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.
The 2021–22 SLATS reporting period is nominally from August 2021 to August 2022. A range of data summaries which analyse the clearing and regrowth data with other key data sets of interest are presented in the report. Regional summary data for bioregions are also included.
The 2021–22 SLATS report and data are directly comparable with SLATS reports published from 2018–19 onwards. Published SLATS reports for reporting periods up to and including 2017–18 are not comparable with reports published from 2018–19 onwards, due to a change in methodology.
Introduction
Overview—Mapping and monitoring woody vegetation ecosystems
With an area of approximately 173 million hectares, Queensland is the second largest state in Australia. It is nearly five times the size of Japan and seven times the size of Great Britain. It is home to diverse flora and fauna due to its unique habitats which include extensive arid and semi-arid rangelands, and temperate, sub-tropical and tropical environments.
Queensland has more than 1,400 regional ecosystems with the majority of these described as woody regional ecosystems. These woody regional ecosystems include the sparse and very sparse shrublands and woodlands of the extensive arid and semi-arid rangelands, and the sparse woodlands and mid-dense and dense forests and rainforests along the Great Dividing Range, coastal plains, and in the Cape York Peninsula and Wet Tropics bioregions. These ecosystems play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, maintaining landscape function and water quality, supporting agricultural production, sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, and providing recreation and natural amenity. To conserve, protect, and sustainably use these ecosystems in a changing climate, it is essential to have spatial and temporal data and information to characterise their composition and structure and to monitor their dynamics.
In Queensland, the regional ecosystems framework provides the basis for describing the vegetation types and their remnant status. 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. A Spatial BioCondition framework has also been developed to characterise and map the condition of the state’s regional ecosystems. Combined, these initiatives provide a spatially and temporally comprehensive account of Queensland’s ecosystems based on peer-reviewed science.
About this report
The current series of SLATS reporting monitors and reports change in woody vegetation extent against a woody extent baseline, first introduced in 2018 and updated annually based on mapping of woody vegetation clearing and regrowth. Additional scientific approaches have also been developed to attribute the degree of modification associated with the clearing activity and to provide estimates of woody vegetation density and age since disturbance. These approaches aim to better describe the woody vegetation that currently exists, and where and how its extent is changing.
The 2021–22 SLATS reporting period is nominally from August 2021 to August 2022. A range of data summaries which analyse the clearing and regrowth data with other key data sets of interest are presented in the report. Regional summary data for bioregions are also included.
The 2021–22 SLATS report and data are directly comparable with SLATS reports published from 2018–19 onwards. Published SLATS reports for reporting periods up to and including 2017–18 are not comparable with reports published from 2018-19 onwards, due to a change in methodology.
It is important to note that clearing activity mapped in remnant and high-value regrowth areas does not always result in a conversion to non-remnant. The Queensland Herbarium and Biodiversity Sciences uses SLATS data to inform remnant and high-value regrowth updates as part of regular regional ecosystem updates. These updates consider the clearing activity as well as a range of other criteria associated with the regional ecosystem mapping methodology, including the remnant and high-value regrowth definitions. For data and information on change in remnant vegetation, visit Remnant regional ecosystem vegetation in Queensland.
Note: There may be minor differences between SLATS reports and associated open data for the following reasons:
Woody vegetation change figures from previous SLATS reports that are included in this report are accessed directly from SLATS open data files. Due to rounding, woody vegetation change figures in this report and their associated open data files may have minor differences in summed totals to those previously published.
For reporting, SLATS data in vector format (i.e. polygons) is converted to raster format (i.e. grid). This conversion can lead to slight differences in measured areas. For the same reason, there may also be slight differences between figures stated in SLATS reports and the figures provided in the SLATS vegetation management analysis which uses the SLATS data in vector format for its analysis.
Re-processing of the woody vegetation extent at the conclusion of each SLATS monitoring period to incorporate the new clearing and regrowth mapping data can lead to minor differences between previously reported figures and figures presented in this report. This is mostly due to data filtering and cleansing operations, as well as the conversion of the data to raster for reporting. This difference can be most apparent in the transaction summaries where the woody vegetation extent closing balance of the previous monitoring period may not be identical to the opening balance of the current monitoring period. These differences equate to a fraction of one percent difference in the total extent of woody vegetation in Queensland that is estimated by SLATS.
Key findings
Key findings
At the start of the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period, Queensland had 95,383,184 hectares (ha) of woody vegetation with greater than 10% crown cover.
In 2021–22, 323,676ha of woody vegetation was affected by clearing activity. This is a 7% decrease in clearing activity from 2020–21 (349,399ha) and continues a trend of decreasing clearing activity in Queensland in the past few years, albeit the downward trend is slowing.
