Source: NSW CRA/RFA Steering Commitee

Eden Forum Previews Forest Assessments

29 September 97

At its Thursday meeting the Eden Regional Forest Forum viewed key results of the forest assessments which the region has undergone in recent months.

Forum chair, Kerry Pfeiffer, said that more than a dozen representatives from the technical committees which have been running the assessments were on hand to describe the processes and answer questions.

"The results of the assessments will now be analysed to determine what viable options exist for future forest conservation and management in Eden," Mr Pfeiffer said.

The data shown to forum members included a range of maps showing attributes such as the distribution of vegetation and fauna habitats; heritage sites of community importance; mineral potential, apiary and plantation sites, and places of indigenous cultural significance.

There was also a demonstration of the computer software which has been devised to assist the development of options for Eden. Forum members were briefed on the upcoming stakeholder negotiations to see how the extensive and detailed scientific, economic and social data gathered over preceding months will actually be used to produce options — and ultimately decisions — for Eden’s forests.

A draft report containing those options will be released in November for public comment. The forum will contribute to the development of options for Eden by providing the Steering Committee with regional input.

"Our contribution has been consolidated as a result of Thursday’s meeting," Mr Pfeiffer said.

"With the information provided to us, members are now preparing a list of regional issues which will be brought to the forum’s next meeting."

Director of the NSW Resource and Conservation Assessment Council, Rex Bowen, said that the input which stakeholders at all levels have already had into the CRA/RFA has made it the most broad-based and inclusive process of forest assessment ever undertaken in Australia.

"The assessments have been managed by technical committees which include stakeholder representatives from a number of community groups. In addition, local people have also contributed to the community workshops on social assessment and assessment of sites of heritage significance as well as participating as volunteers in flora and fauna surveys," Mr Bowen said.

"It augurs well for a binding and lasting resolution in Eden, which will be the first NSW region to see a Commonwealth-State regional forest agreement."

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