nsw report on native vegetation 2013-14 · 2016. 8. 3. · was conserved or improved across the...

NSW Report on Native Vegetation 2013–14

Contents1. Overview, reforms and actions 1

2. Native Vegetation report card 4

3. Private Native Forestry report card 10

4. Woody Vegetation Change report card 2011–13 11

5. Compliance and Enforcement report card 18

1. Overview, reforms and actions

The NSW Report on Native Vegetation 2013–14 provides a comprehensive picture of the status of the regulation, protection and extent of native vegetation in NSW and includes the following:

• Native Vegetation report card 2013–14, which provides information on the conservation, restoration, management and approvals for clearing native vegetation, including approvals for clearing under Property Vegetation Plans (PVPs).

• Private Native Forestry report card 2013–14, which provides information on the number and area of Private Native Forestry (PNF) PVPs.

• Woody Vegetation Change report card 2011–13, which provides a summary of losses in woody vegetation extent as a result of agriculture, infrastructure, forestry and bushfire. The period covered is earlier than in other sections of this report owing to the extended length of time required to analyse the satellite data.

• Compliance and Enforcement report card 2013–14, which reports on compliance and enforcement activities under the Native Vegetation Act 2003, including private native forestry.

This report is provided by financial year to align with other reporting time frames. All of the available data from previous years are included in the current report.

The Native Vegetation report card shows that, in the 2013–14 financial year, 890 hectares of native vegetation across NSW was approved to be cleared. Environmental values were maintained or improved by offsetting impacts. Over 200,000 hectares of native vegetation was conserved or improved across the state in 2013–14.

The Private Native Forestry report card shows that, in the 2013–14 financial year, 286 PNF PVPs were approved so that 40,899 hectares of native forest could be logged sustainably in accordance with the PNF Code.

2 NSW Report on Native Vegetation 2013–14

The Woody Vegetation Change report card displays Landsat 5 and new SPOT5 data for the period 2011–13. Landsat 5 has a resolution of 30 metres and is able to detect woody vegetation with a crown cover of 20% or greater. SPOT5 has a higher resolution (5 metres) and is able to detect woody vegetation with a crown cover of 5%.

SPOT5 data analysis revealed that the reduction in woody vegetation was 40,500 hectares (0.05% of the area of the state) in 2011–12 and 105,900 hectares (0.13% of the area of the state) in 2012–13. This was as a result of forestry; clearing for cropping, pasture and thinning; fire; and rural and major infrastructure.

• The rate of clearing across the state for crops, pasture and thinning increased in the 2011–12 period by 57% compared with the 2010–11 period, returning to a rate similar to that measured for the 2009–10 period. There was a smaller increase of 7% from the 2011–12 to the 2012–13 period.

• The rate of clearing for rural and major infrastructure increased from the 2010–11 to 2011–12 period. The rate of increase was 91%. There was then an 11% decrease in the clearing rate from the 2011–12 to the 2012–13 period.

• In the 2011–12 period there was a marked increase in the rate of mapped fire scars from 6900 hectares/year in 2011–12 to 71,400 hectares/year in 2012–13. These fires were widespread across NSW, with large fires in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in the eastern ranges, in areas west of Coonabarabran, and in the north-west of NSW.

• Forestry harvesting across the state increased in 2011–12 by 20% compared with 2010–11, resulting in a harvest rate similar to 2009–10. There was a smaller increase of 4% from 2011–12 to 2012–13.

• Of the woody vegetation reduction attributed to forestry in 2012–13, 16% occurred on freehold or leasehold tenure and the other 84% occurred on state forest tenure.

• Although the Landsat 5 data totals differed from the SPOT5 data, they followed the same trends. The Landsat 5 data are included in the report for comparison with the SPOT5 data.

The Compliance and Enforcement report card shows that, in the 2013–14 financial year, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) started two prosecutions under native vegetation legislation and secured two convictions. OEH also issued 11 penalty notices, two remedial directions and 130 formal warning or advisory letters.

Over the same period, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) undertook 69 operational inspections and 74 audits of PNF operations. Three warning letters, 31 advisory letters, two penalty notices and two corrective action requests were issued. Twenty-two reports about non-compliance or unauthorised PNF operations were received and investigated by the EPA.

Biodiversity reviewIn June 2014, an independent panel conducted a comprehensive review of NSW’s land-based biodiversity legislation. The panel presented its final report in December 2014, with 43 recommendations.

NSW Report on Native Vegetation 2013–14 3

Forestry reformsNative forestry in NSW is currently regulated according to tenure. On public land, integrated forestry operations approvals (IFOAs) provide a single environmental approval. The NSW Government is seeking to make these more efficient, effective and enforceable, and it has consequently started remaking the four Coastal IFOAs.

Native forestry on private land is regulated under the Native Vegetation Act 2003. The independent panel referred to above recommended that these arrangements be reviewed, including consideration of options to regulate native forestry on the basis of scale and intensity rather than tenure.

Actions• Investment. The NSW Government is investing about $12 million a year through Local

Land Services for native vegetation management (including controlling pest and weeds).

• New self-assessable codes of practice for clearing. In November 2014, three codes of practice were released: for thinning of native vegetation, clearing of invasive native species, and clearing of paddock trees in cultivation areas.

• New compliance policy. A new compliance policy, developed by OEH, will help the community to understand the principles and approaches that OEH takes for compliance and enforcement activities under native vegetation legislation. The risk-based policy focuses OEH’s effort on the highest priority investigations while proactively responding to changing or emerging risks. Effective stakeholder engagement, strategic investigations, appropriate enforcement actions and targeted compliance campaigns are all key components of OEH’s regulation of native vegetation.

