Reporting and adaptive management

The NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee, independently chaired by the Commission, will review the Coastal IFOA and the monitoring program annually.

The annual reviews will consider the results of the monitoring program and identify key insights and implications based on the findings of the monitoring data. This will guide the recommendations made to the NSW Government, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) on how the Coastal IFOA could better meet its objectives and outcomes.

The Steering Committee will also engage stakeholders on progress and results at annual forums.

2025 Forest Webinar - Fauna monitoring insights

Thursday 14 August 10.30-11.30am

Register here

This webinar will present analysis of monitoring data for the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) and southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus). This work provides insights into fauna occupancy trends over time and the effects of climate and disturbance on the species in NSW forests.

Research will be presented by scientists from the Forest Corporation of NSW, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), followed by a Q&A panel.

Researchers in the Forest Science Unit at DPIRD were commissioned under the Coastal IFOA monitoring program to analyse yellow-bellied glider occupancy on the Bago plateau between 1995 and 2023 and southern brown bandicoot occupancy south of Eden between 2009 and 2023. This research in coastal state forests will be presented by Dr Rohan Bilney and Dr Leroy Gonsalves.

Researchers at NSW DCCEEW monitored the distribution of yellow-bellied glider (and greater glider) after the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, in collaboration with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and 4 Local Aboriginal Land Councils on the South Coast. This research was funded by the Australian Government and will be presented by Dr Jane DeGabriel.

First five-yearly review of monitoring program

Under Coastal IFOA Protocol 38, the monitoring program must undergo a major review every five years, the first of which is due in 2024. This review must include:

• detailed reporting of monitoring program progress and all results
• detailed analysis of trends
• an assessment of the adequacy of the monitoring program.

We, on behalf of the Steering Committee, are working to address these review requirements. In addition, First Person Consulting is conducting an independent review of the adequacy of the program, and the Steering Committee is seeking the views of interested stakeholders.

The outcomes of the review will inform future adaptation and improvements to the monitoring program.

Reporting

• Annual progress report (October 2024)
• Annual progress report (August 2023)
• Annual progress report (July 2022)
• Annual progress report (May 2021)

We, on behalf of the Steering Committee, produce annual progress reports for the Coastal IFOA monitoring program. The program reports to the Minister for Agriculture, Minister for the Environment, Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Primary Industries.

We have published the fourth annual progress report outlining program achievements and progress for 2023-24. The program has delivered new research and evaluations on hollow bearing trees, forest regeneration and field surveys and modelling used for the Coastal IFOA. The program continues to collect fauna data for trend monitoring. Remote sensors have now collected over 624,000 hours survey hours on state forest, equivalent to 40 years using traditional survey methods. In addition, the report explains new plans to monitor greater gliders and koalas and pilot to trial the use of eDNA to detect the Giant Burrowing Frog.

Adaptive management