Illegal land clearing in NSW may be accelerating, complaints data suggests

Exclusive: Data obtained by the Guardian suggests land clearing may be accelerating under Biodiversity Conservation Act

Complaints about suspected illegal land clearing to a government hotline have increased sharply under the New South Wales government's new Biodiversity Conservation Act, suggesting the rate of land clearing may be accelerating.

Data obtained by the Guardian under freedom of information laws after an eight month battle with the Department of Environment shows that reports of suspected illegal land clearing have increased by nearly 30% in the months since August last year when the new laws came into force.