Native Vegetation

Native Vegetation

The Native Vegetation Act 2003 introduces a new approach to managing native vegetation across the State. The new system is based on voluntary agreements between landholders and Catchment Management Authorities called Property Vegetation Plans. More information about the new legislation:

Click here to download the Native Vegetation Act 2003 and Regulation

Visit the Native Vegetation Management site for NSW for more information

At this site there is downloadable information available relating to;

Vegetation to improve farm profitability
Restoring native vegetation on your property
Exactly what does and does not require clearing approval
Exemptions for routine agricultural management activities
Managing Invasive Native Scrub

Our role in Native Vegetation Management

Under the new system the Central West Catchment Management Authority has responsibility for:

providing technical advice and assistance to local landholders to prepare a voluntary Property Vegetation Plan - see info sheet on Property Vegetation Plans
allocating incentive funding for improving the management of native vegetation – see info sheet on incentives
using our discretion and professional judgement when assessing clearing proposals
developing a Catchment Action Plan that identifies priorities for investment in natural resource assets such as native vegetation
establishing local policies for delivering long term environmental benefits, and
monitoring the progress of Property Vegetation Plans and our Catchment Action Plan.

Central West - Programs - Vegetation - Tree Planting with Farmer and Sheep Dog

Revegetation project designed to increase vegetation cover and improve habitat.

Catchment and Management Target Overview till 2016:

Catchment Target (CTV1):

By 2016, 1,200,000ha (13%) of the catchment area is managed primarily to maintain or achieve optimal native vegetation condition, and all vegetation types are represented in the catchment.

Management Target (MTV1):

By 2016, 90,000ha of private land is managed under Plans of Management (eg: PVP, PMPs, &/or covenants) for biodiversity and production outcomes including 200 Permanent Conservation Covenants established.

Management Target (MTV2):

By 2016 there will be an increase of 100,000 hectares of sustainably managed native grass-based production systems in the catchment.

Management Target (MTV3):

By 2016, restore and enhance the area of high conservation value vegetation by 10,000 ha.

Management Target (MTV4):

By 2016, enhance native riparian vegetation identified as being slightly degraded along 200km of streams, and improve highly degraded native riparian vegetation along 100km of streams

Management Target (MTV5):

By 2016, 10,000ha of lands classified as low capability for cropping or grazing purposes are managed primarily for conservation of native vegetation and landscape protection.

Management Target (MTV6):

By 2016, reduce area in the catchment affected by environmental weeds by 50,000 ha.

Management Target (MTV7):

By 2016, all public lands (which primarily contain native vegetation) be managed according to integrated management plans that optimise nature conservation and, where appropriate, production.

Management Target (MTV8):

By 2016, forestry operations meet established management and operating standards.

Management Target (MTV9):

From 2008, new forestry plantations are located to achieve optimal contribution to other catchment targets.

Targets in Detail:

The vegetation targets meet the following Natural Resources Commission's Statewide Targets as referenced in the Catchment Action Plan:

Community Targets - 12, 13, 14;
Water Targets - 5;
Biodiversity Targets - 1, 2;4;
Land 10, 11.

Catchment Target (CTV1):

By 2016, 1,200,000ha (13%) of the catchment area is managed primarily to maintain or achieve optimal native vegetation condition, and all vegetation types are represented in the catchment. The intent of the catchment target for native vegetation is to achieve landscape protection outcomes. Recognising that the retention of native vegetation systems can contribute to the overall health of the landscape and therefore the success and sustainability of productive systems as well as conservation systems. It is estimated that currently 10% of the catchment ie. 920,000ha contain vegetation that is in public ownership. The CMA estimates that, based on costs and indicative budgets, a further 3% (276,000ha) of land being managed specifically for native vegetation outcomes would be achievable.

Clarification of Terms:

OPTIMAL NATIVE VEGETATION CONDITION:

Native vegetation that supports the floristic structure and diversity as defined by the Central West CMA's broad vegetation type descriptions and characteristic of benchmark condition, with connectivity and habitat values.

VEGETATION TYPES:

This includes the broad vegetation types as classified in the "Extant Vegetation Types for Central West" map produced by Department of Environment and Conservation (2006)

Management Target (MTV1):

By 2016, 90,000ha of private land is managed under Plans of Management (eg: incentive PVP, PMPs, &/or covenants) for biodiversity and production outcomes including 200 Permanent Conservation Covenants established. It is estimated that currently 8,000,000ha of the catchment is privately owned land.
The NSW Native Vegetation Reform process has been driving the management of native vegetation through the development of Property Vegetation Plans (PVP) and Property Management Plans (PMP). Land managed under a plan of management will assume a high level of protection and an improvement in condition based on management outcomes in the plan.
It is the responsibility of the Central West CMA to negotiate plans of management (either PVP or other agreements under incentives) for property where there is proposed change in the current management practice, such as clearing of native vegetation.
This target aims to achieve an area that is under a form of management agreement, be it PVP, PMP or covenant. This would be delivered through the PVP negotiations, the CMAs incentive program, or through the CMAs property management courses for landholders.

Management Target (MTV2):

By 2016 there will be an increase of 100,000 hectares of sustainably managed native grass-based production systems in the catchment. The intent of this target is to achieve an increase in the representation of native grass communities by means of encouraging native grassed-based grazing enterprises. This may be achieved through sustainable grazing management practices such as cell grazing, appropriate stocking levels and fencing to suit sustainable management objectives.
The success of this target is largely through building the capacity of the grazing community to undertake native grassed based production on their properties. This will be achieved through partnering with well represented farmer support groups such as Stipa and Central West Conservation Farmer Association.
This target was established as an achievable target, based on the current interest and rate of uptake in native grasses throughout the Central West catchment. Continued monitoring of this target will indicate whether the target is reasonable, and when reviewed, adjustments to the target will be made accordingly.

