What are the sustainability indicators?

Montreal Process Criteria for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests (1)

The Montreal Process Working Group on Criteria and Indicators developed a framework for describing, assessing and evaluating progress towards sustainable forest management in temperate and boreal forests. Australia was one of twelve signatory countries that adopted the following forest values to be enhanced or preserved.

Criterion 1: Conservation of biological diversity

  • Ecosystem diversity
  • Species diversity
  • Genetic diversity

Criterion 2: Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems

Criterion 3: Maintenance of ecosystem health and vitality

Criterion 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources

Criterion 5: Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles

Criterion 6: Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of societies

  • Production and consumption
  • Investment in the forest sector
  • Recreation and tourism
  • Cultural, social and spiritual needs and values
  • Employment and community needs

Criterion 7: Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management

Revised NSW Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators (2)

The NSW ecologically sustainable forest management indicators broadly align with the Montreal Process criteria and indicators but are specific for coastal forest regions of NSW. These are referred to as the Sustainability Indicators in the NSW RFAs and are referenced throughout the RFA MER Plan.

Criterion 1: Conservation of biological diversity

1.1 Ecosystem diversity

  • 1.1a Area of forest by forest type and tenure
  • 1.1b Area of forest by growth stage
  • 1.1c Area of forest in protected area categories
  • 1.1d Fragmentation of forest cover

1.2 Species diversity

  • 1.2a Forest-dwelling species for which ecological information is available
  • 1.2b The status of forest-dwelling species at risk of not maintaining viable breeding populations, as determined by legislation or scientific assessment
  • 1.2c Representative species from a range of habitats monitored at scales relevant to regional forest management

1.3 Genetic diversity

  • 1.3b Native forest and plantations of indigenous timber species that have genetic resource conservation mechanisms in place

Criterion 2: Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems

  • 2.1a Native forest available for wood production, area harvested and growing stock of merchantable and non-merchantable tree species
  • 2.1b Age class and growing stock of plantations
  • 2.1c Annual removal of wood products compared to the volume determined to be sustainable for native forests, and the future yields for plantations
  • 2.1d Annual removal of non-wood forest products compared to the level determined to be sustainable
  • 2.1e The proportion of the total area of native forest harvested that has been effectively regenerated, and the area of plantation clearfell harvested and the proportion of that effectively re-established

Criterion 3: Maintenance of ecosystem health and vitality

  • 3.1a Scale and impact of agents and processes affecting forest health and vitality
  • 3.1b Area of forest burnt by planned and unplanned fire

Criterion 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources

  • 4.1a Area of forest land managed primarily for protective functions
  • 4.1b Management of the risk of soil erosion in forests
  • 4.1c Management of the risks to soil physical properties in forests
  • 4.1d Management of the risks to water quantity in forests
  • 4.1e Management of the risks to water quality in forests

Criterion 5: Criterion 5: Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles

  • 5.1a Contribution of forest ecosystems and forest industries to the global greenhouse gas balance

Criterion 6: Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of societies

6.1 Production and consumption

  • 6.1a Value and volume of wood and wood products
  • 6.1b Values, quantities and use of non-wood forest products
  • 6.1c Value of forest-based services

6.2 Investment in the forest sector

  • 6.2a Investment and expenditure in forest management
  • 6.2b Investment in research, development, extension and use of new and improved technologies

6.3 Recreation and tourism

  • 6.3a Area of forest available for public recreation/tourism and the use and type of facilities and activities on offer

6.4 Cultural, social and spiritual needs and values

  • 6.4a Area of forest to which Indigenous people have use and rights that protect their special values and are recognised through formal and informal management regimes
  • 6.4b Registered places of non-Indigenous cultural value in forests that are formally managed to protect those values
  • 6.4c The extent to which Indigenous values are protected, maintained and enhanced through Indigenous participation in forest management

6.5 Employment and community needs

  • 6.5a Direct and indirect employment in the forest sector

Criterion 7: Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management

  • 7.1a Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests
  • 7.1b Extent to which the institutional framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests
  • 7.1c Extent to which the economic framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests
  • 7.1d Capacity to measure and monitor changes in the conservation and sustainable management of forests
  • 7.1e Capacity to conduct and apply research and development aimed at improving forest management and delivery of forest goods and services



  1. Attachment 9 (clause 47A/48A) NSW Regional Forest Agreements
  2. NSW EPA, 2016, Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Management regions