NSW is waging a war on trees, with bulldozer-happy farmers leading the charge – that’s according to the conservation groups – but actions on the ground reveal a very different picture.
Landholders lead the way with practical conservation, while green groups rail against reforms to controversial native vegetation laws, warning that an environmental catastrophe looms over NSW.
NSW Farmers says on average, its members planted 18,500 trees on their farms over the last 20 years.
Farmers have for decades co-invested with NSW Government in programs to build nature corridors and preserve native vegetation on their properties, typically committing to preserve large tracts of land for environmental conservation.
However, green groups argue landholders will, given the chance, clear land even to the detriment of the environment.
A coalition formed the Stand up for Nature campaign to oppose NSW’s “war on trees”.
The campaign said cutting red tape from clearing regulations would spell disaster for NSW’s environment.
“(Broadscale clearing) has turned whole regions of NSW into treeless prairielands full of feral animals and weeds, degraded by overgrazing, erosion, and salinity,” campaign literature says.
“We need new, sensitive approaches to farming, not the same old discredited practices that have done so much harm.”
NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen disagrees. He said farmers are responsible “major stakeholders” in the environment.
"Talk like that from some of the green groups harks back to the bad days of yesteryear. It is irresponsible, uninformed, and only paints farmers as the villains here, which is not fair at all."
Mr Schoen said farmers’ investment in their their and for the environment speaks for itself.
“It's our livelihood and we work on that principle every day,” he said.
"I would actually encourage green groups to consult with farmers. We would welcome the opportunity to engage with conservation groups."
"We're not desktop environmentalists. We're out there on the ground every day doing our bit to make sure we use the land sustainably."
NSW Landcare, with 60,000 volunteers – may of whom are farmers, last year received $15 million over four years to bolster local initiatives across the state.