Of the total clearing activity, 269,432ha (83% of all clearing activity) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation (i.e. ‘full clearing’). This is a 16% decrease in full clearing from 2020–21. The remaining 54,244ha of clearing activity in 2021–22 was partial clearing.
In 2021–22, 31,097ha of new regrowth was mapped. It is important to note that most of the state’s existing regrowth is already included in the SLATS woody extent. New regrowth is only mapped if it can be reliably detected using SLATS methods.
At the end of the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period, Queensland had 95,144,850ha of woody vegetation: from a starting balance of 95,383,184ha, 269,432ha was subtracted for full clearing and 31,097ha was added for new regrowth. This represents a net reduction of 238,334ha in the extent of the state’s woody vegetation during the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period.
Key findings—clearing activity
About 20% (65,776ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category B (remnant) areas—a 22% increase from 2020–21 (54,136ha). Almost two-thirds of this Category B clearing activity (62% or 40,577ha) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation.
About 1% (3,624ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category C (high-value regrowth vegetation), and less than 1% (1,607ha) was in Category R (regrowth watercourse area). Both were decreases from 2020–21.
Clearing activity in Category X areas (i.e. those areas not generally regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999) accounted for 78% (252,538ha) of the total clearing activity in Queensland. Most of this resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation (224,749ha or 89% of all Category X clearing activity).
Less than 1% (2,508ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in areas that have endangered regional ecosystems present and about 3% (9,924ha) was in areas that have of concern regional ecosystems. About 18% (57,678ha) of the clearing activity was in areas that have least concern regional ecosystems present. These findings are similar to the 2020–21 SLATS report findings.
Of the state’s 13 bioregions, the Brigalow Belt (54% or 173,294ha) and Mulga Lands (17% or 53,345ha) together accounted for nearly three-quarters (70%) of the state’s woody vegetation clearing activity.
Clearing activity in the Great Barrier Reef catchment areas accounted for 44% (143,683ha) of the state’s total clearing. This was a 13% decrease in clearing activity from 2020–21 (164,766ha). About 79% (113,765ha) of the clearing in reef catchments resulted in the full removal of the woody vegetation.
About 88% (286,108ha) of the statewide clearing activity was attributed to the pasture landcover replacement class. Of this, about 88% was full clearing. A further 5% (17,310ha) of the clearing activity was attributed to forestry. Mine activity resulted in around 2% (5,885ha) of the state’s clearing activity, and the infrastructure (2,207ha), crop (1,680ha) and settlement (1,341ha) landcover replacement classes each contributed about 1% of the total clearing activity.
About 91% (294,841ha) of the total clearing activity occurred in sparse or very sparse woody vegetation (i.e. vegetation with less than 50% crown cover). A further 9% (27,622ha) of the clearing activity occurred in mid-dense vegetation (i.e. 50–80% crown cover). These proportions are similar to 2020–21.
Based on estimates of woody vegetation ‘age since disturbance’, about 58% (187,762ha) of the total clearing activity occurred in vegetation estimated to be greater than 15 years old (refer to note). About 30% (97,090ha) of the total clearing occurred in vegetation that was estimated to be less than 15 years old. The remainder (12% or 38,823ha) occurred in woody vegetation where a valid ‘age since disturbance’ estimate could not be determined.
Key findings—regrowth
Of the state’s 13 bioregions, the Southeast Queensland bioregion had the greatest area of new regrowth mapped, contributing 31% (9,741ha) to the state’s total. The Brigalow Belt bioregion had the next greatest area of new regrowth mapped, contributing about 26% (8,085ha) to the state’s total.
About 69% (21,369ha) of the new regrowth mapped was attributed to the pasture landcover class, and about 25% (7,747ha) attributed to forestry. A further 5% (1,484ha) was mapped as crop, largely due to new tree-crop orchards in parts of Southeast Queensland (Burnett-Mary) and Wet Tropics (around Atherton) bioregions.
Of the new regrowth mapped, about 88% (27,610ha) was categorised as either sparse or very sparse woody vegetation, and 11% (3,467ha) as mid-dense woody vegetation.
Of the new regrowth mapped, 72% (22,484ha) was estimated to be less than 15 years old and around 15% (4,578ha) was estimated to be older than 15 years.
Note: Since the release of 2018–19 SLATS report, the methods for estimating the age since disturbance of woody vegetation have been revised and the spatial data has been updated for all years from 2018 onwards. It is important to note that the 2018 SLATS woody vegetation extent baseline report and the 2018–19 SLATS report remain as published at the time; age since disturbance figures in those reports are based on an earlier version of the age since disturbance data.
