2023–24 SLATS Clearing Report
Key findings
Statewide overview
- In the 2023–24 monitoring period, 274,616ha of woody vegetation was affected by clearing activity. This is a 17% decrease in clearing activity from 2022–23 (332,015ha) and about two-and-half times less clearing activity than was reported in 2018-19.
- Of the total clearing activity, 233,253ha (85%) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation. This is a decrease of 14% in full clearing from 2022–23. The remaining 41,363ha of clearing activity in 2023–24 was partial clearing.
Statewide breakdown—clearing activity
- Clearing activity in Category X (unregulated) areas accounted for 75% (206,889ha) of the total clearing activity in Queensland, a 19% decrease from 2022–23 (254,647ha). Most of this resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation (190,480ha or 92% of all Category X clearing activity).
- About 22% (61,405ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category B (regulated remnant) areas—a 13% decrease from 2022–23 (70,799ha). About 62% (or 38,341ha) of the Category B clearing activity resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation.
- About 2% (4,876ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category C (high-value regrowth vegetation), a similar figure to 2022–23 (4,728ha). Less than 1% (1,249ha) was in Category R (regrowth watercourse area)—a 28% decrease from 2022–23 (1,725ha)
- About 1% (3,678ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in areas that have endangered regional ecosystems present, a 21% increase from 2022–23 (3,040ha). About 4% (10,075ha) of the clearing activity was in areas that have of concern regional ecosystems, and 20% (53,620ha) was in areas that have least concern regional ecosystems present, both decreases from 2022–23.
- Of the state’s 13 bioregions, the Brigalow Belt (53% or 145,844ha) and Mulga Lands (21% or 57,359ha) together accounted for nearly three-quarters (74%) of the state’s woody vegetation clearing activity. This is consistent with the past four SLATS reports.
- Clearing activity in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment areas accounted for 43% (117,005ha) of the state’s total clearing. This is a decrease of 21% from 2022–23 (147,705ha). About 82% (95,707ha) of the clearing activity in GBR catchments resulted in the full removal of the woody vegetation.
- About 86% (235,935ha) of the statewide clearing activity was attributed to the pasture landcover replacement class. Of this, about 90% (213,154ha) was full clearing. A further 5% (14,759ha) of the clearing activity was attributed to forestry and about 60% (8,894ha) of this was partial clearing. Mine activity resulted in around 3% (7,025ha) of the state’s clearing activity, while infrastructure (3,178ha), crop (3,037ha) and settlement (994ha) landcover replacement classes each contributed 1% or less to the state’s total clearing activity.