Australia is home to some of the most unique and magnificent flora and fauna in the world. Our country has vast savannas and grasslands, tropical rainforests, eucalypt forests and diverse woodlands that provide shelter to our most precious threatened species.
Yet, amongst the top countries in the world - developed and developing - Australia ranks in the top 15 (e.g. http://www.globalforestwatch.org/countries/overview) for broad-scale land clearing – killing tens of millions of native animals (including threatened species) and wiping out endangered forests and woodlands. Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land for use such as arable land, pasture, urban use, logged area, or wasteland. Deforestation can also be seen as removal of forests leading to several imbalances ecologically and environmentally and results in declines in habitat and biodiversity. Urbanization, Mining, Fires, Logging and Agricultural activities are few of the causes of deforestation.
In only 200 years Australia has lost most of its rainforest, 45% of open forest, 32% woodland forest and 30% of mallee forest. And the clearing continues with around 5,000 square kilometers annually of virgin bushland and advanced regrowth. In addition to destroying native wildlife, it is the major cause of salinity and around 14% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Historically, Australia has one of the highest rates of tree clearing of any developed country. Currently 1,000 animal and plant species are at risk of extinction, including the Koala.
This appalling record shows the need for stronger, stringently enforced laws to protect our precious wildlife and natural ecosystems as a whole. It is time to find the right balance between those that would exploit the land and our collective interest in conservation for future generation
Australian Deforestation - The Wilderness Society
You Tube Drone Footage (0.52) - watch this...
References
The Wilderness Society, 2017. (accessed: 10.01.18) www.wilderness.org.au/articles/10-facts-about-land-clearing-australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-nQGD6lzRg