Australia has witnessed a significant escalation in tree cover loss over the past two decades, with wildfires playing a major role in the decline. The latest incident in Queensland on January 19, 2025, adds to the growing list of challenges facing the country's natural landscape. Since 2001, Australia has seen a net loss of over 916,000 hectares of tree cover, which constitutes a 1.03% decrease in its total tree cover extent.
Forestry activities have been a consistent driver of tree cover loss, contributing to a substantial portion of the total loss each year. Wildfires, however, have been the most volatile and impactful, with years like 2020 experiencing over 1.46 million hectares lost to fires, which is the highest recorded in the two-decade span. Urbanization also plays a role, albeit to a lesser extent, in the reduction of tree cover.
Explore country profileThe data reveals a concerning trend where the rate of tree cover loss often surpasses the gains from reforestation and natural regrowth. This imbalance highlights the need for effective strategies to manage and protect Australia's forests and combat the increasing incidents of wildfires that threaten these vital ecosystems.
