Australia has faced a significant reduction in tree cover over the past two decades, with wildfires and land use changes being the primary drivers. The country's vast landmass of over 768 million hectares includes a tree cover extent of approximately 42 million hectares. However, recent data indicates a troubling trend of tree cover loss. Since 2001, Australia has experienced a net loss of over 916,000 hectares, marking a decrease of 1.03% in tree cover stability.
Wildfires have been the most significant factor, accounting for the majority of the tree cover loss. In 2020 alone, wildfires were responsible for a staggering loss of nearly 2 million hectares. The impact of forestry activities also contributes to the decline, with over 342,000 hectares lost in 2020. Urbanization and shifting agriculture, although less impactful than wildfires and forestry, still play a role in the ongoing reduction of tree cover.
Explore country profileThe latest incident in the Northern Territory serves as a reminder of the persistent threat of wildfires in the country. With only a single fire alert reported as of October 2024, the incident underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and management to safeguard Australia's forests.
