AusLeisure

Following the Queensland Government’s release this week of land clearing data for the state in 2019-20, the Australian Marine Conservation Society considers the Queensland Government must stop tree clearing in Reef catchments if it is to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Tree clearing worsens water pollution, one of the biggest threats to the Great Barrier Reef, with sediment smothering the Reef and seagrasses that marine life such as endangered dugongs depend upon, and synthetic fertilisers turbo-charging algal blooms and starving the water of oxygen.

The Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) data shows that hundreds of thousands of hectares of land has been cleared in the state and in the Reef catchments despite the Queensland Government introducing legislation in 2018 to try to rein in clearing.

The data shows that 189,904 hectares of land was affected by clearing in Reef catchments in 2019-20, 16% less than the 217,419ha impacted in 2018-19, but still around the same rates as before the clearing legislation was enacted in 2018 – about 148,000ha fully cleared in 2017-18 and 166,000ha fully cleared in 2016-17.

AMCS Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Manager Jaimi Webster notes “It’s positive that there has been a reduction in clearing, but the Queensland Government still needs to do more to control tree clearing, with more than 100,000ha cleared in Reef catchments every year.

“The recent Reactive Monitoring Mission report on the Reef by the World Heritage scientific advisers UNESCO made clear recommendations to address clearing in Reef catchments.

“The Queensland Government must stop approving tree clearing in Reef catchments and close the loopholes that allow massive amounts of clearing without any approval.

“Tree clearing also exacerbates climate change, the biggest threat to our Reef, adding to carbon pollution when trees are burned or left to rot, and removing trees that could suck carbon out of the atmosphere.”

SLATS 2019-20 report is at www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/mapping/statewide-monitoring/slats/slats-reports/2019-20-slats-report

Related Articles

3rd December 2022 - Great Barrier Reef Female Indigenous Rangers secure prestigious Earthshot Prize

29th November 2022 - AMCS and Queensland Government respond to Reef “In Danger” list recommendation

22nd November 2022 - Queensland Government’s Reef Assist invests $20 million for projects in six catchment areas

31st October 2022 - Research and tourism partnership launches in Whitsundays to help reef recovery

21st October 2022 - Additional $204 million allocated in Federal Budget for protection of Great Barrier Reef

31st August 2022 - Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek urged to consider impact on the Reef and wetlands from coal and gas projects

9th August 2022 - Indigenous rangers from Great Barrier Reef undertake scuba diver training

25th March 2022 - Severe coral bleaching revealed on Great Barrier Reef as UNESCO/IUCN considers whether to recommend ‘in danger’ listing   

18th March 2022 - Great Barrier Reef suffers another bleaching event ahead of United Nations assessment visit

29th January 2022 - Conservationists welcome funding to address water pollution and illegal fishing impacting the Reef

23rd July 2021 - World Heritage Committee places Australian Government ‘on probation’ as custodians of the Reef

19th July 2021 - Australian Institute of Marine Science data should not impact UNESCO’s decision on the Reef

13th July 2021 - Australian Conservation groups call for Great Barrier Reef to be placed on ‘In Danger’ list

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.