The NSW Government has published the Statewide Landcover and Tree Study (SLATS) data on clearing of native vegetation for agriculture, infrastructure and forestry in 2024.
The following points provide important and further context for the SLATS data.
Landholders have made significant contributions to conservation
Since 2018, there have been significant gains in private land conservation. Over half a million hectares of private land has been conserved as set asides under the Local Land Services Act 2013 (126,129 hectares) and in-perpetuity conservation agreements on private land under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (405,132 hectares). The figures demonstrate strong landholder participation in protecting and restoring native landscapes.
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 is a core component of the NSW Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation Framework, and it works alongside the Local Land Services Act 2013 to regulate native vegetation clearing, development, and environmental conservation.
Why is only vegetation loss reported and why is this a problem?
SLATS currently only reports vegetation loss and not gains. Reporting only on loss does not provide a complete picture of the status of native vegetation, or the conservation efforts of landholders and others.
In the NSW Plan for Nature, the NSW Government committed to establish monitoring and annual reporting of net change in woody vegetation, as a more complete picture of the status of native vegetation, capturing both loss and regrowth. Net vegetation reporting is not yet in place; however, work is underway to improve transparency, reporting and public confidence in the framework, including reporting on vegetation gains across NSW.
Sustainable native forest harvesting is not land clearing
SLATS reports sustainable native forest harvesting as clearing. Sustainable forestry operations require forest managers to regenerate the forest and the areas are not permanently cleared.
What is the NSW Government doing to stop excess land clearing?
The NSW Government is delivering a broad program of work through the NSW Plan for Nature to stop excess land clearing, reduce unallocated clearing, and improve native vegetation management on private rural land.
The NSW Government has significantly invested in efforts to protect and restore the state’s biodiversity and is committed to a balanced approach to agricultural and economic production together with biodiversity and environmental protection. Balancing agricultural land management with sustainable food and fibre production is critical for NSW. The right approach ensures long-term food security and supports rural economies.
Key actions under the NSW Plan for Nature include:
- Delivering a Natural Capital Advisory Program.
- Engaging the Natural Resources Commission to review and recommend improvements to native vegetation management.
- Developing a Land Management Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Framework in partnership with the Natural Resources Commission.
- Strengthening assessment processes and updating the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018 (Code) to improve environmental protections, including for invasive native species, to reduce excess land clearing and strengthen environmental protections for native vegetation clearing.
The NSW Plan for Nature actions will take time to have an impact on reported land clearing figures and environmental improvements. The NSW Government’s response to the NRC reviews later this year may include further actions to deliver on the NSW Government’s election commitments.
Why is some clearing permitted without a certificate or notification?
The current land management framework is risk-based. This means that routine, low-risk land management activities can be undertaken through self-assessment pathways, so that resources can be dedicated to assessment of higher-risk clearing proposals which require certification under the Code, or approval from the Native Vegetation Panel. This applies a triple‑bottom‑line approach that considers environmental, economic, and social outcomes for landholders and regional NSW.
The majority of landholders do the right thing. Strong compliance is an important part of ensuring the integrity of the land management framework. The NSW Plan for Nature commits to further strengthening education, compliance and enforcement outcomes.
What vegetation does SLATS measure?
Woody vegetation which is vegetation that contains wood as its primary matter and includes trees, shrubs and woody vines. This includes forests, woodlands and paddock trees.
Non-woody vegetation which includes understorey plants and groundcover plants, or vegetation like grasses and herbs. Non-woody vegetation includes native and non-native vegetation.