The river red gum forests of the Riverina and their management vary depending on the conservation values of each area.
Different areas are managed by different agencies, including:
- the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)
- Aboriginal landholding bodies
- the Forestry Corporation of NSW
- Local Land Services and local councils.
National parks, regional parks and state conservation areas
The Riverina river red gum forests and wetlands managed by NPWS comprise 3 main precincts:
- Murray Valley National Park and Regional Park
- Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, Regional Park and State Conservation Area
- Lachlan Valley National Park, Regional Park and State Conservation Area.
Lands for transfer to Aboriginal landholding body
The National Park Estate (Riverina Red Gum Reservations) Bill 2010 identifies around 20,000 hectares in the Riverina as suitable for transfer to Aboriginal landholding bodies.
These lands, which include the Werai and Taroo groups of lands, are currently managed by NPWS until they are transferred to be owned and managed by traditional owners through Aboriginal landholding bodies.
State forests
The Forestry Corporation of NSW continues to manage Perricoota, Koondrook and Campbells Island state forests between Echuca–Moama
and Swan Hill.
Travelling Stock Reserves
Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) are parcels of Crown land reserved under legislation for use by travelling stock. Local Land Services is responsible for the care, control and maintenance of almost 500,000 hectares of TSRs in New South Wales.
Under a permit system, firewood collection in designated areas in the Murrumbidgee and Murray Valley regional and national parks is available to local New South Wales residents for domestic use, from April until September.
You must apply for a licence for permission to collect firewood. Penalties apply for failure to comply with permit and closure conditions.
Visitors to this region are welcome to camp, picnic and barbecue in all national and regional parks. There are designated camping spots in bushland areas along the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers. Fishing and boating are permitted, and infrastructure has been put in place for recreational activities including a world class mountain bike track.
The NSW River Red Gum Nature Tourism Action Plan guides the revitalisation and establishment of visitor experiences and recreational access in the river red gum reserves.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water develops park management documents for all parks within the national parks system including:
- Murray Valley National Park and Murray Valley Regional Park Statement of Management Intent
- Lachlan Valley Kalyarr Group Statement of Management Intent.
The Murray Valley National Park also has several fire management strategies, specific to each precinct.
River red gum forests rely on access to water for their survival.
Water that is allocated and managed specifically to improve and sustain the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains is known as environmental water. The management of environmental water involves supporting activities such as landholder engagement, research, monitoring and evaluation, infrastructure development and land management. Read more about:
River red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) Credit: Stuart Cohen/DPE 
Yanga Lake, Yanga National Park Credit: David Finnegan / NSW Government 
Yanga National Park on the Lowbidgee Floodplain Credit: R Thomas/DPE 
Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, Wooloondool Credit: DPE 
Horse riding in Murrumbidgee Valley National Park Credit: B Hlavica/DPE 
Camping by the river, Murray Valley National Park Credit: David Finnegan / NSW Government 
Birdwatching, Murray Valley National Park Credit: Gavin Hansford/DPE 
Family in canoes on the Murray River near Barmah and Swifts Creek Credit: B Ferguson/DPE 
Lower Murray Credit: John Spencer/DPE 
Booligal wetlands, Lachlan River valley Credit: Megan Powell