Australia has recently faced a wildfire incident in South Australia, reflecting an ongoing challenge in managing environmental threats. Over two decades, the country has experienced significant changes in its tree cover, with a net loss of approximately 917,000 hectares, marking a 1.03% decrease in tree cover stability. Wildfires have been a major driver of tree cover loss, contributing to over 50% of the total loss in certain years, with a peak in 2020 where they accounted for an alarming 83% of the loss.
Forestry activities also play a significant role, resulting in a substantial portion of the tree cover loss annually. Urbanization, while contributing to a lesser extent, still adds to the overall reduction in tree cover. Shifting agriculture has the least impact but remains a consistent factor. The trend of tree cover loss has led to millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, exacerbating the challenge of climate change.
Explore country profileThe data indicates that while there have been gains in tree cover in some years, these have not been sufficient to offset the losses, leading to a negative net change. The environmental strain highlighted by these figures calls for a broader discussion on sustainable land management and the importance of preserving natural habitats to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect biodiversity.