The SLATS age since disturbance estimates are based on time-since-cleared data derived from SLATS clearing histories, and time-series analysis of more than 30 years of Landsat satellite imagery aimed at detecting woody vegetation disturbance and regrowth. The age since disturbance estimates use the time-series information where sufficient evidence is available to assign a valid estimate of how long the woody vegetation has been regrowing following a disturbance event.
For more information on how the age since disturbance estimates are derived, refer to the SLATS methodology. It is important to note that woody vegetation that is greater than 15 years is not always considered to be remnant or high-value regrowth, as additional criteria such as species composition and vegetation height are used to determine remnant or high-value regrowth status. This is determined as part of the regional ecosystem mapping framework.
Statewide overview
Key findings
At the start of the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period, Queensland had 95,383,184 hectares (ha) of woody vegetation with greater than 10% crown cover.
In 2021–22, 323,676ha of woody vegetation was affected by clearing activity. This is a 7% decrease in clearing activity from 2020–21 (349,399ha) and continues a trend of decreasing clearing activity in Queensland in the past few years, albeit the downward trend is slowing.
Of the total clearing activity, 269,432ha (83% of all clearing activity) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation (i.e. ‘full clearing’). This is a 16% decrease in full clearing from 2020–21. The remaining 54,244ha of clearing activity in 2021–22 was partial clearing.
In 2021–22, 31,097ha of new regrowth was mapped. It is important to note that most of the state’s existing regrowth is already included in the SLATS woody extent. New regrowth is only mapped if it can be reliably detected using SLATS methods.
At the end of the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period, Queensland had 95,144,850ha of woody vegetation: from a starting balance of 95,383,184ha, 269,432ha was subtracted for full clearing and 31,097ha was added for new regrowth. This represents a net reduction of 238,334ha in the extent of the state’s woody vegetation during the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period.
Clearing activity in Queensland in 2021–22
In 2021–22, a total of 323,676ha of woody vegetation was affected by clearing activity in Queensland. This is a 7% decrease in clearing activity from 2020–21 (349,399ha), which continues a trend of decreasing clearing activity in Queensland in the past few years. Of the total clearing activity 83% (269,432ha) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation (i.e. full clearing). The remaining 54,244ha of clearing activity was partial clearing.
For more detailed breakdowns of clearing activity in the 2021–22 monitoring period, refer to the Statewide breakdown.
Area of clearing activity from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Spatial distribution of clearing activity 2021–22
View larger image
Map of the spatial distribution of all clearing activity mapped in Queensland in 2021–22, summarised by 7’30” latitude/longitude grid cells (each cell is approx. 17,500ha). Red and orange cells indicate that a greater area of clearing activity has occurred at that location.
Regrowth in Queensland in 2021–22
In the 2021–22 monitoring period, 31,097ha of new regrowth was mapped. These are areas that were not previously mapped in the 2018 woody vegetation extent baseline or in the last two monitoring periods (2019–20 or 2020–21) and are only now considered to have sufficient woody vegetation cover to be added to the woody extent. Given most of the existing regrowth was captured in the 2018 baseline, high levels of new regrowth would not be expected in the first few years to follow. This is due to the generally longer timeframes it takes for new regrowth to become sufficiently woody to enable reliable detection and mapping.
For more detailed breakdowns of regrowth in the 2021–22 monitoring period, refer to the Statewide breakdown.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018-19.
Spatial distribution of regrowth 2021–22
View larger image
Map of the spatial distribution of all new regrowth mapped in Queensland in 2021–22, summarised by 7’30” latitude/longitude grid cells (each cell is approx. 17,500ha). Orange cells indicate that a greater area of regrowth has occurred at that location.
Woody vegetation extent change in Queensland in 2021–22
From a starting balance of 95,383,184ha, 269,432ha was subtracted for full clearing and 31,097ha was added for new regrowth. At the end of the 2021–22 SLATS monitoring period, Queensland had 95,144,850ha of woody vegetation. This represents a net reduction of 238,334ha in the extent of the state’s woody vegetation from 2020–21.
Transaction summary 2021–22
Category
Gain (ha)
Loss (ha)
Balance (ha)
Opening balance August 2021
-
-
95,412,788
Adjustment
5,530
-35,134
95,383,184
Crop
1,484
-1,680
95,382,988
Forestry
7,747
-6,300
95,384,436
Infrastructure
0
-2,207
95,382,229
Mine
489
-5,885
95,376,833
Pasture
21,369
-252,019
95,146,183
Settlement
8
-1,341
95,144,850
Closing balance August 2022
-
-
95,144,850
This transaction summary shows the opening balance of woody vegetation at the start of the 2021–22 monitoring period, the losses due to clearing activity that resulted in the full removal of the woody vegetation, and the gains due to new regrowth, for each landcover replacement class. Loss and gain adjustments were made to correct for areas in the woody extent that were identified as previous errors during the SLATS mapping processes. A closing balance at the end of the 2021–22 monitoring period is provided.
