The 2023 NSW Vegetation clearing report covers clearing across the state and land regulated by the Local Land Services Act 2013. It includes data on woody vegetation clearing from 2009 to 2023.
Since 2018, the report combines woody and non woody vegetation clearing data to show total clearing for the state and Category 2 regulated land. Category 2 regulated land is land subject to Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act, which started in August 2017.
You can find information on woody and non woody vegetation clearing statewide and on regulated land across all landcover classes, authorisation types, and Native Vegetation Regulation map categories between 2018 and 2023 on the Statewide Land and Tree Study Insights Dashboard. The interactive dashboard shows clearing trends and insights over time and by region across New South Wales.
Explore the NSW vegetation clearing dashboard
The Statewide Land and Tree Study captures vegetation clearing. See the 'How vegetation clearing is reported' section in the About the dashboard tab in the dashboard.
Go to the NSW vegetation clearing dashboard
Native woody vegetation
In 2023, a total of 66,498 hectares of vegetation was cleared, with 49% (32,847 hectares) being of native woody vegetation, and at least 33,651 hectares (51%) of non woody native vegetation.
For details on how we record woody vegetation clearing, see the Statewide Landcover and Tree Study: woody vegetation clearing.
For more details on how we recorded non woody vegetation clearing, see the Statewide Landcover and Tree Study: non woody vegetation clearing.
Clearing by landcover class
In 2023, total vegetation clearing for infrastructure increased to 10,003 hectares, with 12% (1,188 hectares) being non woody vegetation, and 88% (8,814 hectares) being woody vegetation.
Total vegetation clearing for native forestry in 2023 increased to 5,294 hectares, with 12% (625 hectares) being non woody vegetation and 88% (4,669 hectares) being woody vegetation.
Total vegetation clearing for agriculture in 2023 increased to 51,201 hectares, with 62% (31,838 hectares) being non woody vegetation and 38% (19,364 hectares) being woody vegetation.
Clearing under the Land Management Code
In 2023, 65% or 6,219 hectares of clearing authorised under the Local Land Services Act was for Invasive Native Species management.
Unallocated clearing in 2023 was 35,026 hectares (61% of total clearing under the Land Management Code/Local Land Services Act).
Most unallocated clearing is non woody vegetation. In 2023, 76% (26,640 hectares) of unallocated clearing was non woody vegetation (grasslands and groundcover), such as pastures.
To compensate for vegetation loss due to certain types of agricultural clearing on private land under the Land Management Code, areas of vegetation must be set aside on that land. As of 1 January 2024, 96,506 hectares had been set aside for conservation on privately managed land, to be protected forever.
Plantation harvesting of woody vegetation
In 2023, statewide, plantation harvesting of woody vegetation clearing decreased to 9,792 hectares.
For more information, see the NSW vegetation clearing dashboard.