VicForests operates in a strict regulatory environment which is overseen by the Office of the Conservation Regulator (OCR).

The OCR was established by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to manage DELWP’s regulatory functions.

One of the OCR’s functions is to regulate timber harvesting operations. This includes managing the Forest Audit Program which is an independently commissioned audit of VicForests compliance against Victoria’s timber harvesting regulatory framework