While these figures represent a net reduction in woody vegetation extent, it is important to acknowledge that not all vegetation change is equal. For example, clearing in remnant areas cannot be directly compared with clearing in non-remnant areas in terms of the impacts on biodiversity, carbon or landscape function. Similarly, new regrowth does not offset remnant loss for the same reasons.
Statewide breakdown
Key findings—clearing activity
About 20% (65,776ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category B (remnant) areas—a 22% increase from 2020–21 (54,136ha). Almost two-thirds of this Category B clearing activity (62% or 40,577ha) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation.
About 1% (3,624ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category C (high-value regrowth vegetation), and less than 1% (1,607ha) was in Category R (regrowth watercourse area). Both were decreases from 2020–21.
Clearing activity in Category X areas (i.e. those areas not generally regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999) accounted for 78% (252,538ha) of the total clearing activity in Queensland. Most of this resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation (224,749ha or 89% of all Category X clearing activity).
Less than 1% (2,508ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in areas that have endangered regional ecosystems present and about 3% (9,924ha) was in areas that have of concern regional ecosystems. About 18% (57,678ha) of the clearing activity was in areas that have least concern regional ecosystems present. These findings are similar to the 2020–21 SLATS report findings.
Of the state’s 13 bioregions, the Brigalow Belt (54% or 173,294ha) and Mulga Lands (17% or 53,345ha) together accounted for nearly three-quarters (70%) of the state’s woody vegetation clearing activity.
Clearing activity in the Great Barrier Reef catchment areas accounted for 44% (143,683ha) of the state’s total clearing. This was a 13% decrease in clearing activity from 2020–21 (164,766ha). About 79% (113,765ha) of the clearing in reef catchments resulted in the full removal of the woody vegetation.
About 88% (286,108ha) of the statewide clearing activity was attributed to the pasture landcover replacement class. Of this, about 88% was full clearing. A further 5% (17,310ha) of the clearing activity was attributed to forestry. Mine activity resulted in around 2% (5,885ha) of the state’s clearing activity, and the infrastructure (2,207ha), crop (1,680ha) and settlement (1,341ha) landcover replacement classes each contributed about 1% of the total clearing activity.
About 91% (294,841ha) of the total clearing activity occurred in sparse or very sparse woody vegetation (i.e. vegetation with less than 50% crown cover). A further 9% (27,622ha) of the clearing activity occurred in mid-dense vegetation (i.e. 50–80% crown cover). These proportions are similar to 2020–21.
Based on estimates of woody vegetation ‘age since disturbance’, about 58% (187,762ha) of the total clearing activity occurred in vegetation estimated to be greater than 15 years old (refer to note). About 30% (97,090ha) of the total clearing occurred in vegetation that was estimated to be less than 15 years old. The remainder (12% or 38,823ha) occurred in woody vegetation where a valid ‘age since disturbance’ estimate could not be determined.
Key findings—regrowth
Of the state’s 13 bioregions, the Southeast Queensland bioregion had the greatest area of new regrowth mapped, contributing 31% (9,741ha) to the state’s total. The Brigalow Belt bioregion had the next greatest area of new regrowth mapped, contributing about 26% (8,085ha) to the state’s total.
About 69% (21,369ha) of the new regrowth mapped was attributed to the pasture landcover class, and about 25% (7,747ha) attributed to forestry. A further 5% (1,484ha) was mapped as crop, largely due to new tree-crop orchards in parts of Southeast Queensland (Burnett-Mary) and Wet Tropics (around Atherton) bioregions.
Of the new regrowth mapped, about 88% (27,610ha) was categorised as either sparse or very sparse woody vegetation, and 11% (3,467ha) as mid-dense woody vegetation.
Of the new regrowth mapped, 72% (22,484ha) was estimated to be less than 15 years old and around 15% (4,578ha) was estimated to be older than 15 years.
