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27 Nov 2024

Australia Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Wildfire Incidents
Australia Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Wildfire Incidents

Australia has been facing a significant challenge with tree cover loss over the years, with wildfires being a major contributing factor. The country's vast land area of over 768 million hectares includes a tree cover extent of approximately 42 million hectares. However, the trend of tree cover loss has been alarming, with a net loss of over 916,000 hectares, marking a change of -1.03%.

Analyzing the historical data, it is evident that the loss due to wildfires has been substantial. For instance, in 2020, wildfires accounted for over 83% of the total tree cover loss, with a staggering 1.95 million hectares affected. This trend is not isolated, as similar patterns are observed in other years, with forestry, shifting agriculture, and urbanization also contributing to the loss.

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The impact of these losses is further highlighted by the CO2 emissions associated with them. In the same year, the emissions from wildfires alone reached over 525 million metric tons. Over the years, the cumulative effect of these losses and emissions has raised concerns about the environmental and ecological stability of the region.

The latest incident data from Queensland, Australia, with a single fire alert on November 27, 2024, may seem minor in comparison to the historical data. However, it serves as a reminder of the persistent threat of wildfires in the region. The ongoing challenge for Australia is to manage and mitigate these incidents to preserve its natural heritage and maintain ecological balance.

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