Invasive Native Species under the Land Management Code

Managing invasive native species under the Land Management Code

The Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018 helps landholders manage native vegetation. It supports productive sustainable farming while managing environmental risks.  

Invasive Native Species is Part 2 of the Land Management Code.  

This part of the Code helps landholders remove invasive native species that have grown too densely and are dominating an area. Clearing these species can support the natural regeneration of native vegetation, especially groundcover. 

Before you start  

Your options for managing native vegetation vary according to your:

• land zoning
• land categorisation
• your proposed activities.  

If you are not sure if the Invasive Native Species (INS) part of the Code suits your circumstances, read:  

• the guide to getting started with native vegetation management  
• managing native vegetation under the Land Management Code.  

What are invasive native species?  

Invasive native species are native plants that have become problematic. This is due to their ability to regenerate thickly after disturbance or to encroach on areas where they were previously not dominant. This can cause a change in the structure and composition of the plant community.  

Historical records along with personal knowledge of a property can help to determine if plant species are invading plant communities.  

Factors to consider when determining if species are acting invasively include:  

• absence of mature trees in the area  
• predominance of a single species or limited range of ages and/or sizes  
• records (historical information or photographs), or anecdotal information from a reliable source.  

Local Land Services can assist in identification of species and help to determine whether plants are regenerating densely or are invading plant communities.  

There are two pathways for clearing under Part 2 – INS of the Code:  

• Division 1 – Low impact clearing of invasive native species. Notification or Voluntary Certificate applies.  
• Division 2 – Moderate impact clearing of invasive native species. Mandatory Certification applies. 

Requirements for low impact clearing 

Low impact clearing under the Invasive Native Species use of the Code is available for landholdings of any size and in all activity zones and vegetation formations. There are no landholding restrictions or treatment area restrictions.  

Method and impact conditions 

Low impact clearing of native species is permitted provided each of the following conditions are met: 

• You use clearing methods that are likely to result in minimal disturbance to soil and groundcover (such as burning or removal of individual plants) in Category 2 – regulated land. Minimal disturbance means impacting no greater than 30% of the total area.
• You use methods that will cause nil disturbance to soil and groundcover on Category 2 – vulnerable regulated land. Nil disturbance means impacting native vegetation in no greater than 5% of the total area.
• You minimise clearing of non-invasive native species. Trees and shrubs classed as non-invasive native species must not exceed 10% of the total number of trees and shrubs cleared from the treatment area.
• Where clearing is carried out by a method other than by burning:
  • you must retain at least 20 plants per hectare, of at least 2 metres in height, of the invasive native species
  • clearing may be undertaken in no more than 90% of each 1,000 hectares of treatment area
  • clearing is limited to invasive native species with a diameter at breast height over bark (DBHOB) of 20cm or less, or 30cm or less for the following species:
    • Mulga (Acacia aneura)
    • Ironwood (Acacia excelsa)
    • Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri)
    • White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla)
    • Belah (Casuarina cristata)
    • River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
    • Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah)
    • Red Box (Eucalyptus intertexta)
    • Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens)
    • Bimble Box, Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil)
    • Wilga (Geijera parviflora).

Notification or certification  

Low impact clearing of invasive native species requires notification only (not approval) from Local Land Services. 

Notification of intended clearing must be provided at least 14 days prior to the date on which the proposed clearing is intended to begin. 

Once you have submitted a notification, you will receive an email confirming the notification has been received and a map of the area where vegetation may be removed. 

Alternatively, you can request a voluntary code compliant certificate for the intended clearing.  

Read more about notifying and certification requirements.

Requirements for moderate impact clearing 

This division enables INS clearing for improved native vegetation condition and agricultural capacity. 

Landholding restrictions 

Clearing under this division is not permitted on small landholdings. 

Treatment area restrictions 

Within the area to be cleared, you must first determine if the invasive native species: 

• comprises at least 50% of the total number of trees and shrubs in the area; or
• is invading a plant community where the invasive native species was not previously known to occur. 

You can contact Local Land Services for assistance. 

Method and impact conditions 

Moderate impact clearing of native species is permitted provided each of the following conditions are met: 

• clearing of non-invasive native species must be to the minimum extent necessary and must not exceed 20% of the total number of trees cleared
• you must retain at least 20 plants per hectare, of at least 2 metres in height, of the invasive native species
• clearing may be undertaken in no more than 90% of each 1,000 hectares of treatment area
• annual or non-persistent perennial species are introduced to the treatment area in no more than 3 consecutive years
• all trees and shrubs that are not invasive native species and which have a diameter at breast height over bark (DBHOB) greater than 20cm must be retained
• clearing is limited to invasive native species with a DBHOB of 20cm or less, or 30cm or less for the following species:
  • Mulga (Acacia aneura)
  • Ironwood (Acacia excelsa)
  • Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri)
  • White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla)
  • Belah (Casuarina cristata)
  • River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
  • Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah)
  • Red Box (Eucalyptus intertexta)
  • Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens)
  • Bimble Box, Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil)
  • Wilga (Geijera parviflora).

Areas where clearing is not permitted under this division (unless specifically authorised by Local Land Services) include: 

• on Category 2 – vulnerable regulated land
• within the buffer distance from a water body
• on land that contains soil with a clay content of less than 5%
• on land that is a run-on area with evidence of existing erosion. 

Notification or certification 

Local Land Services must issue a mandatory code compliant certificate for the intended clearing before work can begin. 

Read more about certification requirements.

Your next steps 

If managing vegetation under the invasive native species provisions of the Code best suits your objectives, you should: 

• Read the invasive native species technical guide
• Submit a notification or certification form.

There are a range of technical guides that will help you. 

• How to measure stem diameter.
• How to determine soil texture.