• Reform of biodiversity legislation. In March 2015, the NSW Government announced that it will implement all of the recommendations from the biodiversity review as an integrated package of reforms to deliver an enhanced overall environmental outcome. A new Bill will replace the Native Vegetation Act 2003 and give effect to the recommendations for the new biodiversity conservation legislation. See http://www.landmanagement.nsw.gov.au/.

• Compliance strategies for native forests in NSW. The EPA has formulated compliance strategies for both private and Crown forestry operations in NSW. To achieve the objectives of these compliance strategies, the EPA develops an annual list of key environmental compliance priorities for public native forestry and private native forestry.

http://www.landmanagement.nsw.gov.au/


2. Native Vegetation report card

IntroductionThis Native Vegetation report card provides the latest information on the conservation, restoration, management and approvals for clearing native vegetation. Data from the 2005–06 to the 2012–13 financial years are also shown for comparison (Figures 1 and 2 and Table 1). The statistics do not include clearing done under exemptions or alleged illegal clearing.

The native vegetation statistics have been gathered through a collaborative effort between NSW natural resource agencies such as OEH, the EPA, Local Land Services (formerly Catchment Management Authorities), the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the Nature Conservation Trust and the Forestry Corporation of NSW. They do not include data from other agencies or external organisations.

The approvals data in the Native Vegetation report card cannot be directly compared with the woody change data in the Woody Vegetation Change report card. That report card deals with both exotic and native vegetation, whereas this report card covers only native vegetation. In addition, the PVP process allows up to 15 years for clearing to take place, so an approval may be in one year and clearing in another and consequently cannot be directly connected with woody clearing figures. Furthermore, the Native Vegetation report card does not comprehensively report on activities exempt or excluded from the Native Vegetation Act 2003. For information on all woody change, including exempt or excluded activities please see the Woody Change report card in this report.

Figure 1 Cumulative areas of native vegetation (in hectares) that were conserved, restored, managed or approved for clearing between July 2005 and June 2014.

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

2013–14

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11

2009–10

2008–09

2007–08

2006–07

2005–06

Approved forclearing

ManagementRestorationConservation

–1,0000,00

0

1,296,270

2,588,220

7,450,090

29,590

Are

a (h

ecta

res)

Public forest land is occasionally converted to National Park estate. If the overall conversion to National Park estate is greater than additions to the public forest estate, the total figure for public forest estate will be negative. However, this does not imply an overall reduction in native vegetation conserved, restored or managed, as any areas that are converted to National Park estate will be captured in that category.


Data category descriptions (All data is from OEH sources unless otherwise stated.) The data in Figures 1 and 2 and Table 1 were gathered under the following categories.

New conservation areas

• Public reserve system – national park estate. New national parks, nature reserves and state conservation areas, or additions to national parks, nature reserves and state conservation areas.

• Public reserve system – flora reserves. Data from Forestry Corporation of NSW.

• Private conservation areas – conservation agreements. Areas of new conservation agreements established under section 69A-KA of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. These are binding on current and successive owners and are held in perpetuity.

• Private conservation areas – NCT covenants. NCT (Nature Conservation Trust) covenants that protect properties with high conservation values. Either properties are acquired by the Nature Conservation Trust and then sold with covenants in place, or covenants are negotiated with existing landholders.

• Private conservation areas – wildlife refuges. Areas of new wildlife refuges under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. These areas are managed for the conservation of wildlife habitat.

• Private conservation areas – PVPs in perpetuity. PVPs protecting areas of native vegetation in perpetuity, including Conservation PVPs and some Incentive PVPs.

• Private conservation areas – BioBanking agreements. The Biodiversity Banking and Offsets Scheme (BioBanking) protects and improves biodiversity and, after landowners have sold their biodiversity credits, provides annual management payments in perpetuity.

• Private conservation areas – section 88 conservation covenants. Areas of new conservation covenants created during the conversion of leasehold land to freehold land in the Central and Eastern Division and managed by the DPI under section 88B of the Conveyancing Act 1919. This dataset is no longer being updated. It is included for historical reference.

New restoration/revegetation of native vegetation

• Incentive PVPs not in perpetuity. Areas of revegetation or restoration of native vegetation as set out in an Incentive PVP (excluding Incentive PVPs in perpetuity).

• PVP offsets. Area of offsets negotiated in a PVP. Offsets are actions that a landholder agrees to in order to balance the negative impacts of clearing.

• Native plantations. Plantable areas include plantations of native species only. Data sourced from DPI.

• Revegetation through other incentives (non-PVP). Revegetation activities conducted by Local Land Services through funding sources other than PVPs. Sourced from Local Land Services.

• Retained as a condition of approval to clear – P&R Act 1999 and NVC Act 1997. Areas of land retained as a condition of clearing consent. Include vegetation clearing approvals and plantation authorisations under the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 and the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997. Sourced from OEH and DPI.

• Wildlife refuges – habitat modified and restored. Areas that integrate conservation into other land-use activities and also provide wildlife habitat, e.g. grazing on native unimproved grasslands/rangelands/woodlands under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.


New management of native vegetation

• Invasive native scrub PVPs. Areas authorised under a PVP for the management of invasive native scrub (the term used to describe native plant species that have spread rapidly within their natural ranges).

• Thinning to benchmark PVPs. Areas of land to be cleared to improve the quality of the vegetation by using the thinning provisions of the Environmental Outcomes Assessment Methodology.

• Public forest estate. Areas of new state forest or of reduction of state forest through the conversion to national park estate. Data supplied by Forestry Corporation of NSW.

• Private native forestry on state protected land. Areas of native forest on state protected land approved for timber harvesting and silviculture activities that do not substantially degrade native forests.

• Private native forestry PVPs. Areas under a PVP for timber harvesting (and often silviculture) within a native forest. The PNF Code of Practice commenced operation in August 2007. Data supplied by the EPA.

