A REPORT commissioned by the NSW Government has found producers have been able to find a balance between production and conserving native vegetation.
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The inaugural NSW Land Management Report highlighted how producers had adapted the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code, which was introduced in 2018, all while increasing production.
The report found a total 43,399 hectares of regulated rural land had been set aside for native vegetation under the code, 12 times more than the area of vegetation removed by producers during the same period between 2018 and 2020.
NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the inaugural NSW Land Management Report 2018-2020 showed how farmers had used the code to increase agricultural production, while restoring valuable native vegetation.
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"As I have always said, farmers are our best environmentalists and the Code allows them to effectively carry out many different activities to sustainably and responsibly manage their land," Mr Marshall said.
"The report shows farmers have implemented only 3.34 percent, or 12,114 hectares, of authorised land management activities for the 2018-19 calendar years.
"The majority of native vegetation managed under the Code in NSW was for treatment of land infested with invasive native species.
"These species are essentially weeds as they out-compete more natural forms of vegetation, so by removing them it helps restore crucial habitat for threatened species.
"A key component of the Code was the establishment of set asides to compensate for certain land management options and native vegetation removal.
"The data shows farmers utilising these parts of the code removed only 3,536 hectares of native vegetation while setting aside more than 12 times that amount in-perpetuity and actively managed to promote biodiversity and conservation."
From now on, the report, which is conducted by the NSW Local Land Services (LLS) will be released annually by the state government.
"The NSW Government is committed to transparency and we are committed to ensuring the new laws are working for rural landholders, while ensuring native vegetation is also being maintained and restored," Mr Marshall said.
To view the report, which covers the 2018 to 2020 period, visit: www.lls.nsw.gov.au
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Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
