New figures reveal the NSW Government has failed to deliver on its promise to stop runaway land clearing, says WWF-Australia.
The NSW Government’s just-released Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) shows more than 81,000 hectares of native vegetation was cleared in 2024.
That’s an area more than 275 times the size of the Sydney CBD.
Of the land cleared, 24,100 hectares were woody vegetation (trees and shrubs) and 57,000 hectares were non-woody vegetation (grasslands, ferns and ground cover).
While the amount of woody vegetation cleared was down from the shocking results of 2023 (32,847 hectares), it remains too high.
“That's the equivalent of clearing 88 full-sized rugby league fields of habitat every day for a year,” said Dr Stuart Blanch, WWF-Australia’s forest policy manager.
“This is the first SLATS report showing land clearing entirely on Labor’s watch and the results are alarming.
“Land clearing jumped significantly when the Coalition relaxed native vegetation laws in 2017. Labor went to the March 2023 election promising to stop excessive clearing, but so far has failed to deliver on this important commitment.
“In 1995, Labor Premier Bob Carr cracked down on land clearing creating a period of reduced clearing that lasted for decades.
“Deforestation was more than ten times higher in 2024 (24,100 hectares) than the average over seven years from 2006/07 to 2012/13 (2,222 hectares per year). It’s time for this government to step up, and deliver on its election promise, and regain its legacy on land clearing,” Dr Blanch said.
Most of the woody vegetation cleared in 2024 was classified as ‘unallocated’, meaning it was likely exempt from any requirement for assessment by an ecologist to determine whether the clearing would kill threatened species.
Current rules allow landholders to clear vegetation they self-assess to be Invasive Native Species.
Dr Blanch said a more scientific approach is required to protect areas of ecological value.
“Every hectare of trees bulldozed means fewer homes for wildlife and more carbon pollution in the atmosphere,” he said.
Dr Blanch said the NSW Government needs to commit to driving down deforestation through stronger laws, greater incentives for landholders to protect and restore forests, investment in timber plantations and protected areas, support for natural capital markets, and engagement with First Nations communities.
“NSW needs to cut land sector emissions from deforestation and logging to achieve its 2030 and 2035 emissions reduction targets,” he said.
“Improved state laws would also support farmers and producers to access the growing market for deforestation-free commodities.
“Future generations won't judge this government by its promises, but by whether it protects the forests, wildlife and climate that make NSW unique.”
Contact details:
Paul Fahy, 0455 528 161, [email protected]
