Native Vegetation Reports

The NSW Native Vegetation Report Card 1 July to 31 December 2007 and the NSW Woody Vegetation Change 2006 – 2007 Report provide a widespread picture of native vegetation in NSW.

The reports demonstrate that the commitment to bring broadscale landclearing to an end is being achieved and that our State's natural resources are being responsibly managed.

These reports provide an invaluable insight into what is happening to the State's native vegetation in terms of both clearing and conservation.

The NSW Woody Vegetation Change 2006 – 2007 is based on Landsat satellite imagery which tracks woody vegetation change. The Landsat survey demonstrates that the total reduction in the area of native vegetation accounts for only 0.3 per cent of the area of NSW, or 202,437 hectares.

This report is based on an analysis of satellite imagery and it identifies all changes to woody vegetation extent where the canopy cover is greater than 20%. It provides the second complete spatial assessment of woody vegetation extent change for the state, following the 2004 to 2006 report. It also identifies the reason for the change such as cropping development, clearing for pastures, thinning of woody vegetation, forestry activities, the impacts of fire and clearing for the establishment of rural infrastructure.

The NSW Native Vegetation Report Card shows us another part of the story by demonstrating the significant achievements in the conservation and management of native vegetation under the Native Vegetation Act 2003. From 1 July to 31 December 2007 over 167,000 hectares of native vegetation were conserved or improved across NSW. In contrast only 3,566 hectares were approved to be cleared and only if environmental values were maintained or improved through mechanisms such as the use of offsets. The Report Card also includes data from the three previous Native Vegetation Report Cards as well as a graphical representation comparing the four reporting periods to date.

The information in the reports will be used by DECC, Catchment Management Authorities and others to help them decide where investment in natural resources should be directed and identify where compliance investigations should occur.

*All figures should be read in conjunction with the complete report card that details how the figures were calculated.

Current Reports

Previous Reports