Conservation group urges NSW to abandon invasive native species clearing code

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW released a study revealing that the invasive native species (INS) land-clearing code has authorised the removal of more than 3.2 million hectares of native vegetation, encompassing 2.3 million hectares from legacy permits and 922,000 hectares approved since 2018. Conservation officer Candice Bartlett says the INS label is scientifically unfounded, noting that almost all listed species are native to the areas they occupy.

The report flags at least 171 threatened species within these cleared habitats, raising biodiversity concerns. The NSW government has commissioned an expert panel via the Natural Resources Commission to examine possible reforms to the Land Management Code. While the government cites a 16 percent rise in clearing rates, the NSW Farmers Association argues that the INS framework is essential for managing dense native scrub that hampers agricultural production, and warns that its removal could have serious consequences for farms and ecosystems.