Green benefits not worth pain of land clearing

20th September 2005

Queensland’s strict ban on tree clearing is severely damaging farmers and deliversing little in the way of environmental results, according to the nation’s chief commoditiies forecaster.

In its latest report, the Australian Bureua of Agriculture and Resource Economics called for laws on native vegetation clearing in Queensland and NSW to be overhauled.

ABARE said a more flexible system would allow clearing in areas where environmnetal improvements were marginal but agricultural productivity significant.

‘A more flexible approach to native vegetation conservation may acheive greater environmental outcomes at a lower cost to the farm sector than blanket regulations’ ABARES’ September Quearter report said.

For a copy of the report and more information.