Australia Battles Wildfires as Tree Cover Loss Trends Upward

Australia Battles Wildfires as Tree Cover Loss Trends Upward

In a recent development, Australia has reported a new wildfire incident in Western Australia, adding to the country's long-term challenge of managing its tree cover. Over the past two decades, Australia has experienced a significant fluctuation in tree cover loss, with notable peaks in years like 2019 and 2020, where losses were exceptionally high.

The data indicates that while there has been a net change in tree cover with some gains, the overall trend shows a net loss of approximately 917,000 hectares, representing a 1.03% decrease from the stable tree cover. The most substantial driver of tree cover loss has been wildfires, contributing to a staggering majority of the total loss over the years. In contrast, urbanization, forestry, and shifting agriculture have been responsible for smaller, yet significant, portions of the loss.