As described in the introduction, the interim assessment is an initial stage in determining a national forest reserve system across Australia. The interim assessment will be followed by longer and more detailed Comprehensive Regional Assessments (CRAs). Ultimately, this will lead to agreements called Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) between the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments.
The Regional Forest Agreements will be the means by which decisions are recorded about forest use and management. They will give industries the certainty necessary to make investment decisions which will underpin sustainable industry development. It will also provide a firm basis for nature conservation through Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) reserves and complementary off-reserve management.
The CRAs will lead to 'a national comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) reserve system which will safeguard biodiversity, old growth, wilderness and other natural and cultural values of forests. At the same time, it will be possible to identify the optimal use and management of areas outside the reserve system.'
These assessments will begin immediately following the finalisation of the interim assessment.
The CRAs will be broader in their focus, and will expand the community's involvement by establishing regional committees which will provide 'grass roots' feedback and advise the Government on regional forest issues as they relate to the assessment. The CRA will take into account economic, social, environmental and heritage values of forest regions.
Unlike the interim assessment - which has primarily been about protecting high conservation value forests while providing interim supply for the timber industry - the comprehensive assessment will take into account a range of forest uses on all forested land. Validation and field checking of data and data collection and analysis will continue through the comprehensive regional assessment.