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AAP
AAP
Environment
Marty Silk

Qld green groups seek new forest plan

Green groups warn there won't be any koalas left in Queensland if deforestation continues. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) (AAP)

The Queensland government has promised to work with green groups calling for it to draw up a plan to halt deforestation, while defending its record on land-clearing.

More land has been cleared, more quickly in Queensland than any other state or territory with most vegetation felled to make way for agriculture, infrastructure or housing.

More than 6800sq km of land, an area bigger than the Sultanate of Brunei, was cleared in 2018-19, according to the state government's latest report.

An expert panel is probing why deforestation is happening so quickly despite stricter land clearing laws being in effect since 2017.

The Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Conservation Foundation, the Wilderness Society and WWF Australia have launched a campaign to halt deforestation to protect native species and reduce carbon emissions.

The alliance wants the government to draw up a plan to manage, regulate and restore 100 million hectares of forest and woodland.

"We're losing koalas in Queensland, by 2050 most projections say there will not be koalas across most of Queensland," WWF Australia spokesman Stuart Blanch told reporters on Tuesday.

"That's a future we don't want, I don't think the beef industry wants it, the real estate industry doesn't want it.

"We need to find a way that we have koalas, and beef, and homes, and I guess what the alliance is saying: we need a peace deal for koalas in our forests."

Transport Minister Mark Bailey defended the government's record in passing tougher laws, setting up a land restoration fund last year and supporting carbon farmers.

However, he conceded the government could always do more and promised to work with the alliance.

"They have worries and concerns about the environment, I'll respect that," Mr Bailey told reporters.

"But our record is very strong, and we'll keep working with the conservation movement."

The alliance also wants the government to pay farmers to protect trees on their land, which they say will sequester carbon and ensure local beef is produced without deforestation.

Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman said farmers must take part in drawing up any plan to avoid regniting the state's decade-long political war over land clearing.

"We do know that most farmers care for their country and they want regenerative agriculture that actually restores habitat," Mr Copeman told reporters.

"What they need is the government to act so that a small number of bad actors don't ruin their reputation, and it's critical for the future in the beef industry."

The government's expert panel, led by chief scientist Professor Hugh Possingham, held consultations and was due to hand down its draft discussion paper outlining causes and solutions for deforestation in August.

However, a government spokesperson told AAP it is yet to receive that report.

Comment has been sought from the Chief Scientist's office.

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