EXPOSED: Queensland’s Shocking Tree Clearing Epidemic – 330,000 Hectares Wiped Out in Just One Year!
- Devastating figures reveal cattle farmers are responsible for 86% of tree clearing, sparking outrage from environmentalists
- Latest SLATS report shows over 330,000 hectares of trees were cleared in 2022-23, an area twice the size of Brisbane
- Experts warn of habitat loss, including for threatened species like koalas, as “regrowth” argument sparks heated debate
Queensland’s cattle farmers are at the centre of a tree clearing storm, with shocking new figures revealing they are responsible for a staggering 86% of the state’s tree clearing. The statistics, released in the latest Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS), have sparked outrage from environmentalists who claim the practice is driving deforestation and habitat loss.
According to the report, a massive 330,000 hectares of trees were cleared in 2022-23, an area equivalent to twice the size of Brisbane. The majority of this clearing, a whopping 283,000 hectares, was for pasture, with cattle farmers leading the charge.
But north Queensland beef producer Josie Angus says advocacy groups and the media are misinterpreting or misusing the data to blame producers. “The problem with satellite reports like SLATS [is that they] purely look at changes in vegetative cover — they have zero basis in the quality of the ecosystem or its functionality,” she said.
However, experts warn that the clearing of regrowth areas could have devastating consequences for threatened species like koalas. Dr Don Butler, a vegetation expert from the Australian National University, said: “New regrowth isn’t keeping up with the clearing of existing regrowth, so, overall, it’s a picture of decline… There’s still a substantial amount of remnant native vegetation being cleared across the state.”
Environmentalists are calling for stricter regulations and greater incentives to protect native vegetation. Natalie Frost, a campaigner from the Queensland Conservation Council, said: “This is the Crisafulli government not actually stepping to the plate to protect nature here in Queensland… We need to see a commitment to driving clearing rates down and expanding incentives.”
The debate comes as federal Environment Minister Murray Watt prepares reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, with proposals for a national Environmental Protection Agency. The move could have significant implications for Queensland’s vegetation management.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.