Vegetation management laws
Native vegetation is critical for:
- maintaining biodiversity
- preventing land degradation
- reducing Queensland’s carbon emissions.
In Queensland, clearing is regulated through the vegetation management framework. It applies to most land tenures, including freehold land, Indigenous land, leasehold land and occupational licences under the Land Act 1994 (Qld). The Queensland Government monitors clearing to ensure people comply with the laws.
The Vegetation Management Act 1999 regulates the clearing of vegetation in a way that:
- conserves remnant vegetation
- ensures clearing does not cause land degradation
- prevents loss of biodiversity
- maintains ecological processes
- reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- allows for sustainable land use.
Clearing trends
- The 2021-22 annual Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) reported that clearing has fallen 52% since 2018-19, with most clearing in areas not regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld).
- Clearing of regulated vegetation reduced by 64% between 2018-19 to 2021-22.
The Queensland Government strengthened Queensland’s vegetation management laws, implementing nation-leading protections to:
- increase the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef
- reduce carbon emissions
- ensure the framework is supported by the latest scientific advice.
Reducing emissions
Queensland’s vegetation management laws have contributed significantly to Australia’s reduction of carbon dioxide emissions due to the declined rates of tree clearing in Queensland since the laws started.
According to Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (ANGA), since Queensland’s vegetation management laws were introduced, the Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry (LULUCF) sector emissions have decreased by around 131% from 2000 to 2022.
The LULUCF sector includes carbon emissions from tree clearing and other land management practices. Collectively, these measures have resulted in the LULUCF sector contributing equivalent to all of Queensland’s net emissions reductions since 2005, putting the state on track for the target of a 75% reduction by 2035.
We continue to investigate and implement improvements to the vegetation management framework, including:
- Accepted development vegetation clearing codes were updated in 2020 and 2023 to include additional measures for the protection of koalas and reflect the latest scientific advice.
- In 2022, an independent panel of experts was established to review the factors behind land clearing identified in the 2018-2019 Statewide Land and Trees Study report. In late 2023 the Queensland government accepted (in full and in principle) the panel’s ten recommendations.
- A $9.8 million investment over four years by the Queensland Government to enhance compliance with the vegetation management framework and reduce unexplained clearing through increased engagement and compliance.
- In 2023, a new certified Vegetation Management Regional Ecosystem Description Database (VMREDD), making it easier for landholders to find relevant information about regional ecosystems and their class.
- In 2023, the Vegetation Management Regulation was remade to improve its accuracy and efficiency.
- Scientific updates to vegetation management maps were released annually to ensure consistency with the latest available science and provide landholder certainty about mapped vegetation on their land.