• Improved rangeland management. Improvement of native vegetation through management and incentive projects. Projects include the control of grazing pressure by feral goats and domestic stock through fencing or controlling access to water. Data sourced from Local Land Services.

• Weed removal programs. Areas of land to be cleared of exotic weeds for environmental improvement. Data sourced from OEH and Local Land Services.

New clearing of native vegetation

• Clearing PVPs approved where environmental outcomes are maintained or improved. Areas of land where clearing approved under a PVP (includes broadscale and paddock tree clearing) will ‘improve or maintain’ environmental outcomes. The impact of clearing is measured against four environmental values: water quality, soils, salinity and biodiversity (including threatened species).

• Clearing under NVC Act. Areas approved for clearing under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997.

• Clearing under P&R Act. Areas of land approved for clearing under the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999. Data sourced from DPI.

• Clearing under local government RAMAs. Areas of land permitted to be cleared under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 as routine agricultural management activities (RAMAs) for essential local government infrastructure.

• Clearing for increased infrastructure RAMA buffers. Areas of land permitted to be cleared beyond the prescribed buffer distances outlined in the Native Vegetation Regulation 2013.


Figure 2 Areas of native vegetation that were conserved, restored, managed or approved for clearing between July 2005 and June 2014.

New clearing

2013

–14

2012

–13

2011

–12

2010

–11

2009

–10

2008

–09

2007

–08

2006

–07

2005

–06

Hec

tare

s

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

13,6

80

1,22

0

2,05

0

2,69

0

2,66

0

2,88

0

1,30

0

2,22

0

890

–400,000

–200,000

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

Hec

tare

s

New management

2013

–14

2012

–13

2011

–12

2010

–11

2009

–10

2008

–09

2007

–08

2006

–07

2005

–06

1,06

8,56

0

979,

170

785,

610

1,35

6,62

0

–262

,800

1,10

1,42

0

1,05

7,34

0

1,03

1,28

0

332,

890

New conservation

2013

–14

2012

–13

2011

–12

2010

–11

2009

–10

2008

–09

2007

–08

2006

–07

2005

–06

455,

990

159,

230

82,3

20

75,3

70

122,

910

329,

090

Hec

tare

s

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

21,3

20

24,7

40

25,3

00

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000New restoration

303,

330 50

8,93

0

210,

970

316,

460

184,

420

222,

800

279,

390

388,

280

Hec

tare

s

2013

–14

2012

–13

2011

–12

2010

–11

2009

–10

2008

–09

2007

–08

2006

–07

2005

–06

173,

640

Note: PVP assessments started on 1 December 2005. The clearing data for 2005–06 represent clearing approvals under the rescinded NVC Act up until December 2005 and clearing approvals under the current Native Vegetation Act 2003 after December 2005.

Public forest land is occasionally converted to National Park estate. If the overall conversion to National Park estate is greater than additions to the public forest estate, the total figure for public forest estate will be negative. However, this does not imply an overall reduction in native vegetation conserved, restored or managed, as any areas that are converted to National Park estate will be captured in that category.


Tabl

e 1

Are

as o

f nat

ive

vege

tatio

n th

at w

ere

cons

erve

d, re

stor

ed, m

anag

ed o

r app

rove

d fo

r cle

arin

g be

twee

n Ju

ly 2

005

and

June

201

4.

New

con

serv

atio

n ar

eas

Are

a (h

ecta

res)

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

2010

–11

2011

–12

2012

–13

2013

–14

Ave

rage

Publ

ic re

serv

e sy

stem

– n

atio

nal p

ark

esta

te42

0,40

015

5,26

071

,780

42,8

6039

,120

314,

370

5,86

09,

010

14,3

9011

9,23

0

Publ

ic re

serv

e sy

stem

– fl

ora

rese

rves

00

2,73

00

00

00

030

0

Priv

ate

cons

erva

tion

area

s – c

onse

rvat

ion

agre

emen

ts17

,050

3,82

02,

200

29,6

6074

,770

6,55

05,

810

3,17

02,

660

16,19

0

Priv

ate

cons

erva

tion

area

s – N

CT

cove

nant

s<1

00

1,37

043

03,

420

4,05

02,

930

1,94

05,

130

2,41

0

Priv

ate

cons

erva

tion

area

s – w

ildlif

e re

fuge

s18

,540

150

1,25

0-1

1015

030

470

160

910

2,39

0

Priv

ate

cons

erva

tion

area

s – P

VPs i

n pe

rpet

uity

Not

ava

ilabl

eN

ot a

vaila

ble

2,99

02,

530

5,37

03,

900

4,54

09,

270

1,70

04,

330

Priv

ate

cons

erva

tion

area

s – B

ioBa

nkin

g Ag

reem

ents

Not

ava

ilabl

eN

ot a

vaila

ble

Not

ava

ilabl

e0

8019

01,

710

1,19

051

061

0

TOTA

L (h

a)45

5,99

015

9,23

082

,320

75,3

7012

2,91

032

9,09

021

,320

24,7

4025

,300

144,

030

Priv

ate

cons

erva

tion

area

s –

s.88

con

serv

atio

n co

vena

nts

4,26

07,

820

27,4

6063

,400

329,

990

434,

110

156,

710

Not

ava

ilabl

eN

ot a

vaila

ble

New

rest

orat

ion/

reve

geta

tion

of n

ativ

e ve

geta

tion

Are

a (h

ecta

res)