Management Target (MTV3):

By 2016, restore and enhance the area of high conservation value vegetation by 10,000 ha. High Conservation Value (HCV) vegetation has been identified in Regional Vegetation Management Planning processes. This classification of vegetation is the communities that are currently not well represented in the catchment and are experiencing pressure on their distribution. Catchment wide vegetation mapping is currently by DEC where existing vegetation data is collated and reconstructed spatially for the entire Central West catchment.
This target intends to reduce the pressures on the HCV areas and increase the HCV extent in the catchment by targeting investment for restoration through incentives. Continued monitoring of this target will provide justification for the review of the target at the appropriate time.

Management Target (MTV4):

By 2016, enhance native riparian vegetation identified as being slightly degraded along 200km of streams, and improve highly degraded native riparian vegetation along 100km of streams The target identifies native riparian vegetation as a significant community in terms of ecosystem function and health. Riparian vegetation acts as a buffer strip, preventing the movement of sediment and pollutants from land to surface waters. In addition to benefits for native vegetation, this target is will provide benefits for biodiversity targets as well as for water environments.
Through extrapolation of Baker’s (2000) assessment, it is estimated that 9,904km of stream in the catchment is classified as slightly degraded and 4,798km is classified as highly degraded. Enhancement of the riparian vegetation includes costs for fencing out stock and providing alternative watering points. Bearing these costs in mind, the CMA estimated a target of 200km and 100km respectively as achievable targets. It is recognised that this figure appears relatively small to the overall area, and will depend on effective targeting of investment.

Clarification of Terms:

RIPARIAN:

In its simplest sense refers to the riverbank area. In an ecological sense it is the zone that is directly influenced by a river or creek and in turn, directly influences the water body. Riparian vegetation in this sense includes aquatic and terrestrial vegetation.

Management Target (MTV5):

By 2016, 10,000ha of lands classified as low capability for cropping or grazing purposes are managed primarily for conservation of native vegetation and landscape protection. The intention of this target is to maintain lands that have little productive value and optimise their conservation value. This may include improvement in current management practices, revegetation or rehabilitation of such areas. Low capability land is considered unsuitable for any type of cropping because of the inherent physical limitations. These may physically restrict production and result in extreme soil erosion hazards or stream pollution if clearing takes place.
The ground may be extremely steep, swampy or very rocky or just fragile, requiring only intermittent strategic grazing. The land may be suitable as a commercial plantation or left under native timber or undisturbed groundcover. The land may have an alternative role such as a seed source for tree planting or natural regeneration, wildlife habitat, tourism, recharge control etc.
The CMA has established through expert panel processes an estimated 736,000ha of the catchment is classified as low capability. The target area has been established to reflect the achievability of successfully implementing such management changes to low capability land.

Clarification of Terms:

LOW CAPABILITY:

Lands that are steeper than 33%, extremely erodible, severely saline, have shallow or stony soil, a high proportion of rock outcrop, are permanently inundated and areas of sand accumulation

Management Target (MTV6):

By 2016, reduce area in the catchment affected by environmental weeds by 50,000 ha. The intent of this target is to arrest and reduce the area of environmental weeds impacting on native flora and production systems. Environmental weeds may include those listed as notifiable Noxious Weeds and Weeds of National Significance.

Clarification of Terms:

ENVIRONMENTAL WEED:

A species that invades native plant communities or ecosystems, having a detrimental effect on native vegetation condition.

WEEDS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Identified list of introduced plant species that have infested the landscape and require national action to effectively manage the problem.

NOTIFIABLE NOXIOUS WEED:

A weed of limited distribution which poses a threat to agriculture, the environment or the community. Landholders must notify their local authority within three days of detecting the weed on their land and also must continually suppress and destroy the infestation.

Management Target (MTV7):

By 2016, all public lands (which primarily contain native vegetation) be managed according to integrated management plans that optimise nature conservation and, where appropriate, production. The intent of this target is to ensure that public lands are managed for multiple outcomes. The management of these areas for conservation outcomes is seen as significant in achieving ecosystem function and biodiversity goals.

Clarification of Terms:

PUBLIC LANDS:

Includes all lands under State ownership including national park estate, state forests, reserves, travelling stock routes, rail and road corridors and other Crown Land. It is acknowledged that some areas of public land are managed primarily for recreation, such as urban parks, and so would not have a focus on the management of native vegetation.

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLANS:

A plan developed through an accredited process that identifies specific management practices suitable for production and conservation activities to ensure sustainability. An integrated plan should address vegetation, soils, water and other natural resource management issues.

Management Target (MTV8):

By 2016, forestry operations meet established management and operating standards. Forestry is recognised as one of the increasing resource uses in the catchment. The CMA expects that forestry will continue to increase in the upper catchment over the next 10 years. Although it is recognised that there are statutory arrangements in place for forestry operations, the intent of this target is to ensure that all new forestry operations are undertaken in a sustainable way. For the above reason, the success and effectiveness of this target will be monitored and, if deemed not effective at time of review, will be removed.

Management Target (MTV9):

From 2008, new forestry plantations are located to achieve optimal contribution to other catchment targets. This target intends to ensure that future forestry plantations are located in areas that have symbiotic relationship with the landscape. It is the CMA’s intention to encourage agencies involved in these areas to see that plantations can achieve other benefits for salinity and soil targets.

Further Information:

If you would like more information from the Central West CMA please email: cw@cma.nsw.gov.au