New analysis: A decade of deforestation data shows what's at stake for the Great Barrier Reef in the Government's new environmental laws.

New exposé reveals almost 1.5 million hectares of forest and bushland destroyed in Great Barrier Reef catchments over a decade as international scrutiny turns to Australia’s nature laws

Days before the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets in Busan, Republic of Korea, new analysis from the Wilderness Society reveals a decade of ongoing forest and bushland destruction across Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef catchments—highlighting the blinding weakness of Australia's draft Environmental Standards in their current form. 

The Wilderness Society’s new exposé, A Decade of Destruction, analyses ten years of Queensland Government data, revealing almost 1.5 million hectares of forest and bushland has been destroyed in Great Barrier Reef catchments, with 86 per cent of that destruction for beef pastures.

The findings come as the Australian Government’s environmental commitments face international scrutiny, with UNESCO having identified deforestation as a major threat to the Great Barrier Reef and calling for stronger protections for high-value forests, bushland and waterways in Reef catchments. 

The Wilderness Society says the data exposes a gap between what is happening on the ground, the draft Environmental Standards (which in their current form are not up to stopping the bulldozers), and government assurances. 

Emily Dickson, Queensland Campaigns Manager at the Wilderness Society, said:

“Governments have told UNESCO that the Great Barrier Reef is being protected time and time again, but the bulldozers tell a different story.

“Over the past decade of government data, an area of threatened species habitat larger than Greater Sydney—including the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast region, has been destroyed in Reef catchments—86% for beef pasture.

“When forests and bushland are razed in Reef catchments, sediment and pollution flow downstream, adding pressure to a natural wonder already facing unprecedented challenges.

“The World Heritage Committee will be looking at whether Australia is delivering real protection for the Reef, with UNESCO’s draft decision this month requiring Governments to submit a Reef Water Quality report in 18 months and a full conservation report by 2029.”

Wilderness Society’s latest exposé finds that across Queensland, 3.7 million hectares of forest and bushland has been bulldozed over the last decade of available government data across the state, with 90 per cent cleared for pastures. In QLD, almost 2.5 million hectares was flattened for beef pasture — an area larger than the country of Wales.

The destruction has also had a significant impact on mapped threatened species habitat:

• Half of the habitat cleared for beef was mapped as koala habitat.
• Up to 32 critically endangered species had mapped likely or known habitat impacted by deforestation for beef each year.
• Up to 100 endangered species had mapped likely or known habitat impacted by deforestation for beef each year, such as the iconic koala, greater glider and red goshawk.

The exposé also highlights new evidence of satellite-detected bulldozing events in Queensland that occurred after national nature law reforms passed, including destruction of mapped threatened species habitat without appearing to be referred to the Federal Government despite likely meeting required criteria for referral. The Wilderness Society has referred these events to the Federal Government for investigation.

The Wilderness Society says the Federal Government’s proposed National Environmental Standards must deliver genuine outcomes for nature, not simply processes that allow continued destruction.

Emily Dickson, QLD Campaign Manager, the Wilderness Society said: 

“Most landholders are doing the right thing. Unfortunately, a minority in the beef sector are responsible for the lionshare of deforestation in Queensland. 

“Australia cannot reassure the world that nature is protected while progressing weak environmental standards. This exposé shows what’s at stake if business as usual continues. 

“Last year, the Wilderness Society welcomed new reforms that, if enforced, will finally bring more federal oversight of deforestation for beef - the biggest driver of deforestation in Queensland and Australia. Under environmental reforms introduced last year, the federal regulator must now assess the bulldozing of mature forest and bushland (over 15 years old) or clearing within 50 meters of Great Barrier Reef watercourses, where that destruction is likely to have a significant impact on threatened species or ecological communities (known as ‘matters of national environmental significance’).

“However, visibility is only half the equation. Even if the reforms are enforced and deforestation events are subject to federal scrutiny, what really matters is ensuring the Environment Standards themselves are strong enough to actually protect nature.

“Strong, outcomes-based environmental standards are critical if Australia is serious about protecting the Great Barrier Reef and meeting its international responsibilities.

The Wilderness Society is calling on the Federal Government to strengthen its National Environmental Standards by requiring genuine protection outcomes, stronger threatened species habitat protections, proper consideration of cumulative impacts and effective monitoring and enforcement.”