Australia has one of the worst rates of deforestation in the world, killing tens of millions of native animals each year. Deforestation is threatening the Great Barrier Reef[1], poisoning the reef system with toxic runoff from soil erosion and chemicals.
Queensland leads the nation on deforestation
The Great Barrier Reef[2] is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders on Earth, but right now it is in serious trouble. While climate change[3] and repeated mass bleaching events are well known threats to the Reef, another major danger is happening on land: deforestation[4].
Across Queensland, deforestation continues at an alarming rate.
Almost half of this destruction (44%) happens in Reef catchment areas where over 140,000 hectares are bulldozed every year.
This is not just a problem for forests and wildlife. What happens on land directly impacts the health of the Reef.
How deforestation damages the Great Barrier Reef
When forests are bulldozed, the soil becomes exposed and unstable. Heavy rain washes sediment, nutrients, and pesticides into rivers and creeks that flow out to the Reef. This has devastating consequences:
- Dirty sediment, toxic pesticides, and thick run-off from deforested land wash into the reef waters suffocating coral
- Excess nutrients fuel outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, which prey on coral and destroy large sections of reef.
- Pollution reduces water quality, making it harder for coral to recover from mass bleaching.
UNESCO’s world heritage committee has specifically identified deforestation as a major threat to the Reef and has urged the Australian Government to do more to stop deforestation in these critical catchments.
Communities and wildlife are at stake
The Reef is home to precious marine life, and is also central to the culture, livelihoods, and economy of coastal communities. A dying Reef threatens:
- Tourism, which brings billions of dollars into Queensland each year
- Fisheries, which depend on healthy marine ecosystems
- Communities livelihoods and way of life.
If mass deforestation continues unchecked, we risk losing not only one of the world’s greatest natural treasures but also the economies and communities that depend on a healthy reef.
Broken nature laws enabling destruction
Australia’s national nature law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, was created to safeguard precious places like the Great Barrier Reef. Instead of protecting nature, it is allowing large scale deforestation to continue almost unchecked.
Right now, the Albanese Government is rewriting our national nature law. It is a once-in-a-generation chance to protect forests and wildlife. Tell the government to protect our forests with a strong nature law.
Big businesses are allowed to bulldoze and log native forests through loopholes in the current law. Without a strong law that closes deforestation loopholes, the destruction of wildlife and forests will continue, and countless more native animals will face extinction.
This broken law has failed to protect threatened species and habitats, migratory species and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park itself. Without urgent reform to our national nature law, deforestation will continue to push the Reef closer to the brink.
Crunch time to create a strong new nature law
Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The Albanese Government is overhauling our national environment law. But there’s a huge risk giant loopholes will be left in place that allow the mass bulldozing of our forests to continue.
The science is clear: protecting forests is essential to saving the Reef. Stopping deforestation will reduce pollution, improve water quality, give coral a chance to recover, and protect the tourism and fishing industries that rely on a healthy Reef.
We have a narrow window to fix our broken nature law and stop the bulldozers.
We are calling for a strong nature law that closes the deforestation loopholes, by:
- Fully regulating the agricultural industry, especially bulldozing of our forests for beef production.
- Removing the exemption for native forest logging under the Act.
By demanding a strong nature law – together we can keep forests standing, help wildlife flourish, and give the Great Barrier Reef a fighting chance.
If we don’t speak up, threatened species like the green sea turtle and grey nurse shark will edge closer to extinction, and deforestation in reef catchments will keep choking coral with sediment and pesticides. Decisions are being made right now in Parliament, and MPs need to hear directly from you.
Your voice matters. Please email your MP today[7].
References
- ^ Great Barrier Reef (www.greenpeace.org.au)
- ^ The Great Barrier Reef (www.greenpeace.org.au)
- ^ climate change (www.greenpeace.org.au)
- ^ deforestation (www.greenpeace.org.au)
- ^ Tell your MP to protect our forests (www.greenpeace.org.au)
- ^ Send Email (www.greenpeace.org.au)
- ^ Please email your MP today (www.greenpeace.org.au)