Land clearing in Queensland
WWF-Australia commissioned a scientific analysis of the biodiversity impacts of clearing in Queensland in January 2003, which found that land clearing kills more than 100 million birds, mammals and reptiles each year in this state alone. Queensland had the highest rate of land clearing of any state in Australia.
Following extensive campaigning by WWF, Australia's then Environment Minister David Kemp and Queensland Premier Peter Beattie outlined a proposal in May 2003 to phase out the broadscale clearing of remnant bushland in Queensland over three years. Twelve months later, the Queensland Parliament passed legislation to bring this policy into existence, setting a new benchmark for land management in Australia.
WWF's ongoing campaign in Queensland
The scale of the negative reaction to the new policy from pro-clearing landholders in Queensland has been significantly less than in previous reform periods, but the legislation is only as good as the delivery. WWF continues our commitment to engage with regional and rural communities on a range of natural resource management issues including this one.
We also continue to monitor the management of native vegetation around Australia, with a particular focus on the impact of various management regimes on species survival.
WWF has a strong commitment to inform the people of Queensland and the broader Australian public of the benefits of the end of clearing mature bushland.
Through our work with many people, including farmers, industries, indigenous communities and local and state governments, we are promoting the positive outcomes for the landscapes of Queensland and Australia's biological future.
