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The Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) was concluded between the Australian and Tasmania governments in November 1997 after an extensive round of public consultations. The aim of the RFA was to achieve a balance between economic, social and environmental objectives. It has received the full support of both political parties at both state and federal level as a broad community consensus on how Tasmania forests should be managed for a sustainable future. The RFA applied the internationally recognised JANIS criteria to the creation of conservation reserve systems. The RFA was further enhanced by a supplementary Community Forest Agreement reached between the Australian and Tasmanian governments in May 2005. Under these combined agreements 42% of the land area of Tasmania, and 45% of its forest cover are reserved in national parks and reserves. One seventh of the land area of Tasmania is covered in old growth forests, reserved from any harvesting. There is a program to protect conservation values on private land. Performance under the RFA is measured through a five-yearly review that assesses progress against a wide range of social, economic and environmental criteria, which was established on implementation of the Agreement. Tasmania's $1 billion forest products industry is the State's second largest employer. The RFA laid the foundation for the creation of 550 jobs in plantations, intensive forest management and infrastructure development and was accompanied by a Commonwealth funding package of $110 million to help develop exports and value adding.
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