Australia has been grappling with a significant trend in tree cover loss over the past two decades, with the latest incident being a wildfire in Western Australia on December 4, 2024. The country's vast landmass of over 768 million hectares includes approximately 42 million hectares of tree cover. However, the net change in tree cover has been negative, with a loss of over 2.50 million hectares and a smaller gain of around 1.60 million hectares, leading to a net loss of approximately 917,000 hectares. This represents a 1.03% decrease in tree cover.
The drivers of tree cover loss vary, with wildfires, forestry, shifting agriculture, and urbanization all contributing to the decline. Wildfires have been the most significant factor, with millions of hectares lost and substantial CO2 emissions associated with these events. The year 2020 marked a particularly devastating period, with over 2.30 million hectares lost to wildfires, accounting for the majority of tree cover loss that year.
Explore country profileThe impact of tree cover loss is not only felt in the loss of biodiversity and habitats but also in the increased CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change. The trend over the years shows a worrying escalation in both the extent of tree cover loss and the associated CO2 emissions, highlighting the need for urgent attention to this environmental challenge.
