prohibit conversion will remain an impediment to sustainable forest management, as the entry of such timber into the market contaminates supply chains, resulting in considerable reputation risk. Reform is needed in both public and private governance systems to ensure strong governance, effective planning, and ecosystem integrity at the landscape level. Recommendations are provided for policymakers.
AB - This paper investigates the clearance of native forests and native vegetation for plantation establishment, otherwise known as forest conversion, in the state-owned plantations of New South Wales, Australia. It begins by describing Australia's forests, plantations, and forest conversion, continues with an outline of the history of public hardwood plantations in New South Wales, and explores the regulatory frameworks that allow this practice to happen, and the responses adopted by non-state environmental governance systems, notably forest certification, to address this problem. The paper presents a case study analysis of conversion in the hardwood plantations of northern NSW, and concludes that the current regulatory environment facilitates deforestation, with cumulative impacts at the landscape level, and that without government intervention, efforts to prevent this by non-state action will only be partially successful, leading to ongoing habitat and species loss. The failure of existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to adequately acknowledge, define, and prohibit conversion will remain an impediment to sustainable forest management, as the entry of such timber into the market contaminates supply chains, resulting in considerable reputation risk. Reform is needed in both public and private governance systems to ensure strong governance, effective planning, and ecosystem integrity at the landscape level. Recommendations are provided for policymakers.
KW - Australian Forestry Standard
KW - Forest conversion
KW - Forest Stewardship Council
KW - Glasgow Declaration
KW - Hardwood plantations
KW - Koala
KW - New South Wales
KW - Plantations
KW - Responsible Wood
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85193978399&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107179
DO - 10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107179
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85193978399
SN - 0264-8377
VL - 143
SP - 1
EP - 20
JO - Land Use Policy
JF - Land Use Policy
M1 - 107179
ER -