Australia's Forests Under Threat: Wildfires and Deforestation Mark a Decade of Loss

Australia's Forests Under Threat: Wildfires and Deforestation Mark a Decade of Loss

Australia has witnessed a significant decline in its tree cover over the past two decades, with wildfires and forestry activities being the primary drivers. The country's tree cover extent, which spans over 42 million hectares, has experienced a net loss of approximately 917,000 hectares, marking a 1.03% decrease in tree cover stability. This loss is particularly concerning given that forests play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity.

Wildfires have been the most devastating factor, accounting for the majority of the tree cover loss. The data shows that in years like 2019 and 2020, wildfires were responsible for over a million hectares of tree cover loss each year, contributing to significant carbon emissions. Forestry activities also contributed substantially to the decline, with hundreds of thousands of hectares lost annually.