Vegetation Management Act 1999
The Vegetation Management Act 1999 regulates the clearing of vegetation in Queensland 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.
The 2015–16 Statewide Land Assessment and Tree Study (SLATS) report showed an increase in annual woody vegetation clearing rates from 298,000ha in 2014–15 to about 395,000ha in 2015–16.
The Queensland Government has delivered on its election commitment, as well as commitments under the Reef 2050 Long- Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan), to reinstate its nation leading vegetation management protections to increase the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef and reduce carbon emissions.
In March 2018, the Queensland Government strengthened Queensland’s vegetation management laws to increase protection for high-value regrowth and remnant vegetation and boost protection for important Habitats, including waterways leading to the Great Barrier Reef.
In addition to the amendments to the Vegetation Management Act 1999, the government has made further changes to the vegetation management framework by:
- releasing scientific updates to vegetation management maps
- updating accepted development vegetation clearing codes based on scientific advice from the Queensland Herbarium and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- revoking the relevant vegetation clearing code and area management plans so that managing thickened vegetation now requires a development approval.
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