The latest Statewide Landcover and Trees Study provides the first available data since the Government's ban on broadscale tree clearing was fully implemented at the end of 2006, and covers the period 2006-07 when the ban only applied for the second half of the year.

The SLATS data shows:

* Overall clearing is down from 375,000 hectares in 2005/2006 to 235,000 hectares in 2006/2007 – that’s 140,000 hectares less – or 37pc;

* Greenhouse emissions are also down from 41.24 megatonnes to 31.55 megatonnes - the 2006-2007 report puts Queensland on schedule to meet its 20 megatonne per annum reduction by 2008; and

* Data shows over 100,000 hectares of regrowth was cleared in the year with twice as much of this occurring on freehold as is occurring on leasehold.

"The worrying factor in today’s data are these regrowth-clearing figures," Ms Bligh said.

"While legal, the types of vegetation being cleared for a second time are of concern and I want government to consult rural producers, scientists and environmentalists on ways to make the clearing laws even better.

"Our tree-clearing laws, opposed by the Nationals, are working.

"If it was not for our laws bulldozers would still be ripping up the bush."