Forestry Corporation of NSW’s CEO Nick Roberts said State forests continued to play many vital and varied roles in local communities a century since the first formal forestry legislation was passed in Australia.

“This year’s International Day of Forests is significant for the Forestry Corporation of NSW, as it falls 100 years after the Forestry Act 1916 first established us as the then NSW Forestry Commission,” Mr Roberts said.

“We were established with the objective to meet the community’s ongoing demand for timber while maintaining healthy and productive forests over the long term and a century on, more than 500 thriving State forests throughout NSW are testament to how we have achieved that balance.

“Today, we manage over two million hectares of native forests and plantations that support thousands of Australian jobs in timber production and underpin an industry that contributes $2.4 billion to the economy annually. Equally importantly, these forests also provide many environmental values that the corporation protects for the benefit of the community.

“We welcome more than three million campers, bushwalkers, trail bike riders, four wheel drivers, horse riders and mountain bikers to forests throughout the State every year.

“Our production forests have been harvested and regenerated many times since 1916 and the fact they continue to thrive is testament to the sustainable forest management practices that have been employed over the past century. Because we continue to manage these forests sustainably, they will carry on regenerating and supplying renewable timber 100 years from now and beyond.”

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 21 March as the International Day of Forests to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests.

For more information about Forestry Corporation of NSW, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au