NSW forests could become net carbon emitters in coming decades, report finds

Forests in New South Wales could become net carbon emitters in coming decades, undermining state government efforts to reach net zero emissions, according to a report by one of its own agencies.

The management of forests on public and private land is expected to be an issue in the March state election.

The NRC report comes after the release of annual accounts for NSW Forestry Corporation, which showed its hardwood or native timbers division ran at a $9m loss in 2021-22.

The NRC elaborates on this, saying it was commonly assumed carbon lost to fire would be reabsorbed by forests as they recovered and regenerated in the 10 to 15 years post-fire.

But the extent to which forests were able to recapture lost carbon would depend on their ability to fully recover and the absence of further disturbances in the recovery period, the report said.

For soil organic carbon, recovery after fires was estimated to be about 60% after 20 years but this estimate did not account for additional bushfires during this time, the NRC said.

He said the most important thing for governments was to introduce stronger land-clearing regulations, incentives for landowners to protect forest on private land and to reduce logging.

Shortly before Christmas the NSW government announced a new 2035 emissions reduction target of 70% as it tries to head off the threat of independent candidates running in Liberal party heartland seats at the state election.

The agriculture minister, Dugald Saunders, said there were clear rules in place for the sustainable harvest of timber in NSW.

He said half of the 2m hectares managed by the NSW Forestry Corporation was conservation land and just 1% of the total area was harvested each year.

The NRC was unavailable for comment.