Regulated vegetation management map categories
In 2021–22, about 20% (65,776ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category B (regulated remnant) areas. This represents a 22% increase in clearing activity from 2020–21 (54,136ha). The Brigalow Belt (39% or 25,898ha), Mitchell Grass Downs (24% or 15,677ha) and Mulga Lands (11% or 7,483ha) bioregions had the highest areas of clearing activity in Category B areas. The Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion had a significant increase (98%) from 2020-21, in part attributable to a few larger clearing events on the southern margins of the bioregion. The Brigalow Belt also recorded a 16% increase in clearing activity in Category B. Some of this is attributable to partial clearing as part of forestry activities in state forests to the south of Carnarvon National Park, near the township of Injune. The Mulga Lands bioregion recorded an 18% decrease in clearing activity in Category B areas from 2020–21.
Of the clearing activity in Category B areas across the State, 62% (40,577ha) resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation. The remainder of the Category B clearing activity was distributed between areas that were partially cleared with a major level of disturbance (30% or 19,470ha) or partially cleared with a minor level of disturbance (9% or 5,727ha).
About 1% (3,624ha) of the statewide clearing activity was in Category C (high-value regrowth vegetation)—a decrease from 4,701ha in 2020–21. Less than 1% (1,607ha) of the clearing activity was in areas that intersect with Category R (regrowth watercourse area)— a decrease from 2,321ha in 2020–21.
Clearing activity in Category X areas accounted for 78% (252,538ha) of the total clearing activity—this was a 12% decrease from 2020–21 (288,165ha). About 89% (224,749ha) of this clearing activity resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation. Over half of the Category X clearing activity was in the Brigalow Belt bioregion (57% or 144,409ha) with a further 18% (45,638ha) occurring in the Mulga Lands bioregion. Category X areas are those that are not generally regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999, as identified in the Regulated vegetation management map.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
In 2021–22, about 18% (57,678ha) of the clearing activity was in areas that contained least concern regional ecosystems—this was an increase of 16% from the 49,850ha mapped in 2020–21. About 3% (9,924ha) of the clearing was in areas identified as having of concern regional ecosystems—a decrease of about 6% from 2020–21 (10,546ha). Less than 1% (2,508ha) of the clearing was in areas which have endangered regional ecosystems present—also a decrease from the 2020–21 figure of 2,714ha. The majority of this (76% or 1,902ha) was in the Brigalow Belt bioregion and around three-quarters (1,379ha) of this was full clearing.
The remaining 78% (253,566ha) was in areas with no vegetation management class. SLATS reporting applies the precautionary principle, with the highest vegetation management class used, regardless of the proportion present in regional ecosystem mapping. For example, where a mapped regional ecosystem contains least concern regional ecosystems as the dominant ecosystems, and an endangered regional ecosystem as subdominant, this will be reported as clearing in areas containing endangered regional ecosystems.
Clearing activity—vegetation management class
2021–22
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
Of the state’s 13 bioregions, the Brigalow Belt (54% or 173,294ha) and Mulga Lands (17% or 53,345ha) accounted for nearly three-quarters (70%) of the state’s woody vegetation clearing activity. Both bioregions recorded decreases in clearing activity from 2020–21 continuing the downward trend from the previous year; the Mulga Lands decreased by 26%, while the Brigalow Belt recorded a 4% decrease. There has been a continued significant decline in clearing activity in the Mulga Lands recorded over the previous mapping eras, specifically between 2018–19 (284,648ha), 2019-20 (110,161ha) and 2021–22 (72,238ha).
About 95% of the clearing activity in the Mulga Lands and 77% in the Brigalow Belt resulted in full removal of the woody vegetation. The majority of the clearing activity in these two bioregions was in Category X areas, accounting for 83% (144,409ha) of the clearing in the Brigalow Belt and 86% (45,638ha) in the Mulga Lands.
Clearing activity in the Mitchell Grass Downs was 12% of the statewide total (39,720ha), Southeast Queensland was 6% (17,966ha) and Desert Uplands was 5% (15,204ha). Both Southeast Queensland and the Desert Uplands recorded a significant decrease in clearing activity (27% and 42%, respectively) from 2020–21. However, the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion had a significant increase in clearing activity of around 49%, when compared to 2020–21 (26,671ha), partly due to a few larger clearing events in the southern part of the bioregion, some of which were mapped as partial clearing.
Area of clearing activity in bioregions in 2021–22.
The Southeast Queensland bioregion had the greatest area of new regrowth mapped, contributing 9,741ha to the state’s total of 31,098ha. The Brigalow Belt bioregion had the next greatest area of new regrowth mapped, contributing about 8,085ha to the state’s total.
Regrowth includes new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent.
For further detailed breakdowns for each of the bioregions see further breakdowns by bioregion.
Great Barrier Reef catchments
Clearing activity in the Great Barrier Reef catchment areas accounted for 44% (143,683ha) of the state’s total clearing—this was a 13% decrease in clearing activity from 2020–21 (164,766ha). About 79% (113,765ha) of the clearing in Reef catchments in 2021–22 resulted in the full removal of the woody vegetation.
