The state’s peak farming group says the new NSW Nature Strategy must not be used to restrict food and fibre production.

The state government released its response to the statutory reviews of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the native vegetation provisions of the Local Land Services Act 2013 on Tuesday.

The response signals a shift in the way the state fulfils its responsibilities to protect the environment and manage native vegetation across the State, now and into the future.

Farmers were fearful last year’s review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act by former public servant Ken Henry would lead to unworkable environmental policies that would undermine productivity and leave unmanaged and degraded landscapes in its wake.

NSW Farmers Board Member Oscar Pearse said locking up land and restricting the land management practices of farmers was unlikely to deliver positive biodiversity outcomes. 

“We’re still looking through all of the detail, but what we can see so far is more Government-mandated land clearing in the regions for non-agricultural developments, while those growing food and managing biodiversity in the landscape face major restrictions,” Mr Pearse said.

“Farmers spend their lives in the landscape and love where they live – they work hard to produce healthy plants and healthy animals with world-leading sustainability credentials.

“The drastic changes proposed for limiting the use of the Land Management Code will drive farmers away from cooperation with conservation and natural capital markets while they try to survive on their land, which is precisely the wrong signal to send.”

Mr Pearse said this issue would likely get a lot of attention at next week’s NSW Farmers Annual Conference, where Environment Minister Penny Sharpe was set to speak.

“The strength of our organisation is at our grassroots level, and we’re going to have hundreds of those members in Sydney next week, it is our members who will inform our formal response,” Mr Pearse said.

“Recognising the strong connection farmers and landholders have with their land and the key role they play in managing and enhancing native vegetation and natural assets is critical.

“The way forward is for everyone to work constructively together, we need NSW Farmers members to understand the implications this will have on their farms and give us that feedback so we steer government in the right direction.”