The most alarming figures come from the years 2019 and 2020, where wildfires accounted for a staggering amount of the total tree cover loss, emphasizing the growing intensity and frequency of these events. In 2020 alone, wildfires were responsible for over 62% of the total tree cover loss, a clear indicator of the scale of these disasters.
Despite some gains in tree cover, the net change remains negative, with a 1.03% decrease in stable tree cover. This loss not only affects the carbon sequestration capacity of Australia's forests but also threatens the habitats of countless species and the ecological balance of the region.
The latest incident from January 2025 serves as a reminder that the threat of wildfires remains ever-present, necessitating ongoing vigilance and strategies to mitigate their impact. The trend of increasing tree cover loss, if continued, could have severe consequences for Australia's environment and global efforts to combat climate change.