Clearing activity in Great Barrier Reef catchments
2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Great Barrier Reef catchments from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth includes new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Landcover replacement class
In 2021–22, 88% (286,108ha) of the clearing activity was attributed to the Pasture landcover replacement class— this was an 8% decrease from 2020–21 (310,339ha) for this class. Of this, about 88% (252,019ha) was full clearing. A further 5% (17,310ha) of the clearing activity was attributed to Forestry, 2% to Mine (5,885ha), and about 1% to Crop (1,680ha).
Clearing activity—landcover replacement class
2021–22
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture.
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
About 69% (21,369ha) of the new regrowth mapped was attributed to the Pasture landcover class, and about 25% (7,747ha) was attributed to Forestry. A further 5% (1,184ha) was mapped as Crop, mainly due to new tree-crop orchards in parts of Southeast Queensland (Burnett-Mary) and the Wet Tropics (around Atherton) bioregions. Due to the difficulty of differentiating between native and non-native woody vegetation using satellite imagery, non-native woody vegetation change is also included in SLATS change mapping. This may include exotic pine plantations, orchards or invasive exotic woody weeds.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Density and age since disturbance
In 2021–22, about 91% (294,841ha) of the total clearing activity occurred in sparse and very sparse woody vegetation (i.e. vegetation with less than 50% crown cover). This is reflective of a large proportion of the state’s clearing activity occurring in rangeland ecosystems including the Brigalow Belt, Mulga Lands, Desert Uplands and Mitchell Grass Downs bioregions, which are characterised by scattered trees and shrubs, open woodlands and shrublands. A further 9% (27,622ha) of the clearing activity occurred in mid-dense woody vegetation (i.e. 50–80% crown cover). Less than 1% of the total clearing occurred in dense woody vegetation (1,198ha).
Area of clearing activity for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Based on estimates of woody vegetation age since disturbance (refer to note), about 58% (187,762ha) of the total clearing activity in 2021–22 occurred in vegetation greater than 15 years old, and about 87% (163,523ha) of this occurred in sparse or very sparse woody vegetation.
About 30% (97,090ha) of the total clearing activity occurred in vegetation with an age since disturbance of less than 15 years, and most of this (97% or 94,303ha) occurred in sparse or very sparse woody vegetation. About 12% (38,823ha) of the clearing activity occurred in woody vegetation where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined.
Area of clearing activity for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and density
2021–22
Area of clearing activity by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
About 88% (27,610ha) of the regrowth mapped was categorised as sparse or very sparse woody vegetation. A further 11% (3,467ha) of the regrowth mapped was categorised as mid-dense woody vegetation and less than 1% (19ha) was in dense woody vegetation.
Of the 31,097ha of new regrowth mapped, 72% (22,484ha) was estimated to be less than 15 years old. 19,750ha of this was categorised as sparse or very sparse woody vegetation.
A further 15% (4,578ha) of the new regrowth mapped was estimated to be greater than 15 years old and about 90% of this was categorised as sparse or very sparse woody vegetation. The remaining 13% (4,036ha) of new regrowth mapped was in areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined.
For ‘older’ areas of new regrowth, either the age since disturbance estimate is unreliable or they may be areas that were previously excluded from the 2018 woody extent baseline. It is possible that given most of these are in sparser vegetation types, the vegetation may not have been readily detectable in the satellite imagery used at the time the 2018 baseline was mapped, and it has now become more readily detectable due to additional data in the time series or availability of other new imagery.
Area of new regrowth for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbance and density
2021–22
Area of new regrowth by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Note: Since the release of 2018–19 SLATS report, the methods for estimating the age since disturbance of woody vegetation have been revised and the spatial data has been updated for all years from 2018 onwards. It is important to note that the 2018 SLATS woody vegetation extent baseline report and the 2018–19 SLATS report remain as published at the time; age since disturbance figures in those reports are based on an earlier version of the age since disturbance data.
The SLATS age since disturbance estimates are based on time-since-cleared data derived from SLATS clearing histories, and time-series analysis of more than 30 years of Landsat satellite imagery aimed at detecting woody vegetation disturbance and regrowth. The age since disturbance estimates use the time-series information where sufficient evidence is available to assign a valid estimate of how long the woody vegetation has been regrowing following a disturbance event.
For more information on how the age since disturbance estimates are derived, refer to the SLATS methodology. It is important to note that woody vegetation that is greater than 15 years is not always considered to be remnant or high-value regrowth, as additional criteria such as species composition and vegetation height are used to determine remnant or high-value regrowth status. This is determined as part of the regional ecosystem mapping framework.
