Land clearing in Australia

The distribution of Banksia largely coincides with areas of high population density, and large tracts of Banksia woodland are cleared for urban expansion every year.[1] In this photo, land clearing for housing threatens the Banksia menziesii species in Canning Vale, Western Australia.
Aerial views of deforestation in Australia.

Land clearing in Australia describes the removal of native vegetation and deforestation in Australia. Land clearing involves the removal of native vegetation and habitats, including the bulldozing of native bushlands, forests, savannah, woodlands and native grasslands and the draining of natural wetlands for replacement with agriculture, urban and other land uses.

As of 2011, of the vegetation which existed in Australia at the time of European settlement, approximately 87% remains.[2] One estimate places the rate of rainforest of all types has been reduced by three quarters since the time of European settlement from eight million hectares to two million.[3] Land clearing threatens native species including ground orchids and eucalyptus.[4]

Land clearing is an important environmental issue in Australia. Bans on land clearing have been placed by state governments.[5] This policy largely permitted Australia to abide by its commitments to the Kyoto Protocol.

  1. ^ Lamont, Byron B.; Enright, Neal J.; Witkowski, E. T. F.; Groeneveld, J (2007-05-18). "Conservation biology of banksias: insights from natural history to simulation modelling". Australian Journal of Botany. 55 (3). CSIRO Publishing: 280–29. doi:10.1071/BT06024.
  2. ^ Department of Sustainability Environment Water Population and Communities. "Indicator: LD-01 The proportion and area of native vegetation and changes over time". Australian Federal Government. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  3. ^ Frawley, Kevin J. (January 1991). "Queensland rainforest management: Frontier attitudes and public policy". Journal of Rural Studies. 7 (3): 219–239. doi:10.1016/0743-0167(91)90086-8.
  4. ^ Heathcote, Angela (1 February 2019). "Banksia and eucalypts: the top 100 plants at risk of extinction in Australia may surprise you". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ^ Sullivan, Kath. "Farmers demand compensation for land-clearing laws to meet Kyoto climate targets". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 November 2021.