2023–24 SLATS Report
The Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) monitors woody vegetation extent, and changes to that extent due to clearing and regrowth, using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery as its primary monitoring tool.
About this report
This updated report supersedes the 2023–24 SLATS Clearing Report released on 3 August 2026. This latest report release now includes additional regrowth and updated woody extent data as well as additional breakdowns of the clearing data.
The 2023–24 SLATS reporting period is nominally from August 2023 to August 2024. Data summaries that provide analysis of the clearing and regrowth data with other key data sets of interest are presented in the report and are accessible as Open Data. Regional summary data for bioregions are also included. The spatial data are also released as Open Data. For information about how to access these data, refer to SLATS data.
The 2023–24 SLATS report and data are directly comparable with data reported in SLATS reports published from 2018–19 onwards.
Age since disturbance data and breakdowns of the clearing and regrowth data by this product are not included with this report. This is due to ongoing analysis and review by SLATS of the methodologies and datasets used to generate these outputs, particularly the challenges associated with integrating historical SLATS clearing data with current SLATS mapping.
Mapping and monitoring changes in woody vegetation
SLATS aims to describe the woody vegetation that currently exists, and where and how its extent is changing. In 2018, a baseline map of woody vegetation extent was developed. Monitoring and mapping since have focussed on change in woody vegetation extent due to woody vegetation clearing and regrowth. The woody vegetation extent map is then updated, and the changes to the map reported annually. The degree of modification associated with the clearing activity and summaries of the woody vegetation change in density and height classes are also reported for additional context.
Clearing activity in Queensland can be undertaken in many ways. This can include mechanical removal or modification of the woody vegetation, forestry activities (e.g. selective harvesting), treatment with herbicides, or a combination of these approaches. Sometimes fire is also used or accompanies other methods.
Similarly, a range of factors contribute to new regrowth being detected and mapped. Increased availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery, longer time-series, and advances in classification techniques continue to improve regrowth mapping capabilities. There are also natural and land management factors. Seasonal and longer-term rainfall patterns are a key driver. In general, there have been wetter years in the early- to mid-2020’s following several dry years leading up to that period. This can lead to woody vegetation recruitment and regrowth. It is also likely that with the decreases in clearing activity reported since about 2017–18, more woody vegetation has had the opportunity to regrow without being re-cleared. Another longer-term factor is changing fire regimes which, when combined with variable climate patterns, has led to increases in woody vegetation in areas such as the Gulf Plains and Cape York Peninsula bioregions. Some incentive-based programs such as environmental offsets, carbon projects, and/or rehabilitation areas such as those around mines, may also be contributing to new regrowth areas. Unlike clearing activity that typically occurs within a defined annual SLATS monitoring period, annual trends in regrowth are more difficult to surmise from SLATS mapping due to the varying contributing factors and timeframes that lead to regrowth becoming sufficiently woody to be detected and mapped.
SLATS uses a range of data sources, particularly high-resolution satellite imagery and field-based observation to help verify that clearing activity has been undertaken or that (new) regrowth has occurred. These manual verification and mapping steps are essential for ensuring an accurate representation of woody vegetation change in Queensland.
For more information about SLATS methods, refer to the SLATS methodology.
SLATS vegetation management analysis
The SLATS vegetation management analysis, undertaken by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, and Regional and Rural Development, provides a detailed breakdown of the SLATS data in the context of the vegetation management framework.