Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA)

The Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) is a bilateral agreement between the Tasmanian and Australian governments, first signed on 8 November 1997. It is a framework document that is underpinned by Tasmania’s forest management system (including legislation, policies, codes, plans and management practices).

The 1997 Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement was varied on 18 August 2017 by the Australian and Tasmanian governments to establish a 20-year rolling extension. Further information on the 2017 extension process

Information is also available on reviews and amendments to the RFA

The RFA covers both public and privately owned forests, and provides for:

• the long term stability of forests and forest industries
• a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system (CAR reserve system)
• the ongoing ecologically sustainable management and use of forested areas in Tasmania.

Tasmania was the first state in Australia to be fully covered by an RFA. Documents relating to the preparation and release of the RFA, including the Agreement, history land use maps, reports and assessments can be found on the Australian Government's RFA website.

Whole-of-Government co-ordination for the Tasmanian RFA is provided by the Department of State Growth. Other relevant Tasmanian Government agencies/entities are the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, Private Forests Tasmania, and the Forest Practices Authority.

Annual Meeting of Officials

The Tasmanian RFA Annual Meeting of Officials is held in the years between the five-yearly reviews, as part of the Australian and Tasmanian governments’ commitment to strengthened communications under the extended Tasmanian RFA. The most recent meeting took place on 21 July 2021. A communique from the meeting is available to view on the Australian Government's website.