The latest Statewide Landcover and Tree Study (SLATS) report was released this week – and it makes for grim reading for anyone who cares about Queensland’s environment. Rather than slowing, the rate of land clearing has increased.
Key findings from the August 2022 to August 2023 SLATS report include:
Some of the disturbing findings included in the August 2022 to August 2023 report:
- Over 332,000 hectares of woodlands and forests were impacted by clearing – a 3% increase from the previous year.
- Nearly half of this clearing occurred in the Brigalow Belt – one of Queensland’s 13 regional ecosystems and home to most of the state’s coal mines.
- 147,705 hectares (44%) of total clearing took place in the Great Barrier Reef catchment – another increase on the previous year.
- Over 3,000 hectares of endangered regional ecosystems were cleared – a 21% increase – with 65% of this in the Brigalow Belt.
Dr Coral Rowston, Director of Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland, said:
“ The continued clearing of vegetation in Queensland is extremely disappointing – or put more bluntly, devastating.
“Trees are a critical part of our environment. They provide habitat for our unique wildlife and soak-up the carbon we pump into the atmosphere.
“ Most of Central Queensland lies within the Brigalow Belt bioregion, where 49% of the State’s land clearing occurred – and where most coal mines are located.
“The report identifies that over 6,600 hectares was cleared for mining – up from 5,885ha the previous year. I expect that a large part of this due to new and expanding coal mines in the Bowen Basin.
“We know nearly every coal mine in Central Queensland destroys habitat for threatened species – and then leaves us with the legacy of massive greenhouse gas emissions.
“The science and economics are clear: new and expanding coal mines are not industries of the future. They’re driving the loss of species and pushing the Great Barrier Reef closer to collapse.
“We call on the Crisafulli Government to stop approving new coal mines and take urgent action to halt the rising rate of vegetation clearing – for the sake of future generations and a liveable climate.”
EnvA - CQ 