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

2010

–11

2011

–12

2012

–13

2013

–14

Ave

rage

Ince

ntiv

e PV

Ps n

ot in

per

petu

ity19

,690

44,9

0015

9,31

011

1,26

011

4,58

015

1,13

084

,540

55,2

8028

,170

85,4

30

PVP

Offs

ets

1,01

04,

740

3,55

03,

190

11,15

012

,790

8,36

06,

800

2,97

06,

060

Nat

ive

Plan

tatio

ns9,

920

15,8

9032

,250

11,4

5010

,580

3,53

06,

550

1,40

013

010

,190

Reve

geta

tion

thro

ugh

othe

r Inc

entiv

es

(non

-PVP

)76

,170

313,

550

13,3

5015

1,91

037

,750

340,

980

110,

910

252,

370

152,

970

161,

110

Reta

ined

as a

con

ditio

n of

app

rova

l to

clea

r –

P&R

Act 1

999

& N

VC A

ct 1

997

6,29

06,

930

13,3

501,

610

420

110

1056

010

3,25

0

Wild

life

refu

ges –

hab

itat m

odifi

ed

and

rest

ored

190,

250

2,27

099

0-3

0-8

4039

060

050

170

21,5

40

TOTA

L (h

a)30

3,33

038

8,28

022

2,80

027

9,39

017

3,64

050

8,93

021

0,97

031

6,46

018

4,42

028

7,58

0


New

man

agem

ent o

f nat

ive

vege

tatio

n A

rea

(hec

tare

s)20

05–0

620

06–0

720

07–0

820

08–0

920

09–1

020

10–1

120

11–1

220

12–1

320

13–1

4A

vera

ge

Inva

sive

nat

ive

scru

b PV

Ps41

,160

494,

860

588,

680

366,

120

667,

550

519,

020

632,

340

440,

680

123,

680

430,

450

Thin

ning

to b

ench

mar

k PV

Ps10

850

360

510

780

530

502,

770

3065

0

Publ

ic fo

rest

est

ate

-354

,220

-3,2

70-1

1,43

0-4

,470

770

-146

,650

-90

-240

-1,3

30-5

7,88

0

Priv

ate

nativ

e fo

rest

ry o

n st

ate

prot

ecte

d la

nd49

,310

17,3

405,

440

Not

app

licab

leN

ot a

pplic

able

Not

app

licab

leN

ot a

pplic

able

Not

app

licab

leN

ot a

pplic

able

24,0

30

Priv

ate

nativ

e fo

rest

ry P

VPs

Not

app

licab

leN

ot a

pplic

able

89,6

9014

2,88

066

,940

79,6

9072

,170

61,19

040

,900

79,0

70

Impr

oved

Ran

gela

nd M

anag

emen

tN

ot a

vaila

ble

286,

730

228,

950

300,

280

96,4

8017

6,91

072

,390

232,

380

123,

590

189,

710

Wee

d re

mov

al p

rogr

ams

940

304,

910

155,

650

225,

960

236,

040

349,

670

8,75

061

9,84

046

,020

216,

420

TOTA

L (h

a)-2

62,8

001,

101,

420

1,05

7,34

01,

031,

280

1,06

8,56

097

9,17

078

5,61

01,

356,

620

332,

890

827,

790

New

cle

arin

g of

nat

ive

vege

tatio

n A

rea

(hec

tare

s)20

05–0

620

06–0

720

07–0

820

08–0

920

09–1

020

10–1

120

11–1

220

12–1

320

13–1

4A

vera

ge

Clea

ring

PVPs

app

rove

d w

here

en

viro

nmen

tal o

utco

mes

mai

ntai

ned

or

impr

oved

4038

01,

540

2,56

02,

650

2,87

01,

300

2,21

089

01,

600

Clea

ring

unde

r NVC

Act

199

713

,430

500

10N

ot a

pplic

able

Not

app

licab

leN

ot a

pplic

able

Not

app

licab

leN

ot a

pplic

able

Not

app

licab

le4,

650

Clea

ring

unde

r P&

R Ac

t 199

921

034

050

013

010

100

00

130

Clea

ring

unde

r loc

al g

over

nmen

t RA

MA

s–

–0

<10

<10

<10

010

0<1

0

Clea

ring

for i

ncre

ased

infr

astr

uctu

re R

AM

A

buffe

rs–

<10

0<1

0<1

00

<10

00

0

TOTA

L (h

a)13

,680

1,22

02,

050

2,69

02,

660

2,88

01,

300

2,22

089

03,

290

Not

es:

‘NC

T re

volv

ing

fund

pro

pert

ies

held

for s

ale’

are

as h

ave

been

rem

oved

from

the

abov

e ta

ble,

as

ther

e w

as p

oten

tial f

or th

ese

area

s to

be

doub

le c

ount

ed o

nce

they

wer

e so

ld.

The

2005

–06

data

for t

he c

ateg

ory

‘Rev

eget

atio

n th

roug

h ot

her i

ncen

tives

(non

-PVP

)’ in

clud

e on

ly Ja

nuar

y–Ju

ne 2

006

data

.Th

e 20

05–0

6 to

200

9–10

wild

life

refu

ge d

ata

are

deriv

ed fr

om o

ther

dat

a, a

s ac

tual

figu

res

are

unav

aila

ble.

The

figur

es h

ave

been

roun

ded

up o

r dow

n to

the

near

est 1

0 he

ctar

es.

The

sect

ion

88 c

onse

rvat

ion

cove

nant

dat

aset

is n

o lo

nger

bei

ng u

pdat

ed. I

t is

incl

uded

for h

isto

rical

refe

renc

e.N

CT,

Nat

ure

Cons

erva

tion

Trus

t; PV

P, p

rope

rty

vege

tatio

n pl

an; R

AM

As,

rout

ine

agric

ultu

ral m

anag

emen

t act

iviti

es.

