| Clearing type | Vegetation management category | 2021-22 area cleared (ha) | 2020-21 area cleared (ha) | 2019-20 area cleared (ha) | 2018-19 area cleared (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exempt |
Category X Exempt PMAV | 190,300 (59%) |
215,700 (62%) |
236,000 (57%) |
374,200 (55%) |
|
Category X Exempt RVMM | 62,200 (19%) |
71,500 (21%) |
85,200 (20%) |
112,300 (17%) | |
| Subtotal | 252,500 | 287,200 | 321,200 | 486,500 | |
| Regulated | ADVCC | 22,800 (7%) |
18,800 (5%) |
33,500 (8%) |
102,500 (15%) |
| Unexplained | 24,500 (7.5%) |
25,600 (7%) |
38,300 (9%) |
63,700 (9%) | |
| Exempt other | 21,000 (6.5%) |
14,800 (4%) |
21,100 (5%) |
19,700 (3%) | |
| DA | 1,600 (0.5%) |
1,600 (0.5%) |
1,700 (0.4%) |
6,100 (0.9%) | |
| AMP | 1,300 (0.5%) |
600 (0.2%) |
2,000 (0.5%) |
2,800 (0.4%) | |
| Subtotal | 71,200 | 61,400 | 96,600 | 194,800 |
SLATS vegetation management analysis
Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) is an annual scientific monitoring program undertaken by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation’s Remote Sensing Centre. SLATS uses satellite imagery to monitor changes in woody vegetation extent in Queensland.
In conjunction with the Remote Sensing Sciences, the Department of Resources utilises the Early Detection System (EDS) as the primary tool to rapidly assess vegetation canopy cover change (every 14 days) within regulated vegetation areas. This provides timely monitoring, and the opportunity for early engagement with landholders if unexplained clearing is identified.
Further analysis of SLATS data is used as a validation tool to complement EDS. This SLATS analysis provides the department further intelligence regarding annual clearing activity in the context of the vegetation management framework. The analysis intersects SLATS data with available property-level data derived from accepted development vegetation clearing code notifications, development approvals and area management plan notifications as well as spatial layers that represent exemptions. This generates a detailed breakdown of the statewide clearing identified in SLATS. In 2018–19 the SLATS methodology changed. The data below reports on clearing from this period.
Vegetation clearing data
Clearing of regulated vegetation increased from about 61,400 hectares in 2020-21 to 71,100 hectares in 2021-22. Since the 2018-19 SLATS report there has been a reduction in regulated vegetation clearing of about 64% over the past 4 years.
Clearing of Category X areas reduced from about 287,100 hectares in 2020-21 to 252,500 hectares in 2021-22. Areas are mapped as Category X if they have previously been lawfully cleared. They are generally exempt on most private tenures under the vegetation management framework.
Overall, total vegetation clearing reduced from 348,400 hectares in 2020-21 to 323,700 hectares in 2021-22. This is a reduction of about 7%. Since the 2018-19 SLATS report there has been a reduction in overall vegetation clearing of about 52% over the past 4 years.
Categories include the following:
- Category X areas are divided into Category X areas on property maps of assessable vegetation (PMAV) or Category X areas on the regulated vegetation management map (RVMM) respectively.
- Accepted development vegetation clearing codes (ADVCCs) are self-assessable codes that apply to low-impact vegetation management activities.
- Exempt other clearing represents clearing that can be identified as exempt (other than exempt clearing in Category X areas) under the vegetation management framework using available spatial layers. This includes tenures and grasslands not regulated under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 as well as clearing for resource and forestry activities (which are regulated under other legislation) and exempt clearing in urban areas.
- Development approvals (DA) under the Planning Act 2016 may be approved for specified purposes that involve the clearing of native vegetation. When approvals are granted, the approved clearing of identified regulated vegetation is lawful.
- Area management plans (AMPs) apply to self-assessable, region-specific low-impact vegetation management activities.
- All remaining clearing is categorised as ‘unexplained clearing’. Further analysis is undertaken by vegetation management staff to evaluate the identified clearing areas and assess these for further action as appropriate.
For more information, read an explanation of vegetation management framework mapping. You can also read details of vegetation management classes (i.e. endangered, of concern, least concern).
Note: In the data below, 'regulated vegetation' refers to mapped remnant and mapped regrowth vegetation.
Due to the processing of various spatial and numerical data sets involved in this analysis and the rounding of numbers, clearing figures reported from this process may vary marginally from those reported by SLATS.
