Land clearing in Australia

Land clearing in Australia describes the removal of native vegetation and deforestation in Australia. Land clearing involves the removal of native vegetation and habitats, including the bulldozing of native bushlands, forests, savannah, woodlands and native grasslands and the draining of natural wetlands for replacement with agriculture, urbanization and other land uses.

Land clearing remains a significant environmental issue in Australia. Conservation and government reports estimate that approximately 500,000 hectares of native vegetation are cleared each year, mainly for pasture expansion in Queensland and New South Wales. The Brigalow Belt and Mulga Lands are among the regions with the highest recent rates of clearing.

Eastern Australia is considered one of the world's global deforestation hotspots, with rates of vegetation loss comparable to tropical regions such as the Amazon. Recent studies link large-scale clearing to habitat loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and declines in biodiversity, particularly affecting species such as koalas and greater gliders.

Land clearing is regulated primarily at the state level. Queensland and New South Wales have introduced laws to limit or monitor clearing. Despite these measures, satellite data and environmental assessments indicate that unregulated and secondary clearing continue across parts of the country.