Publ

ic fo

rest

land

is o

ccas

iona

lly c

onve

rted

to N

atio

nal P

ark

esta

te. I

f the

ove

rall

conv

ersi

on to

Nat

iona

l Par

k es

tate

is g

reat

er th

an a

dditi

ons

to th

e pu

blic

fore

st e

stat

e, th

e to

tal fi

gure

for p

ublic

fore

st e

stat

e w

ill b

e ne

gativ

e. H

owev

er, t

his

does

not

impl

y an

ove

rall

redu

ctio

n in

nat

ive

vege

tatio

n co

nser

ved,

rest

ored

or m

anag

ed, a

s an

y ar

eas

that

are

con

vert

ed to

Nat

iona

l Par

k es

tate

will

be

capt

ured

in th

at

cate

gory

.


3. Private Native Forestry report card

IntroductionPrivate native forestry is the management of native vegetation on privately owned land for the purpose of obtaining forest products on a sustainable basis. There are an estimated 8.5 million hectares of native forests on private land across NSW.

The PNF Code, which sets minimum operating standards for harvesting in private native forests, was introduced on 1 August 2007 to ensure that forest operations improve or maintain environmental outcomes. It also encourages sustainable management of forestry on private land. Until 2007, PNF had been a largely unregulated industry in NSW. Before the introduction of the Code, only forestry operations on State Protected Land (about 20% of all PNF activity) required approval. The introduction of the Code means that 100% of the industry is now regulated.

Approval through a private native forestry property vegetation plan (PNF PVP) is required to carry out forestry operations on private land. A PNF PVP is a legally binding agreement between a landholder and the EPA. PNF PVPs are valid for up to 15 years, giving landowners the security they need to make long-term forest management decisions.

ResultsBetween 1 August 2007 and 30 June 2014, a total of 2923 PVPs were approved for PNF, covering 553,463 hectares of private forest. The EPA approved 286 new PNF PVPs in 2013–2014, covering 40,899 hectares (Table 2).

Table 2 Areas of PNF PVPs approved between August 2007 and June 2014

Forest typeArea of PNF PVP (ha)

2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 Total

Northern NSW 63,845 92,390 54,727 58,490 58,730 43,200 35,190 406,572

Southern NSW 4,425 4,943 3,804 5,830 3,093 4,243 494 26,832

River Red Gum 18,394 37,367 4,506 11,860 4,664 10,047 1,694 88,532

Cypress and Western Hardwood 3,029 8,184 3,906 3,511 5,678 3,698 3,521 31,527

Total 89,693 142,884 66,943 79,691 72,165 61,188 40,899 553,463

For compliance and enforcement statistics for private native forestry, please see ‘Compliance and Enforcement report card’ later in this report.


4. Woody Vegetation Change report card 2011–13

IntroductionThis is the eighth report giving details of the annualised change in woody vegetation in NSW since the implementation of the Native Vegetation Act 2003. The new figures for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 periods (based on SPOT5 imagery) and the previously reported annualised woody vegetation change rates for the periods between 1988 and 2011 (based on SPOT5 and Landsat 5 imagery) are included in the report for comparison.

This report covers losses in woody vegetation due to clearing for agriculture, forestry and infrastructure activities. It also reports losses in woody vegetation resulting from bushfires. The report does not identify gains in woody vegetation due to planting and natural regrowth. There are areas – in particular within forest areas – where the woody vegetation cover is increasing. A project aimed at developing methods for monitoring increasing woody vegetation by using SPOT5 imagery is under way, and the results will be included in the next Woody Vegetation Change report card.

Previous reports have included measurements of woody vegetation change based on analysis of Landsat imagery. It was not possible to continue the annual Landsat-based monitoring for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 periods owing to the failure of Landsat 5 in November 2011 and the delay in launching Landsat 8, which started operations in June 2013. Fortunately, a high-resolution monitoring program based on SPOT5 satellite imagery was developed in time to continue the annual monitoring of woody vegetation change.

Woody vegetation for the purpose of previous reports (based on 30-metre-resolution Landsat imagery) was defined as woody communities with 20% crown cover or more (e.g. woodlands, open forests and closed forests) and taller than about 2 metres, including both native and exotic species.

The 5-metre-resolution SPOT5 images, being a synthesis of the SPOT5 2.5-metre and 10-metre images, provide more detailed mapping than Landsat, detecting woody vegetation down to 5% crown cover. Because of this resolution difference the rates of change measured from Landsat 5 and SPOT5 data will differ. See www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nativeveg/140569WoodyChange.pdf for further information.

Use of SPOT5 imagery has enabled the detection of woody vegetation change in landscapes such as open woodlands with scattered trees, as well as in grasslands and highly modified areas that were unable to be reliably detected by using Landsat.

About 320 SPOT5 scenes covering NSW were analysed by using SLATS (Statewide Landcover and Trees Study) automated processing methods at a resolution of 5 metres. A small percentage (about 1.2%) of the total NSW area was not interpreted in both the 2011–12 and 2012–13 periods because of cloud cover in the images used. After the automatic processing, the woody vegetation data from the automated process were visually edited to ensure a high level of accuracy and consistency. This interpretation of the change analysis was performed by eight regionally based interpreters with local expertise. During the validation stage, all interpretation of change was cross-checked by independent image interpreters.

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nativeveg/140569WoodyChange.pdf

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nativeveg/140569WoodyChange.pdf


The data in this Woody Vegetation Change report card cannot be directly compared with the approvals data in the Native Vegetation report card. That report deals with native vegetation only, rather than exotic and native vegetation as included in this report. Furthermore, the PVP process allows up to 15 years for clearing to take place, so approval may be in one year and clearing in another and consequently cannot be directly connected with clearing figures. The Native Vegetation report card does not report on activities exempt or excluded from the Native Vegetation Act 2003. In contrast, this Woody Change report card covers all vegetation cleared in NSW, including clearing that is exempt and excluded from the Native Vegetation Act 2003.