Area of clearing activity in Brigalow Belt from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Brigalow Belt from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Brigalow Belt for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceBrigalow Belt, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Brigalow Belt for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityBrigalow Belt, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Brigalow Belt by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Brigalow Belt for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceBrigalow Belt, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Brigalow Belt by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Channel Country
Clearing activityChannel Country, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Channel Country from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Channel Country from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Channel Country for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceChannel Country, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Channel Country for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityChannel Country, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Channel Country by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Channel Country for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceChannel Country, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Channel Country by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Central Queensland Coast
Clearing activityCentral Queensland Coast, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Central Queensland Coast from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
RegrowthCentral Queensland Coast, 2019–20 to 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Central Queensland Coast from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Central Queensland Coast for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceCentral Queensland Coast, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Central Queensland Coast for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityCentral Queensland Coast, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Central Queensland Coast by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Central Queensland Coast for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceCentral Queensland Coast, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Central Queensland Coast by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Cape York Peninsula
Clearing activityCape York Peninsula, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Cape York Peninsula from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Cape York Peninsula from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management map category
Clearing activity—regulated vegetation management map categoryCape York Peninsula, 2021–22
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
Regrowth—landcover classCape York Peninsula, 2021–22
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Density and age since disturbance
Clearing activity—densityCape York Peninsula, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Cape York Peninsula for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceCape York Peninsula, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Cape York Peninsula for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityCape York Peninsula, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Cape York Peninsula by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Cape York Peninsula for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceCape York Peninsula, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Cape York Peninsula by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Desert Uplands
Clearing activityDesert Uplands, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Desert Uplands from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Desert Uplands from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Desert Uplands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceDesert Uplands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Desert Uplands for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityDesert Uplands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Desert Uplands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Desert Uplands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceDesert Uplands, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Desert Uplands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Einasleigh Uplands
Clearing activityEinasleigh Uplands, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Einasleigh Uplands from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Einasleigh Uplands from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Einasleigh Uplands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceEinasleigh Uplands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Einasleigh Uplands for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityEinasleigh Uplands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Einasleigh Uplands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Einasleigh Uplands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceEinasleigh Uplands, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Einasleigh Uplands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of clearing activity in Gulf Plains from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Gulf Plains from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Gulf Plains for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceGulf Plains, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Gulf Plains for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityGulf Plains, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Gulf Plains by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Gulf Plains for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceGulf Plains, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Gulf Plains by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Mitchell Grass Downs
Clearing activityMitchell Grass Downs, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Mitchell Grass Downs from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Mitchell Grass Downs from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Mitchell Grass Downs for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceMitchell Grass Downs, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Mitchell Grass Downs for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityMitchell Grass Downs, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Mitchell Grass Downs by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Mitchell Grass Downs for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceMitchell Grass Downs, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Mitchell Grass Downs by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of clearing activity in Mulga Lands from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Mulga Lands from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Mulga Lands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceMulga Lands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Mulga Lands for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityMulga Lands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Mulga Lands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Mulga Lands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceMulga Lands, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Mulga Lands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
New England Tableland
Clearing activityNew England Tableland, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in New England Tableland from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in New England Tableland from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management map category
Clearing activity—regulated vegetation management map categoryNew England Tableland, 2021–22
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
Regrowth—landcover classNew England Tableland, 2021–22
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Density and age since disturbance
Clearing activity—densityNew England Tableland, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in New England Tableland for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceNew England Tableland, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in New England Tableland for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityNew England Tableland, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in New England Tableland by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in New England Tableland for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceNew England Tableland, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in New England Tableland by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Northwest Highlands
Clearing activityNorthwest Highlands, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Northwest Highlands from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Northwest Highlands from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Northwest Highlands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceNorthwest Highlands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Northwest Highlands for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityNorthwest Highlands, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Northwest Highlands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Northwest Highlands for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceNorthwest Highlands, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Northwest Highlands by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Southeast Queensland
Clearing activitySoutheast Queensland, 2018–19 to 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Southeast Queensland from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Southeast Queensland from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Southeast Queensland for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceSoutheast Queensland, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Southeast Queensland for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densitySoutheast Queensland, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Southeast Queensland by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Southeast Queensland for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceSoutheast Queensland, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Southeast Queensland by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of clearing activity in Wet Tropics from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
Full clearing refers to areas which have been converted from woody to non-woody (i.e. less than 10% crown cover remains).
