Land Clearing - it's choking NSW

Eva Ingenfeld with Diamond Python protesting about continued land clearing

Land Clearing is the greatest threat to nature in NSW. The “wheat belt” which runs down the centre of NSW retains only tiny scraps of mature woodland, the rest is fields and pasture. While NSW has legislation in place since 2003 to make the bulldozing of these important remnants illegal, the NSW government has been very slow to enforce their own laws.

Land clearing is the main cause of salinity in the state and many other types of land degradation such as soil loss. It exacerbates drought. Land clearing kills millions of birds and animals each year and is identified as one of the key threats to 240 animals listed as endangered or threatened in NSW.

It is also a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions. The Federal government estimates land clearing is responsible for 9% of NSW’s greenhouse pollution. Trees store carbon: when they are burnt or rot after being bulldozed they release greenhouse gases. Land clearing in NSW causes the same amount of greenhouse pollution as 3 million cars each year.

Despite the laws enacted in NSW in recognition of the environmental crisis being caused by clearing there are still many landholders clearing bush illegally and with impunity. TWS continues to campaign to ensure the NSW government delivers on their promise from the 2007 state election – to end broadscale clearing in NSW and protect the struggling and fragile biodiversity of our state’s dry western regions.