The ‘Forestry’ woody vegetation change data in Table 3 are the result of a GIS analysis using woody change, tenure and Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program land-use data. These land-use data were based on imagery sources acquired during 1999–2006. The classification of forests into plantation, native, pine and hardwood is based solely on these land-use data. Hence, the rates in Table 3 are influenced by the accuracy and currency of the land-use data. This detailed breakdown of the forestry activities is provided in Table 4.

ResultsAn analysis of woody vegetation change over NSW for the period 2011–12 calculated the annual reduction in woody vegetation as 40,500 hectares, or 0.05% of the area of NSW. For the period 2012–13 the annual reduction in woody vegetation was 105,900 hectares, or 0.13% of the area of NSW, with most of the reduction due to fire. Figure 3 shows the proportions of clearing by land use and fire category. The measured woody vegetation loss rates for all periods are shown in Table 3 and Figure 4.

Fire scars67.4%

Rural and major infrastructure3.7%

Forestry20.3%

Cropping, pasture and thinning8.6%Fire scars

17.0%

Rural and majorinfrastructure

10.9%

Forestry51.1%

Cropping, pasture and thinning21.0%

(a) 2011–12 (b) 2012–13

Figure 3 Relative proportions of woody vegetation reduction by land-use category and fire for (a) 2011–12 and (b) 2012–13.


Tabl

e 3

Rate

s of

woo

dy v

eget

atio

n lo

ss, a

nnua

lised

by

land

-use

cat

egor

y an

d fir

e, o

ver t

he p

erio

d 19

88–2

013

(hec

tare

s/ye

ar),

for S

POT5

and

Lan

dsat

5 a

naly

ses.

SPO

T5

1988–1990

1990–1992

1992–1994

1994–1996

1996–1998

1998–2000

2000–2002

2002–2004

2004–2006

2006–2007

2007–2008

2008–2009

2009–2010

2010–2011

2011–2012

2012–2013

Crop

, pas

ture

, thi

nnin

g8,

600

5,40

08,

500

9,10

0

Fore

stry

20,8

0017

,300

20,7

0021

,500

Infr

astr

uctu

re3,

000

2,30

04,

400

3,90

0

Fire

17,3

004,

900

6,90

071

,400

Land

sat 5

1988–1990

1990–1992

1992–1994

1994–1996

1996–1998

1998–2000

2000–2002

2002–2004

2004–2006

2006–2007

2007–2008

2008–2009

2009–2010

2010–2011

Crop

, pas

ture

, thi

nnin

g30

,900

21,0

0015

,800

21,8

0021

,200

13,7

0020

,100

27,5

0016

,100

17,7

0016

,100

18,5

0021

,200

6,60

0

Fore

stry

8,80

07,

000

10,4

006,

900

15,7

0013

,000

19,4

0017

,200

9,60

019

,200

24,0

0031

,300

42,7

0026

,600

Infr

astr

uctu

re2,

900

2,90

02,

700

2,20

05,

100

3,80

04,

500

3,50

01,

900

3,80

04,

000

6,20

05,

300

2,30

0

Fire

1,30

06,

500

4,90

06,

200

7,60

019

,700

33,6

0010

2,80

03,

700

202,

400

4,20

08,

200

48,3

003,

900

Not

e: T

he p

erio

ds o

f ana

lysi

s fo

r the

rate

s in

Tab

le 3

and

Fig

ure

4 co

ver e

ither

1- o

r a 2

-yea

r tim

e fr

ames

. The

figu

res

show

n ar

e an

nual

ised

rate

s to

ena

ble

rela

tive

‘ann

ual’

com

paris

ons

to b

e m

ade

amon

g al

l per

iods

. Rat

es a

re ro

unde

d to

the

near

est 1

00 h

ecta

res.


Figure 4 Annual losses of woody vegetation, 1988–2013, by land-use category: SPOT5 and Landsat 5 analyses.

SPOT5

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

2012

–201

3

2011

–201

2

2010

–201

1

2009

–201

0

2008

–200

9

2007

–200

8

2006

–200

7

2004

–200

6

2002

–200

4

2000

–200

2

1998

–200

0

1996

–199

8

1994

–199

6

1992

–199

4

1990

–199

2

1988

–199

0

Analysis period (years)

Crop, pasture, thinning Forestry Infrastructure

Rat

e (h

a/ye

ar)

Landsat 5

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

2010

–201

1

2009

–201

0

2008

–200

9

2007

–200

8

2006

–200

7

2004

–200

6

2002

–200

4

2000

–200

2

1998

–200

0

1996

–199

8

1994

–199

6

1992

–199

4

1990

–199

2

1988

–199

0

Analysis period (years)

Crop, pasture, thinning Forestry Infrastructure

Rat

e (h

a/ye

ar)

Note: The information shown in Figure 4 reflects the predominant woody vegetation loss as a result of human activity. Changes due to fire have not been included in the graph, as fire-affected vegetation usually regrows quickly and the very large size of the fire scars can dominate the graph to a degree that makes it difficult to display the rates in a meaningful way.


Patterns of changeThe graph of SPOT5-based woody vegetation change rates in Figure 4 shows that woody vegetation change rates have increased when compared with 2010–11 rates. However, we know that wetter than average seasonal conditions prevailed in many areas during 2010–11, and this would have reduced the ability to operate machinery used to clear vegetation. This could be part of the reason for the lower rates of change during that period.

Changes in woody vegetation continue to occur across NSW, with the major changes in the following categories.

Cropping, pasture and thinning

This class includes areas where the woody canopy cover was reduced as a result of clearing for cropping, pasture or thinning.

The rate of clearing for cropping, pasture or thinning across the state increased in 2011–12 by 57% compared with 2010–11, returning to a rate similar to that measured for 2009–10. There was a smaller increase of 7% from the 2011–12 period to the 2012–13 period (Table 3).

