Valuing the Social Dimension: Social Assessment in the Regional Forest Agreement Process

For many people, the Australian Regional Forest Agreement process (RFA) is just another forest planning process. However what makes it quite different from others of its kind, is that for the first time social assessment has been incorporated as part of the decision-making process. Governments have made a firm commitment to the Australian public that before decisions relating to forest use can be made, detailed social, economic, environment and heritage assessments must be undertaken. These assessments will provide valuable scientific information to inform the development of Regional Forest Agreements for each region and will ensure that all values in relation to forests are fully considered. This article presents the model of social assessment that is currently being employed in the RFA process in Victoria, and provides an overview of the way in which social issues are being incorporated in resource planning and policy development in the forest sector.