Maintenance of tree cover on certain land is covered by legislation. Such land has previously been mapped in NSW and is called protected land, or in recent times State Protected Land (SPL).

The purpose of protected land is to regulate the destruction of trees on land susceptible to erosion or land that is otherwise environmentally sensitive. This was administered under part IV, Division 2 of the Soil Conservation Act, 1938.

Under clause 32(1) the Native Vegetation Regulation 2005, the Minister may prepare a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRM Plan) for two purposes:

Subsequently, under subclause 31(1)(a), to identify as vulnerable land, land that is steep or highly erodible, protected riparian land or special category land ;.

Under subclause 31(1)(b), to identify as protected regrowth, all native vegetation (that is regrowth) on land that is identified as steep or highly erodible or protected riparian land.

Additionally, under clause 31(3) of the Regulation the Minister may approve and publish guidelines to enable the clearing, without approval being required, of exotic trees or dead trees on State Protected Land in circumstances where no more than minimal harm is likely.