In the minute taken to read this paragraph, an area the size of two football fields of native bushland habitat will have been destroyed. An area about 10 times the size of every backyard in Queensland is denuded every year. (Based on 2001-2002 data) Landclearing is the sanitised term for this destruction. NQCC campaigns to stop landclearing particularly in our region. Land clearing improves the profitability of grazing land in the short term since grass for cattle grows in the place of trees. However, there are many adverse effects that are born by the environment and the rest of the community –
In the long term it leads to massive land degradation and in places salinisation and desertification
The unprotected topsoil blows away creating dust storms.
Topsoil ends up silting up rivers so rivers run dry in the dry season and flood in the wet. The degraded soil left behind has less water holding capability and this exacerbates the problem
Woodland destruction is also one of Australia’s major contributors to the Greenhouse effect which threatens us all.
Many birds and native animals are killed with each hectare destroyed and some species are being driven towards total extinction