The transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map

A statewide transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map is available to assist landholders.

  • A transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map covering New South Wales was published online in 2017 to protect areas with the greatest environmental value.
  • The transitional map displays category 2 – vulnerable regulated land and category 2 – sensitive regulated land described in the Local Land Services Act 2013. It can be used to check if there is sensitive or vulnerable land mapping on your property. Restrictions apply to clearing of vegetation in these areas.
  • Landholders can seek a free review of the transitional map as it relates to their land. The review will normally be completed in 40 days.
  • A draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map is also available to landholders in some local government areas within the Riverina, Murray and South East regions of the State. A draft map for other areas of New South Wales will be released in stages. If you live outside the areas where the draft map has been published and would like to be notified when the draft map becomes available in your area, send us an enquiry.

Areas where the transitional map applies

The transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map is available to all landholders across New South Wales. The transitional map, published in 2017, displays vulnerable and sensitive regulated land and legally restricts land clearing in those areas. A limited range of allowable activities are permitted in these mapped areas. The transitional map remains in place statewide. You can request a free review of the transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map at any time.

There are 4 different colours you might see on your map:
  • category 2-vulnerable regulated land is land where clearing of native vegetation may be limited under the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018, and a limited range of allowable activities are permitted.
  • category 2-sensitive regulated land is land where clearing is not permitted under the Land Management Code (Native Vegetation) Code 2018, and a limited range of allowable activities is permitted.
  • Excluded land is land where the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018 and allowable activities do not apply.
  • land where vulnerable and sensitive regulated mapping overlaps is displayed as brown.

The transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map areas

Each land category is determined by various criteria as outlined in the Local Land Services Act 2013.

Go to Transitional map viewer

What do the categories mean?

Each land category is determined by various criteria as outlined in the Local Land Services Act and Regulation.

Land categories Criteria
Vulnerable regulated land (subcategory of Category 2)

  • Steep (greater than 18 degrees from the horizontal) or highly erodible land
  • Protected riparian areas
  • Land that is otherwise environmentally sensitive
Sensitive regulated land (subcategory of Category 2)

  • Where the Environment Agency Head reasonably believes it to contain:
    • old growth forest, rainforest, critically endangered ecological communities or critically endangered plants, or core koala habitat
    • high conservation value grasslands
    • land recommended for declaration as areas of outstanding biodiversity value
    • Ramsar wetlands within the meaning of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    • land described as Coastal Wetlands or Littoral Rainforest in the coastal zone referred to in the Coastal Management Act 2016
    • land subject to an approved conservation measure that was the basis for other land being biodiversity certified
    • land subject to a Private Native Forestry Plan or Private Native Forestry property vegetation plan (PVP) that is in force
    • conservation areas under the Southern Mallee Land Use Agreement
    • native vegetation that must be retained under the Plantation and Reafforestation Act 1999
    • land subject to a condition of development consent requiring the land to be set aside for conservation purposes under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
  • Land contained in the following types of agreements:
    • biodiversity stewardship agreements, conservation agreements, and wildlife refuge agreements made under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
    • conservation agreement made under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974
    • trust agreements made under the Nature Conservation Trust Act 2001
    • conservation areas made under Southern Mallee Landuse Agreements
    • registered property agreements made under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997
    • incentive or conservation property vegetation plans made under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 that have not expired
  • Land required to be set aside, offset or retained as a condition of development consent or subject to a remedial direction, including:
    • land required to be set aside under a code compliant certificate made under the Land Management (native vegetation) Code 2018
    • land currently subject to a remedial action to restore or protect biodiversity values
    • land required to be set aside under a Ministerial Order made under the Native Vegetation Act 2003
    • land established as an offset in a property vegetation plan made under the Native Vegetation Act 2003
    • land contains native vegetation that is required to be retained under a plantation authorisation made under the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999
    • the land is, by a condition of a development consent or approval under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 notified to the Environment Agency Head, required to be set aside for nature conservation, for re-vegetation of native vegetation or as a native vegetation offset

Benefits of the transitional map for a landholder

Simplifying self-assessment

The transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory map identifies areas of land containing category 2-sensitive and vulnerable regulated land to which restrictions for clearing native vegetation apply.

Discover economic opportunities

You may own areas mapped as sensitive, vulnerable or category 2-regulated land, which are natural capital assets that could generate economic benefits. These areas can potentially provide economic opportunities, including:

  • biodiversity credits: generating biodiversity credits for sale through the Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund and Taskforce
  • carbon credits: receiving incentives and private equity through carbon trading schemes
  • sustainable farming incentives: accessing sustainable farming initiatives offered by NSW Government by voluntarily improving biodiversity and carbon management.

Go to Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund

For further advice or approvals contact Local Land Services

If you have viewed your map and require more information about allowable activities that might be available to you or for approval to clear native vegetation on regulated land please visit the Local Land Services website or call 1300 795 299.

Go to Local Land Services

Request a free category explanation report or map review

If you would like a category explanation report, a map review, or you need any other information, please complete and submit this enquiry form.

Enquiry form