Name: NSW farmers accelerate land-clearing rates, doubling previous decade
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NSW farmers accelerate land-clearing rates, doubling previous decade

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NSW farmers accelerate land-clearing rates, doubling previous decadeWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementFarmers in NSW are increasing the rate they clear land, taking advantage of looser native vegetation controls to more than double the pace of deforestation of the previous decade.The state lost 60,800 hectares – or about 200 times the size of Sydney's CBD – of woody vegetation in 2018, up from 58,000 hectares the previous year,. Of that about half was the result of agriculture, with forestry and infrastructure accounting for the remainder in both years.The Berejiklian government replaced vegetation laws in August 2017, prompting a surge in land clearing by farmers. The 29,400 hectares cleared in 2018 was up about 8 per cent on the previous year but more than twice the 12,300 hectares removed on average during 2009-17.Only about one-fifth of the 2018 total land cover change was formally authorised. Some 73 per cent was listed as "unexplained", although some of that would have been lawful clearing that did not require approval, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said.The North-West local land service region had the largest increase in "unexplained" clearing. While authorised clearing fell in all of 2018 compared with the August-December 2017 period, the level of "unexplained" land cover change rose sixfold to more than 22,300 hectares.The Central-West region also experienced a rapid jump, with authorised land clearing almost tripling in 2018 compared to the first five months after laws changed in August 2017, to 6467 hectares. "Unexplained" clearing also surged almost sixfold to 14,088 hectares.Despite the increase in clearing, Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the state's farmers were "the best environmental stewards we have in NSW – their businesses depend on a sustainable environment".Advertisement“The vast majority of native vegetation cleared in NSW are invasive native species," Mr Marshall said. "These species are largely akin to weeds, which harm biodiversity by out-competing other more natural forms of vegetation across the state."However, independent NSW MP Justin Field said the latest data was "yet another report showing the NSW National Party's rampant deforestation program that has occurred as a result of their failed biodiversity and land clearing reform"."There is little wonder we face the extinction of the koala in NSW if this level of deforestation is being allowed under the Berejiklian government," Mr Field said, noting Tuesday's release of a parliamentary inquiry report that found the marsupial .He noted that a secret report by the Natural Resources Commission this year labelled NSW's land-clearing laws as a "state-wide risk to biodiversity" with deforestation occurring at record levels.Glenn Walker, a campaigner with The Wilderness Society, said a "damning" federal Auditor-General report released last week revealed weakened environment laws meant NSW farmers were "at grave risk of contravening the national environment laws that are supposed to protect threatened species and important natural places"."Both the NSW and federal government must show how they are ensuring that our iconic wildlife is properly protected. If they don't address this growing threat of deforestation with stronger laws then they have failed."Mr Field called for the two-year statute of limitations on prosecutions for illegal land clearing to be suspended "until the public can be reassured that investigations and enforcement is able to proceed unhindered"."It would be too easy for those landholders who have done the wrong thing to try to drag out the investigation process to avoid prosecution," he added.A spokesman for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said it was "working hard to resolve cases under the previous Native Vegetation Act" as an internal deadline of August looms."The Department has publicly committed to resolving them as soon as possible," he said. adding that the latest data on land clearing may prompt further investigations."The 2018 satellite monitoring data is currently being assessed to identify instances of clearing that require a follow-up by compliance staff," the spokesman said. "Any required investigations will be undertaken as soon as possible and will follow the Department’s normal policies and procedures."Log in, or to save articles for later. writes on environment issues for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Advertisement

NSW farmers accelerate land-clearing rates, doubling previous decadeWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementFarmers in NSW are increasing the rate they clear land, taking advantage of looser native vegetation controls to more than double the pace of deforestation of the previous decade.The state lost 60,800 hectares – or about 200 times the size of Sydney's CBD – of woody vegetation in 2018, up from...

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Peter Hannam

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NSW farmers accelerate land-clearing rates, doubling previous decade

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