Australia has recently faced a significant challenge with the latest wildfire incident reported in Queensland on September 22, 2024. This incident adds to the country's growing concern over tree cover loss, which has been escalating over the years. Australia's vast landmass of over 768 million hectares includes a tree cover extent of approximately 42 million hectares. Analysis of historical data reveals a disturbing trend of increasing tree cover loss due to various drivers, with wildfires being a significant contributor.
Over the years, wildfires have consistently been the leading cause of tree cover loss, with the most severe impact recorded in 2020, where they were responsible for the loss of over 1.95 million hectares. This accounted for a staggering 83% of the total tree cover loss that year, leading to approximately 525 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The cumulative effect of these incidents has resulted in a net loss of tree cover, with a decrease of over 1% in the overall tree cover stability.
Explore country profileThe impact of these losses is not only environmental but also economic and social, affecting biodiversity, climate regulation, and community livelihoods. The latest wildfire in Queensland highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Australia's landscapes to such disasters and underscores the need for continued vigilance and management strategies to mitigate future risks.
