The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has welcomed the valuation of carbon in native forests, saying it strengthens the case for ending native forest logging in the state. The removal of a proposed deferred harvesting pathway in the Improved Native Forest Management method is a key win, along with stronger safeguards to prevent logging from shifting to private land. The NCC argues that carbon valuation reverses the economic equation, allowing NSW to earn revenue by protecting forests instead of subsidizing their destruction. This revenue could fund a fair transition for workers, create regional jobs, and restore degraded forests, following the lead of Victoria and Western Australia in transitioning to plantation-based timber. Any carbon credits generated should be reserved for hard-to-abate industries, not to prolong fossil fuel projects. The announcement provides a clear funding pathway for NSW to end native forest logging and move toward forest stewardship.