Partial (major) are clearing areas where the woody vegetation has been significantly modified but remains woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but more than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Partial (minor) are clearing areas where some modification of the woody vegetation has occurred, remaining woody (i.e. greater than 10% crown cover remains but less than 50% of the area has been affected by the clearing).
Area of new regrowth in Wet Tropics from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
Regrowth are new woody vegetation areas which have regrown sufficiently to be reliably added to the SLATS woody extent. Regrowth was not reported in 2018–19.
Regulated vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories that are present on a parcel of land. This information helps land managers determine the type of approval needed for vegetation clearing. The categories are as follows:
Category A—vegetation that is subject to compliance notices, offsets, and voluntary declarations
Category B—remnant vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map as an endangered regional ecosystem, an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem
Category C—high-value regrowth vegetation
Category R—regrowth watercourse area
Category X—vegetation that is not generally regulated by the vegetation management laws.
The vegetation management class refers to the current regulated extent of a regional ecosystem. The categories are endangered, of concern and least concern. No VM class refers to areas with no vegetation management class due to no regulated vegetation being present.
The landcover replacement class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. It provides an indication of the purpose for which the vegetation was cleared. Read more about this in the SLATS methodology.
Pasture is clearing activity associated with grazing and other general agricultural land management practices—this class includes clearing for pasture, internal property tracks, fence lines or fire breaks.
Crop is clearing activity for cropping or horticulture
Forestry is clearing activity for timber harvesting in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is clearing activity for mining activities (including coal seam gas infrastructure).
Infrastructure is clearing activity for utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is clearing activity for urban development.
Other refers to Partial (minor) clearing activity that is not able to be reliably attributed to a landcover replacement class due to the low level of modification associated with these clearing events.
The landcover class is determined as part of the SLATS mapping process. For new regrowth mapping it provides an indication of the purpose for which the land is used where the regrowth occurs. Read more about SLATS methodology.
Pasture is new regrowth in areas associated with grazing and related land management practices.
Crop is new regrowth in woody crops and horticulture, including fodder crops and tree fruits and nuts.
Forestry is new regrowth in state or privately owned native or exotic (e.g. pine) forests or plantations (where it can be reliably attributed using authoritative data or other ancillary data sources).
Mine is new regrowth in mining areas (e.g. rehabilitation areas).
Infrastructure is new regrowth associated with utilities such as roads, railways, water storage, pipelines and powerlines.
Settlement is new regrowth in urban areas and can include gardens and parklands.
Area of clearing activity in Wet Tropics for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbanceWet Tropics, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Wet Tropics for age since disturbance classes (refer to note).
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Clearing activity—age since disturbance and densityWet Tropics, 2021–22
Area of clearing activity in Wet Tropics by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Area of new regrowth in Wet Tropics for density classes of woody vegetation.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Regrowth—age since disturbanceWet Tropics, 2021–22
Area of new regrowth in Wet Tropics by density and age since disturbance classes.
An age since disturbance of NASD (i.e. no age since disturbance) refers to those areas where a valid age since disturbance estimate could not be determined from SLATS clearing histories and/or time-series analysis of historical satellite imagery.
Density classes are as follows:
Dense vegetation has a Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) of 70–100% (>80% crown cover)
Mid-dense vegetation has a FPC of 30–70% (50–80% crown cover)
Sparse vegetation has a FPC of 10–30% (20–50% crown cover)
Very sparse/isolated vegetation has a FPC of <10% (0.25–20% crown cover)
NDC (i.e. no density class) refers to small areas that have not been assigned a density class due to cloud or other contamination in the satellite imagery.
Note: Since the release of 2018–19 SLATS report, the methods for estimating the age since disturbance of woody vegetation have been revised and the spatial data has been updated for all years from 2018 onwards. It is important to note that the 2018 SLATS woody vegetation extent baseline report and the 2018–19 SLATS report remain as published at the time; age since disturbance figures in those reports are based on an earlier version of the age since disturbance data.
The SLATS age since disturbance estimates are based on time-since-cleared data derived from SLATS clearing histories, and time-series analysis of more than 30 years of Landsat satellite imagery aimed at detecting woody vegetation disturbance and regrowth. The age since disturbance estimates use the time-series information where sufficient evidence is available to assign a valid estimate of how long the woody vegetation has been regrowing following a disturbance event.
For more information on how the age since disturbance estimates are derived, refer to the SLATS methodology. It is important to note that woody vegetation that is greater than 15 years is not always considered to be remnant or high-value regrowth, as additional criteria such as species composition and vegetation height are used to determine remnant or high-value regrowth status. This is determined as part of the regional ecosystem mapping framework.
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