Figure 1: SLATS total clearing under the vegetation management framework
Comparison between 2020-21 (348,000ha) and 2021-22 (323,700ha)
Due to a change in methodology, the areas cleared and assigned under ‘multiple purposes’ in the table below have now been assigned to a specific clearing purpose. This change marginally reduces the total area cleared under multiple purpose and increases the clearing assigned to specific clearing purposes.
Clearing purposes/codes that are not displayed in the table made up less than 1% of the total clearing in all years.
| Clearing purpose | 2021-22 area cleared (ha) (% of total 22,800ha) | 2020-21 area cleared (ha) (% of total 18,800ha) | 2019-20 area cleared (ha) (% of total 33,500ha) | 2018-19 area cleared (ha) (% of total 102,500ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple purposes | 2,000 (8.3%) |
780 (4.2%) |
4,900 (14%) |
11,600 (11%) |
| Fodder harvesting | 3,900 (16.6%) |
6,300 (33.1%) |
17,900 (53%) |
79,100 (77%) |
| Native forest practice | 3,500 (14.5%) |
5,000 (26.3%) | 8,800 (26%) |
5,400 (5.2%) |
| Encroachment | 11,900 (50.3%) |
5,200 (27.4%) |
950 (2.8%) |
3,800 (3.7%) |
| Managing weeds | 1,300 (5.4%) |
1,000 (5.3%) | (1.7%) | (<1%) |
| Infrastructure | 980 (4.1%) |
560 (3%) | (1.4%) | (1%) |
Clearing purposes/AMPs that are not displayed in the table made up less than 1% of the total clearing in all years, or the AMP is no longer in effect.
| Clearing purpose | 2020-21 area cleared (ha) (% of total 1,300ha) | 2020-21 area cleared (ha) (% of total 600ha) | 2019-20 area cleared (ha) (% of total 2,000ha) | 2018-19 area cleared (ha) (% of total 2,800ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managing thickened vegetation | - | - |
1,250 (63.5%) |
1,430 (51.8%) |
| Managing thickened vegetation/Encroachment | - | - |
440 (22.3%) | - |
| Managing weeds | 1,300 (100%) |
600 (100%) |
180 (9.1%) |
670 (24.4%) |
| Encroachment | - | - |
92 (4.7%) | (<1%) |
| Fodder harvesting | - | - | - |
620 (22.3%) |
Clearing purposes/codes that are not displayed in the table made up less than 1% of the total clearing in all years.
| Clearing purpose | 2021-22 area cleared (ha) (% of total 1,600ha) | 2020-21 area cleared (ha) (% of total 1,600ha) | 2019-20 area cleared (ha) (% of total 1,700ha) | 2018-19 area cleared (ha) (% of total 6,100ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCU/RaL | 640 (36.2%) |
600 (37.5%) |
740 (43.3%) |
620 (10.2%) |
| High-value agriculture | 80 (4.4%) |
100 (6%) |
550 (32.1%) |
89 (1.5%) |
| Fence/Firebreak/Road/Infrastructure | 360 (20.1%) |
230 (14.7%) |
150 (8.8%) | (<1%) |
| Multiple purposes | 430 (24.1%) |
570 (35.8%) |
120 (7.1%) |
100 (1.7%) |
| Managing thickened vegetation | - | <1% |
69 (4%) | (<1%) |
| Extractive industry | 50 (2.6%) |
20 (1.1%) |
44 (2.6%) | (<1%) |
| Necessary environmental clearing | - | - |
35 (2.1%) | - |
| Fodder harvesting | 210 (12.1%) |
70 (4.2%) | - |
5,200 (85.6%) |
Figure 2: SLATS full and partial clearing of regulated vegetation under the vegetation management framework
Comparison between 2020-21 (61,400ha) and 2021-22 (71,100ha)
Note that the SLATS report groups clearing activity as either full clearing or partial clearing. The SLATS report further breaks down partial clearing as either partial (major) or partial (minor). Partial minor and major are aggregated in Figure 2.
For detailed definitions of full and partial clearing, see the SLATS report 2018-19.
