2024 NSW vegetation clearing report

This year marks 20 years of the NSW Statewide Landcover and Tree Study (SLATS) program, making it one of Australia’s longest-running vegetation monitoring programs.

The 2024 NSW vegetation clearing report covers clearing across the state and land regulated by the Local Land Services Act 2013. It includes woody vegetation clearing data from 2009 to 2024 and non woody vegetation clearing data from 2018 to 2024.

The 2024 clearing figures have been updated in the SLATS dashboard on SEED following the 18 months required to process the data for each calendar year of clearing.

The SLATS dashboard makes vegetation clearing data easier for the community, researchers and stakeholders to access and explore.

Explore the Statewide Landcover and Tree Study Dashboard

Native woody vegetation

In 2024, a total of 24,103 hectares of native woody vegetation was cleared, which is 19% less than the 2018–2024 average of 29,800 hectares. This continues a declining trend in clearing of native woody vegetation since the start of the Land Management Framework in 2018.

Statewide cumulative clearing of native woody vegetation from 2018–2024 was 208,700 hectares.

For more information, visit Statewide Landcover and Tree Study: woody vegetation clearing.

Non woody vegetation

In 2024, at least 57,190 hectares of native non woody vegetation was cleared, 13% more than the 2018–2024 average of 50,700 hectares. Non woody includes areas of grassland and other vegetation which have not been disturbed since 1990 and are presumed to contain native vegetation, although introduced species may be present. After showing a declining trend from 2020 to 2022, non-woody clearing has increased between 2022 and 2024.

Statewide cumulative clearing of native non-woody vegetation from 2018–2024 was 355,000 hectares. This includes low-condition groundcover and grasslands.

For more information, visit Statewide Landcover and Tree Study: non woody vegetation clearing.

Clearing by landcover class

Total woody and non woody clearing for agriculture in 2024 was 71,220 hectares compared to the annual average clearing of 66,800 hectares (2018–2024).

Total woody and non woody harvesting area for public and private native forestry in 2024 was 2,805 hectares compared to the annual average area of 4,400 hectares (2018–2024).

The native forestry class includes areas where vegetation removal has been attributed to forest harvesting activities. This includes private native forestry and harvesting within state forests. State forests are harvested for renewable timber and regrown in perpetuity.

Total woody and non woody clearing for infrastructure in 2024 was 7,268 hectares compared to the 2018–2024 average of 9,300 hectares. Infrastructure includes farm infrastructure (fences, roads, structures), mining, urban expansion and roads.

Clearing under the Land Management Code

Unallocated clearing

In 2024, unallocated clearing was 49,146 hectares (60% of all clearing) compared to the average yearly figure of 47,600 hectares since the commencement of reporting of unallocated clearing in 2018.  

In 2024, unallocated clearing did not require approval. Most unallocated clearing in 2024 (85% or 41,993 hectares) was non-woody vegetation, and did not require approval if it was in low condition or dominated by non-native vegetation.

Authorised clearing

Total agricultural clearing carried out under Local Land Services Act authorisations was 12,362 hectares.

Total agricultural clearing carried out under Native Vegetation Act authorisations was 7,095 hectares.

Authorised clearing of Invasive Native Species

In 2024, total woody and non‑woody Invasive Native Species clearing was 13,035 hectares, compared to the 2018–2024 average of 12,600 hectares.

In 2024, Invasive Native Species clearing represented 61% of all authorised clearing on rural regulated land.

In the period 2018 to 2024, Invasive Native Species clearing contributed 27% of woody clearing on rural regulated land.

Plantation harvesting of woody vegetation

In 2024, statewide, plantation harvesting of woody vegetation clearing was 10,008 hectares. For more information, visit explore the Statewide Landcover and Tree Study Dashboard.

How the government is responding to land clearing

The NSW Government is implementing actions under the NSW plan for nature to deliver its
commitments to stop excess land clearing, reduce unallocated clearing, and improve how native vegetation is managed on private land, including:

• considering advice from the NSW Natural Resources Commission on 3 reports relating to improving native vegetation management
• progressing amendments to the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code to improve environmental outcomes, including strengthening the rules for Invasive Native Species management
• developing a land management monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework together with the Natural Resources Commission
• releasing the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory Map and ongoing provision of landholder support and advice.

Woody regrowth pilot

For the first time, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is piloting a woody regrowth monitoring method to support NSW plan for nature commitments for the annual monitoring and reporting of woody vegetation loss and regrowth. This early pilot is a step towards building a more complete picture of vegetation change in New South Wales.

For more information, visit Enhancing SLATS to include regrowth.