The Land cover change in Queensland—Statewide Landcover and Trees Study 2008–09 report (PDF, 1.8M)* (SLATS report) provides statistics on tree clearing rates in Queensland. It covers the second full annual period since the Queensland Government ended broadscale remnant clearing on 31 December 2006.
The 2008–09 figures represent the lowest annual rate of clearing since the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study began in 1988.
Clearing rates for the 2008–09 period were 99 940 hectares per year (ha/yr). This demonstrates a decrease of 19 per cent from the 2007–08 clearing rate of 123 000 ha/yr, and a total decrease of 67 per cent since 31 December 2006.
The supplementary report— Analysis of Woody Vegetation Clearing Rates in Queensland (PDF, 234K)* —provides a breakdown of all clearing trends identified in the 2008–09 SLATS report.
For example, the government’s commitment to end broadscale clearing included a goal to reduce clearing-related greenhouse gas emissions by 20–25 mega tonnes (Mt) per year.
The supplementary report shows a significant reduction in the rate of emissions from clearing since that commitment was made in 2003, down from 60 Mt per year to approximately 17 Mt per year—a total decrease of more than 43 Mt, or 72 per cent.
The analysis also indicates the majority of all reported clearing was likely to be for routine activities including clearing for fire breaks, fencing, roads and infrastructure, and for permitted activities such as fodder harvesting.