2021-22
| Type of clearing | Full clearing (ha) | Partial clearing (ha) | Total (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | 18,000 | 6,500 | 24,500 |
| ADVCC | 14,900 | 7,900 | 22,800 |
| Exempt other | 9,300 | 11,700 | 21,000 |
| DA | 1,300 | 300 | 1,600 |
| AMP | 1,100 | 200 | 1,300 |
2020-21
| Type of clearing | Full clearing (ha) | Partial clearing (ha) | Total (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | 20,000 | 5,500 | 25,500 |
| ADVCC | 13,300 | 5,500 | 18,800 |
| Exempt other | 8,300 | 6,400 | 14,700 |
| DA | 1,400 | 200 | 1,600 |
| AMP | 575 | 35 | 610 |
2019-20
| Type of clearing | Full clearing (ha) | Partial clearing (ha) | Total (ha) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | 21,100 | 17,200 | 38,300 | |||
| ADVCC | 10,400 | 23,100 | 33,500 | |||
| Exempt other | 14,200 | 6,900 | 21,100 | |||
| DA | 1,200 | 400 | 1,600 | |||
| AMP | 500 | 1,500 | 2,000 | |||
2018-19
| Type of clearing | Full clearing (ha) | Partial clearing (ha) | Total (ha) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | 34,300 | 29,400 | 63,700 | |||
| ADVCC | 45,700 | 56,800 | 102,500 | |||
| Exempt other | 13,700 | 6,100 | 19,800 | |||
| DA | 800 | 5,300 | 6,100 | |||
| AMP | 1,500 | 1,300 | 2,800 | |||
Figure 3: SLATS breakdown of clearing by vegetation management status of regulated vegetation under the vegetation management framework 2021-22 (total 71,100ha)
Clearing by vegetation management class of regulated vegetation
Read details of vegetation management classes (i.e. endangered, of concern, least concern).
| Clearing type | Vegetation management category | Endangered (ha) | Of concern (ha) | Least concern (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | Mapped remnant | 1,176 | 3,388 | 16,843 |
| Mapped regrowth | 664 | 952 | 1,452 | |
| ADVCC | Mapped remnant | 356 | 2,968 | 18,630 |
| Mapped regrowth | 70 | 231 | 500 | |
| Exempt other | Mapped remnant | 405 | 1,831 | 17,540 |
| Mapped regrowth | 121 | 289 | 769 | |
| DA | Mapped remnant | 42 | 129 | 1,264 |
| Mapped regrowth | 44 | 51 | 106 | |
| AMP | Mapped remnant | 0 | 4 | 1,283 |
| Mapped regrowth | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Total | 2,878 | 9,843 | 58,393 | |
Read details of vegetation management classes (i.e. endangered, of concern, least concern).
| Clearing type | Vegetation management category | Endangered (ha) | Of concern (ha) | Least concern (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | Mapped remnant | 1,204 | 4,514 | 16,025 |
| Mapped regrowth | 912 | 1,585 | 1,309 | |
| ADVCC | Mapped remnant | 745 | 3,427 | 13,165 |
| Mapped regrowth | 157 | 617 | 640 | |
| Exempt other | Mapped remnant | 320 | 1.562 | 11,334 |
| Mapped regrowth | 379 | 365 | 784 | |
| DA | Mapped remnant | 45 | 164 | 1,269 |
| Mapped regrowth | 14 | 39 | 63 | |
| AMP | Mapped remnant | 0 | 0 | 578 |
| Mapped regrowth | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| Total | 3,776 | 12,273 | 45,199 | |
Read details of vegetation management classes (i.e. endangered, of concern, least concern).
| Clearing type | Vegetation management category | Endangered (ha) | Of concern (ha) | Least concern (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | Regulated remnant | 2,680 | 7,262 | 23,754 |
| Regulated regrowth | 1,259 | 1,607 | 1,769 | |
| ADVCC | Regulated remnant | 674 | 9,223 | 21,864 |
| Regulated regrowth | 212 | 820 | 676 | |
| Exempt other | Regulated remnant | 651 | 1,701 | 16,503 |
| Regulated regrowth | 469 | 820 | 903 | |
| DA | Regulated remnant | 60 | 197 | 1,319 |
| Regulated regrowth | 9 | 32 | 39 | |
| AMP | Regulated remnant | 0 | 1,194 | 763 |
| Regulated regrowth | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Total | 6,014 | 22,857 | 67,596 | |
Read details of vegetation management classes (i.e. endangered, of concern, least concern).
