<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/an-average-100-million-native-animals-killed-or-injured-each-year-from-land-clearing-mostly-for-beef-farms/>
"A new report shows an average of 100 million native animals are displaced,
injured or killed from land clearing in Queensland and NSW every year,
including more than one thousand koalas.
The report commissioned by advocacy groups Greenpeace and RSPCA Queensland
examined government data from 2016 to 2021, with the animal numbers twice as
much as previous estimates.
“We came up with a pretty startling figure, about 100 million … most of that is
reptiles,” report author Martin Taylor, from the University of Queensland,
said.
“We’re looking at about 1200 koalas a year is my estimate, losing their habitat
and ultimately dying as a result of clearing,” he said.
The academic said most of the deforestation is the result of beef production,
although the beef industry has previously denied deforestation is widespread.
“Livestock pasture development specifically is the largest driver of land
clearing in Queensland and in NSW … taken together we’re looking at 90 per
cent,” Dr Taylor, a former conservation scientist with WWF-Australia, said.
Cattle Australia, which represents grass-fed beef cattle producers, has been
contacted for comment.
The report found the remaining ten per cent of land clearing in the two states
can be attributed to cropping and plantations, urban development and forest
logging."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
