Whole-Plant Sustainable Management Plan 2023–2027.

The Whole-Plant Sustainable Management Plan 2023–2027, issued by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), establishes a regulatory framework for the commercial harvest, salvage, and propagation of protected whole plants in New South Wales. This Plan supersedes the 2018–2022 version and incorporates minor updates, primarily to align with legislative amendments and stakeholder feedback received during public consultation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). The Plan is underpinned by a risk-based regulatory approach that prioritises species vulnerable to unsustainable harvesting while streamlining compliance for low-risk activities. It delineates licensing requirements across four categories—wild harvester, approved harvester, seed harvester, and grower licences—each subject to specific eligibility criteria, operational protocols, and tagging obligations. Notably, the Plan restricts wild harvesting of threatened species, which are now only available to the commercial industry through artificial propagation under grower licences. The legislative framework integrates Commonwealth and NSW statutes, including the EPBC Act, the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), and associated regulations. Key amendments include the imposition of individual licence fees for each activity, clarification of the status of threatened species under Schedule 6 of the BC Act, and enhanced tagging protocols to ensure traceability and legal compliance throughout the supply chain. The Plan also introduces refined management protocols, including population assessments, harvest quotas, hygiene standards, and monitoring requirements to mitigate ecological impacts and support long-term conservation outcomes. The Plan is designed to meet the requirements of a Wildlife Trade Management Plan under the EPBC Act and supports the transition to cultivated sources for high-demand species. It promotes industry education, stakeholder cooperation, and research to improve post-harvest survivorship and reduce reliance on wild populations. Compliance is enforced through inspections, record-keeping obligations, and penalties for breaches, with provisions for licence suspension or cancellation where necessary.