| Clearing type | Vegetation management category | Endangered (ha) | Of concern (ha) | Least concern (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained | Regulated remnant | 2,563 | 9,708 | 46,092 |
| Regulated regrowth | 1,096 | 1,809 | 2,469 | |
| ADVCC | Regulated remnant | 744 | 7,659 | 91,973 |
| Regulated regrowth | 276 | 751 | 1,045 | |
| Exempt other | Regulated remnant | 655 | 1,061 | 15,805 |
| Regulated regrowth | 425 | 1,031 | 745 | |
| DA | Regulated remnant | 43 | 159 | 5,805 |
| Regulated regrowth | 18 | 40 | 20 | |
| AMP | Regulated remnant | 0 | 1,432 | 1,297 |
| Regulated regrowth | 0 | 0 | 31 | |
| Total | 5,820 | 23,650 | 165,282 | |
Clearing of regulated vegetation in specific bioregions
| Year | Exempt other | AMP | DA | ADVCC | Unexplained | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulga Lands | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 249 | 172 | 115 | 4,468 | 2,701 | 7,705 |
| 2020-21 | 213 | 0 | 143 | 6,201 | 2,775 | 9,333 |
| 2019-20 | 140 | 0 | 2 | 21,727 | 5,201 | 27,069 |
| 2018-19 | 3,992 | 616 | 5,285 | 89,937 | 29,865 | 129,695 |
| Brigalow Belt | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 13,644 | 46 | 446 | 4,445 | 10,280 | 28,860 |
| 2020-21 | 9,344 | 0 | 349 | 5,094 | 11,288 | 26,075 |
| 2019-20 | 8,150 | 1,217 | 568 | 8,473 | 20,128 | 38,536 |
| 2018-19 | 6,951 | 1,450 | 398 | 6,204 | 22,080 | 37,083 |
| Mitchell Grass Downs | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 896 | 852 | 1 | 11,744 | 2,418 | 15,911 |
| 2020-21 | 402 | 180 | 42 | 5,312 | 2,049 | 7,985 |
| 2019-20 | 6,360 | 633 | 0 | 811 | 1,874 | 9,678 |
| 2018-19 | 3,158 | 447 | 11 | 3,559 | 2,172 | 9,347 |
| South-East Queensland | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 1,455 | 0 | 60 | 675 | 1,202 | 3,392 |
| 2020-21 | 1,716 | 0 | 124 | 1,399 | 2,034 | 5,273 |
| 2019-20 | 2,647 | 0 | 97 | 1,970 | 2,510 | 7,224 |
| 2018-19 | 2,110 | 0 | 105 | 1,333 | 2,364 | 5,912 |
| Desert Uplands | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 532 | 56 | 2 | 296 | 1,992 | 2,878 |
| 2020-21 | 550 | 12 | 51 | 207 | 2,320 | 3,141 |
| 2019-20 | 128 | 21 | 20 | 187 | 2,731 | 3,087 |
| 2018-19 | 142 | 54 | 12 | 496 | 1,957 | 2,661 |
| Einasleigh Uplands | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 380 | 106 | 312 | 209 | 1,841 | 2,848 |
| 2020-21 | 466 | 245 | 241 | 99 | 1,534 | 2,585 |
| 2019-20 | 563 | 27 | 687 | 39 | 1,862 | 3,178 |
| 2018-19 | 361 | 102 | 81 | 31 | 1,692 | 2,268 |
| Gulf Plains | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 985 | 60 | 504 | 229 | 2,438 | 4,217 |
| 2020-21 | 124 | 172 | 517 | 64 | 1,999 | 2,877 |
| 2019-20 | 329 | 68 | 235 | 0 | 1,827 | 2,459 |
| 2018-19 | 302 | 89 | 147 | 6 | 2,005 | 2,548 |
| Cape York Peninsula | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 2,191 | 0 | 47 | 2 | 417 | 2,657 |
| 2020-21 | 1,633 | 0 | 35 | 35 | 306 | 2,008 |
| 2019-20 | 2,074 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 489 | 2,577 |
| 2018-19 | 2,047 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 510 | 2,578 |
| Central Queensland Coast | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 212 | 0 | 13 | 273 | 440 | 939 |
| 2020-21 | 87 | 0 | 28 | 133 | 444 | 693 |
| 2019-20 | 391 | 0 | 29 | 113 | 870 | 1,403 |
| 2018-19 | 239 | 0 | 4 | 159 | 260 | 662 |
| New England Tableland | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 20 | 0 | 41 | 147 | 317 | 524 |
| 2020-21 | 38 | 0 | 11 | 62 | 396 | 506 |
| 2019-20 | 74 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 632 | 797 |
| 2018-19 | 106 | 0 | 12 | 171 | 405 | 694 |
| Channel Country | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 42 | 143 |
| 2020-21 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 234 | 338 |
| 2019-20 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 37 | 105 |
| 2018-19 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 510 | 299 | 840 |
| Wet Tropics | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 126 | 0 | 43 | 104 | 153 | 425 |
| 2020-21 | 114 | 0 | 52 | 79 | 107 | 352 |
| 2019-20 | 122 | 0 | 2 | 50 | 141 | 315 |
| 2018-19 | 141 | 0 | 5 | 41 | 73 | 260 |
| North-West Highlands | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 235 | 0 | 50 | 104 | 233 | 621 |
| 2020-21 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 89 |
| 2019-20 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 58 |
| 2018-19 | 143 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 209 |