ALARM bells are ringing after the release of statewide Landcover and Tree Study (SLATS) data.
It shows that 66,498 hectares of native vegetation, including 32,847ha of forest and woodland, was cleared across NSW in 2023, compared to the clearing of 47,388ha of native vegetation and 21,137ha of forest and woodland in 2022.
This represents a 40 percent increase in one year.
More than 50,000 hectares were cleared for agriculture – 77 percent of all the clearing in 2023.
Nathaniel Pelle from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said, “What that means in real terms is more homes for native wildlife were knocked down in this 12-month period than the previous year, pushing species like koalas, quolls, greater gliders and gang gang cockatoos closer to extinction.
“Recent investigations by ACF have found deforestation continues at an alarming rate across Australia, carried out by a minority of beef producers but at sufficient scale to make us the only wealthy country on a list of global deforestation hotspots.
“It should ring warning bells for the NSW and federal governments and for the majority of responsible land managers in the beef industry whose reputation and market access is put at risk by the actions of a minority.
“Supermarkets Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi have pledged to only sell deforestation-free beef by the end of this year and this data shows how important it is that they implement those commitments.”
Mr Pelle said major fast food chains are yet to make a commitment.
Labor Premier Chris Minns has been challenged to explain his Government’s failure to stop land clearing after the shock data release.
Greens MP and environment spokesperson Sue Higginson weighed in, saying that despite promises to protect nature, the current government’s record is worse than that of the previous government.
“We are well on the way toward mass extinctions and ecosystem collapse unless we reign in land clearing, and that means reform to make our environmental laws stronger, an end to native forest logging, and more support for farmers to invest in sustainable agriculture practices,” she said.
By Andrew VIVIAN
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