Australia's tree cover extent is a critical component of its natural heritage, covering over 42 million hectares. However, the net change in tree cover shows a disturbing trend, with a loss of approximately 2.52 million hectares and a gain of around 1.60 million hectares, leading to a net loss of over 916,000 hectares. This represents a change of -1.03% in tree cover, a clear indicator of the environmental challenges facing the nation.
The consequences of these changes are far-reaching, affecting biodiversity, climate regulation, and the health of ecosystems. The data underscores the need for a broader discussion on sustainable land management and the importance of protecting natural habitats from the increasing threat of wildfires and other drivers of tree cover loss.
