- New data shows nearly 50% of land cleared in Queensland is in Reef catchments
- UNESCO singled out tree clearing as a major threat to the Reef, and recommended Queensland and federal governments do more to stop clearing in Reef catchments
- Tree clearing increases sediment & other pollutants running into Reef waters and exacerbates climate change
- Reef has just experienced its fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years, and water pollution makes it harder for coral to recover
The Queensland and Australian governments must stop tree clearing in Reef catchments if they are serious about trying to protect the Great Barrier Reef, which has just experienced its fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years, said the Australian Marine Conservation Society after the Queensland Government today released the land clearing data for 2021-22.
The Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) data shows that hundreds of thousands of hectares of land are still being cleared in Queensland despite the state government passing laws in 2018 to try to rein in clearing, with nearly half (44%) of the clearing occurring in Reef catchments. The data shows that 323,700ha of land was cleared in the state in 2020-21, with 143,683 ha of land cleared in Reef catchments - just 13% less than the 164,766ha hectares cleared in the previous year, 2020-21.
World Heritage advisory body UNESCO singled out tree clearing as a major threat to the Great Barrier Reef when it made its draft recommendation for the World Heritage Committee to consider at its meeting next week in New Delhi. It recommended that the Queensland and federal governments strengthen controls to stop tree clearing of remnant and high-quality vegetation in Reef catchments and other high priority areas, including vegetation along water courses. This includes clearing of Category X land, where no approvals are needed for clearing.
UNESCO has recommended holding off listing the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage property "In Danger" this year, but the Queensland and federal governments must report back to UNESCO in February on further progress in protecting the Reef, including how they are addressing tree clearing.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef Campaign Manager Dr Lissa Schindler said: "World Heritage advisor UNESCO has singled out tree clearing as a major issue for the Great Barrier Reef. Tree clearing sends sediment and other pollutants into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Our Reef has just experienced its fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years; and water pollution makes it even harder for the coral to recover.
"It's positive that there has been some reduction in clearing in Reef catchments, but it's not nearly enough. The Queensland and federal governments need to do more to control tree clearing in Reef catchments. Nearly half of the tree clearing in the state has occurred in Reef catchments, a worrying figure given the current health of the Great Barrier Reef.
"Tree clearing causes soil erosion and worsens water pollution. Sediment can smother corals and seagrasses that marine life such as endangered dugongs depend upon. Both the Queensland and federal governments are investing a lot of money in reducing sediment runoff, so it doesn't make sense to allow this level of clearing to continue.
"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 draw carbon out of the atmosphere. Global temperature records continue to be broken. We need to be keeping trees in the ground if we want to truly tackle climate change and protect the Reef's future.
"AMCS is calling for the cumulative impacts of land clearing in the Reef catchment to be assessed as part of the reform of federal environment laws.
"The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its worst summer on record, facing cyclones, severe flooding, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and its fifth mass bleaching event in the last eight years - the most extreme and most widespread we have ever seen.
"Australia must increase its ambition, action and commitments to protect the Great Barrier Reef, or an 'In Danger' listing of the World Heritage property is inevitable."