Forestry

This class includes areas where the woody canopy has been removed because of forest harvesting activities. This includes private native forestry, harvesting within state forests and harvesting within plantations.

Geographic information systems analysis was used to divide woody loss due to forestry into categories based on tenure and management practice. These woody vegetation loss rates are presented in Table 4.

• Forestry activity was widespread over the eastern third of the state.

• Forestry harvesting activities across the state increased in 2011–12 by 20% compared with 2010–11, resulting in a harvest rate similar to that in 2009–10. There was a smaller increase of 4% from 2011–12 to 2012–13.

• Of the 2012–13 ‘Forestry’ woody vegetation reduction, 16% occurred on freehold or leasehold tenure and the other 84% occurred on state forest tenure.

• Rates of native forest harvesting for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 periods were greater than in the 2010–11 period. However, the 2011–12 and 2012–13 rates were comparable to the earlier, 2009–10, rate.

Of the 2012–13 forestry change, 52% of woody vegetation change was in plantations and 48% was in native forests.

Note that forest re-establishment usually occurs in forest areas subjected to harvesting.


Table 4 Rates of woody vegetation change, for forestry land use by tenure and management practice, over the period 2006–2013 (hectares/year), by SPOT5 and Landsat 5 analyses.

SPOT5 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13

State forest

Native 8,310 5,290 8,100 8,720

Plantation pine 7,020 8,350 8,240 9,170

Plantation hardwood 310 450 280 240

Total 15,640 14,090 16,620 18,130

Freehold and leasehold

Native 1,950 980 1,540 1,590

Plantation pine 3,080 2,260 2,520 1,810

Plantation hardwood 130 0 0 0

Total 5,160 3,240 4,060 3,400

Total native forestry 10,260 6,270 9,640 10,310

Total plantation forestry 10,540 11,060 11,040 11,220

Total forestry 20,800 17,330 20,680 21,530

Landsat 5 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

State forest

Native 9,100 8,510 13,460 22,650 9,990

Plantation pine 6,520 10,030 9,330 10,060 10,510

Plantation hardwood 310 430 590 560 410

Total 15,930 18,970 23,380 33,270 20,910

Freehold and leasehold

Native 2,350 2,740 5,190 5,670 2,510

Plantation pine 920 2,280 2,610 3,750 3,070

Plantation hardwood 0 10 120 10 110

Total 3,270 5,030 7,920 9,430 5,690

Total native forestry 11,450 11,250 18,650 28,320 12,500

Total plantation forestry 7,750 12,750 12,650 14,380 14,100

Total Forestry 19,200 24,000 31,300 42,700 26,600

Note: The values shown in Table 4 are annualised to enable relative ‘annual’ comparisons to be made between all periods. Total forestry rates are rounded to the nearest 100 hectares. All other rates are rounded to the nearest 10 hectares.


Rural and major infrastructure

This class includes all activities whereby the woody canopy has been reduced because of clearing for rural infrastructure, including fence lines and firebreaks, as well as for major infrastructure, such as powerlines, water pipelines, highways, roads and major works. This class includes mine extensions and related mining activities.

As with every other category of change, the rate of clearing for rural and major infrastructure increased from 2010–11 to 2011–12. The rate of increase was 91%. There was then an 11% decrease in the clearing rate from 2011–12 to 2012–13 (Table 3).

Fire scars

This class includes areas where the woody canopy cover has been reduced through fire-related effects. However, this class does not capture all historic fire scars – only those that had substantial leaf reduction at the time of image acquisition. In most cases the reduction in woody vegetation cover in areas identified as fire scars is temporary and does not result in a permanent reduction in woody vegetation cover.

The rate of woody vegetation change due to fire in 2011–12 was higher than in the previous period but was still relatively low compared with the rates for other reported change periods (Table 3). In 2011–12 there was a substantial increase in the area of mapped fire scars from 6900 hectares/year for 2011–12 to 71,400 hectares/year for 2012–13. These fires were widespread across NSW, with large fires in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in the eastern ranges, in areas west of Coonabarabran, and in the north-west of NSW.


5. Compliance and Enforcement report card

IntroductionCompliance framework

OEH, in partnership with Local Land Services and the EPA, implements the Native Vegetation Act 2003 and the Native Vegetation Regulation 2013.

OEH has primary responsibility for compliance assurance under the Native Vegetation Act in relation to broad-scale clearing, whereas the EPA regulates logging of native forests on private lands. Both organisations maintain a fair and balanced framework that promotes voluntary compliance to maintain environmental and forest values, promote good land management practices and help prevent illegal clearing. OEH and the EPA also ensure that appropriate regulatory action is taken against deliberate and harmful breaches. This approach lets landholders get on with managing their land while protecting the natural resources and environment that support sustainable agriculture and forestry.

OEH and the EPA monitor native vegetation clearing by using satellite images and aerial photography, as well as through public notification, field reconnaissance and audits. Detected vegetation change is first checked to see whether there is any known legal explanation for the change, such as clearing within state forests or clearing under an approved PVP.

The remaining reports of clearing are assessed for potential risk to the environment and the regulatory system and investigated accordingly. In many instances, these investigations determine that clearing is lawful, such as clearing of regrowth or clearing for routine agricultural management activities, as defined in the Native Vegetation Act.

If unlawful clearing is identified, an appropriate response is determined on the basis of factors such as the severity of the impact, culpability and any mitigating circumstances. Remediation of environmental harm is a priority, and a remediation direction may be issued after consultation with landholders. Enforcement actions ensure a level playing field, acting as a deterrent to future breaches and penalising those who choose not to comply with the legislation.

In addition to risk-based case-by-case investigations, OEH and the EPA maintain active compliance programs to identify emerging issues, and they respond with a range of targeted and strategic communications to increase voluntary compliance.

