Messages from the Executive

Land clearing in NSW – is it still an issue? Anita Sundstrom

In recent months, figures of all dimensions have been flying around in the NSW land clearing debate. The NSW Government has approved over 230,000 hectares to be cleared in the last three years. Over the same period, satellite survey data commissioned by the Minister for Land and Water Conservation shows that only 14,000 ha of woody vegetation was cleared per year. The Minister has claimed that clearing rates in Queensland are 3,000% higher than those in NSW. And, to confuse matters further, the NSW State of the Environment Report 2000 states that clearing in NSW could be anywhere between 15,000 and 150,000 ha per year. So, is land clearing ongoing in NSW, and should we be concerned?

Firstly, the land clearing debate in NSW has deteriorated to a war of numbers, which trivialises the severity of the known impacts of clearing. NSW has already been heavily cleared (in some regions only 15% of the original vegetation remains) and consequently is suffering from serious land and water degradation, as well as accelerated loss of biodiversity. NSW clearing rates are not as high as for Queensland because most of the farming land has already been cleared. However, clearing pressure in the northern wheatbelt rivals that taking place across the border.

Secondly, the figures which are being compared do not provide a full and accurate picture for NSW. For example, satellite survey data for 1998-2000 showing an annual clearing rate of only 14,000 ha did not measure clearing of open woodland, patches of trees, shrublands and grasslands. These are among our most threatened ecosystems and account for a large proportion of officially approved and exempt clearing. Yet this figure has been used by both government and the NSW Farmers' Association to suggest that clearing levels are acceptably low.

The debate about the future of rural industries and regional communities in NSW requires acceptance of the scale of environmental degradation caused by past land-use practices supported by leadership to address the issue. We need to assist sustainable rural industries that do not lead to environmental degradation, rather than continuing to justify land-use practices that will certainly leave a legacy of salty, eroded land for future generations.

Environment groups are calling on Federal and State governments to introduce a binding cap on land clearing reducing over time to zero, with an immediate moratorium on clearing in sensitive catchments, such as the Murray-Darling Basin. This should be backed by measurable, enforceable targets for clearing approvals and regional vegetation planning. To accompany these measures we need to extend the range of financial incentives available to landholders to retain native vegetation and manage it for conservation.

Anita Sundstrom
NPA/WWF Western
Project Officer

State Council’s Strategic Plan
At its May meeting, NPA State Council adopted a strategic plan to direct NPA’s work over the next five years. The plan was developed following a workshop held at Wirrimbirra in January, facilitated by Ros Muston, and involving Branches, staff and Executive members. We have provided the full plan as an insert to this Journal.

The Strategic Plan 2001-2006 identifies these primary conservation objectives:

• to increase the area in NSW secured for nature conservation, working towards a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system,

• to ensure that management of protected areas maintains and restores their natural values,

• to promote nature conservation and the appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the natural environment.

The Strategic Plan identifies major campaign themes for reserve expansion – woodlands; corridors and networks; marine, estuarine and intertidal; and fertile soils.

Conservation of marine and coastal environments is seen as an important priority for NPA’s work. NPA is committed to seeking improvements to legislation to ensure that management of marine and estuarine protected areas is administered by conservation agencies, that is, NPWS in NSW waters.

The Strategic Plan identifies the importance of communication between all levels of NPA to achieve our objectives, and the fundamental role that NPA Branches play in achieving our aims.

Reform of legislation controlling the mining industry is a priority identified in the Strategic Plan. This issue of the Journal provides coverage of the pitfalls of the present legislative framework covering mining activities in NSW.

Roger Lembit
President