[2][3] These acts form the basis and the mechanisms in NSW by which species, populations and ecological communities are declared endangered, vulnerable or critically endangered, and under which people and corporations are prosecuted for destruction of habitat sheltering such species, populations or communities.

See, for example, the judgment given in Vigor Master Pty Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council (2010) (NSWLEC 1297)[9] a case between a developer and a local council where remnants of "Blue Gum High Forest", a critically endangered ecological community under the TSC Act, occurred on 61% of the site proposed for development, and that for Mackenzie Architects International Pty Limited v Ku-ring-gai Council (2015) (NSWLEC 1353),[10] also involving the Blue Gum High Forest community, while the case, David DeBattista v Shoalhaven City Council [2017] NSWLEC 1251,[11] concerned a threatened species, Melaleuca biconvexa, and a contested development application.

In " Fife Capital Pty Ltd v Cumberland Council [2017] NSWLEC 1354[12] both proposed and preliminary work involving dam works and the endangered ecological community, "River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast", were contested.

In Ingham Planning Pty Ltd v Ku-Ring-Gai Council [2010] NSWLEC 1222[13] the adequacy of a species impact statement concerning the critically endangered ecological community, Blue Gum High Forest, was contested.

Thus, in Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Coffs Harbour Hardwoods Sales Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 52,[15] the defendant was found guilty of damaging vegetation under the act.