Supporting voluntary compliance

Monitoring indicates that the vast majority of farmers and private native forestry operators are doing the right thing when it comes to native vegetation. The NSW Government is committed to finding ways for OEH, the EPA, Local Land Services and other agencies to improve their delivery of services to support this voluntary compliance. The focus is on equipping landholders to work within the rules. OEH makes it as simple as possible for people to comply by ensuring there is easily accessible information on:

• standards required by conservation legislation

• approaches to achieving those standards

• benefits to industry and the community for complying with the standards.


Education and information tools used by OEH to help with voluntary compliance include:

• education and community engagement campaigns such as:– stakeholder-specific training– workshops

• media campaigns

• audit programs

• advisory letters

• guidance materials published on the OEH website.

Compliance policy for OEH regional operations

In 2014, OEH published the Compliance Policy for OEH Regional Operations. The policy helps the community to understand the principles and approaches OEH uses when undertaking compliance and enforcement activities under native vegetation legislation. The risk-based policy focuses OEH’s effort on the highest priority investigations while proactively responding to changing or emerging risks. Effective stakeholder engagement, strategic investigations, appropriate enforcement actions and targeted compliance campaigns are all key components of OEH’s regulation of native vegetation.

ResultsCompliance activity

In 2013–14, OEH received 396 reports of vegetation clearing to Environment Line, and upon investigation many of these were found to be lawful clearing. OEH responded to various offences under the legislation, with 11 penalty notices issued, two directions to remediate 127 hectares of land, and 130 advisory or warning letters sent. Substantial breaches resulted in the commencement of two prosecutions, and two convictions secured. Table 5 summarises these compliance and enforcement actions.

Table 5 Compliance and enforcement actions.

Type of action 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Legal directions

Stop work orders 0 0 2 0 0

Remedial directions 39 32 17 10 2

Warning or advisory letters

Number sent 195 264 235 154 130

Prosecutions*

Commenced 7 5 2 3 2

Convictions 12 2 5 2 2

Penalty notices

Number issued 20 36 12 10 11

*Prosecutions completed in 2013–14 were not all commenced in 2013–14.


Compliance and enforcement for private native forestry

The EPA undertakes operational inspections, audits and investigations to meet annual PNF compliance priorities. This is supported by education, training and extension activities. During 2013–14, the EPA undertook 69 operational inspections and 74 audits of PNF operations.

During 2013–14, three warning letters, 31 advisory letters, two penalty notices and two corrective action requests were issued. Twenty-two reports about non-compliance or unauthorised PNF operations were received and investigated by the EPA during the period. Table 6 summarises compliance and enforcement actions taken in relation to PNF.

Table 6 Compliance and enforcement actions for private native forestry.

Type of action 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Advisory or warning letters 18 47 34

Official cautions 0 2 1

Penalty notices and site inspections 1 0 2

EPA compliance case study

In 2013–14 the EPA issued two penalty notices to logging contractors. One was issued for removing a large number of predominantly ironbark trees from stream exclusion zones at a property near Dubbo. These illegally harvested trees were sold for processing into railway sleepers. The other penalty notice was issued for removing a large number of trees – predominantly white mahogany, brush box and blue gum – in an old-growth exclusion zone at a property near Gloucester. These trees were sold for processing at a local mill. Penalty notices were the appropriate regulatory response in each of these instances.

Private native forestry training campaigns and educational DVDs and clips

The PNF training program aims to train landholders and logging contractors on how to comply with the PNF Code, by focusing on the protection of biodiversity and cultural values of forests; improving forest management and harvesting techniques; protecting soils and water; and applying Work Health and Safety standards. Its overarching goal is to facilitate a shift towards sustainable private native forestry in NSW.

The EPA receives an estimated average of 618 inquiries about PNF PVPs per year. People who make inquiries are issued with a PNF PVP information pack (Table 7). A subset of these inquiries then move on to the landholder obtaining a PVP.

Table 7 PNF packs issued.

Year PNF PVP packs issued PNF PVPs issued

2010–11 766 444

2011–12 629 486

2012–13 469 354

2013–14 370 286

Educational video clips on private native forestry, along with an explanatory brochure, can be found on the EPA website at http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/pnf/trainingvideos.htm.

Native Vegetation report card data sourcesAll data are from OEH sources unless otherwise stated. Information on BioBanking was collected on 1 August 2014. Data were taken from the application database PADACS (PVPs, Agreements, Data and Customer Service) on 18 November 2014. Information was collected from the public reserve system on 25 August 2014 and on private conservation areas (conservation agreements and wildlife refuges) on 14 October 2014. Local Land Services provided data from 18 September to 28 November 2014. DPI provided information on plantations on 14 October 2014. The Nature Conservation Trust provided information on 27 November 2014 and the Forestry Corporation of NSW provided data on 28 October 2014. PNF PVP data were extracted from the data provided in the Private Native Forestry Card.

© 2016 State of NSW

Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage on behalf of the NSW State Government 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232 Phone: +61 2 9995 5000 (switchboard) Phone: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests) Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks, general environmental enquiries, and publications requests) Fax: +61 2 9995 5999

TTY users: phone 133 677, then ask for 131 555 Speak and listen users: phone 1300 555 727, then ask for 131 555 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au

Report pollution and environmental incidents Environment Line: 131 555 (NSW only) or [email protected] See also www.environment.nsw.gov.au

ISBN 978 1 76039 359 50 OEH 2016/0284 May 2016

mailto:info%40environment.nsw.gov.au?subject=

www.environment.nsw.gov.au

www.environment.nsw.gov.au

nsw report on native vegetation 2013-14 · 2016. 8. 3. · was conserved or improved across the...

Documents