More land was cleared in Australia between 2012 and 2019 than in the decade before. Here is what this means for wildlife, habitat, and the future of hunting.
The Numbers
Queensland cleared approximately 1.5 million hectares of woody vegetation between 2015 and 2019 — the largest rate of land clearing in the developed world during that period. The political pendulum that controls tree-clearing legislation in Queensland, NSW, and WA has swung repeatedly, producing cycles of significant clearing followed by tighter regulation.
What This Means for Game Species
Every species hunted in Australia requires adequate habitat. Sambar deer need dense forest. Waterfowl require intact wetland-floodplain connections. Feral goats and pigs persist in cleared country, but the native species that form part of ecosystem balance — apex predators, competitors, prey species — are affected by clearing in complex cascading ways.
Habitat fragmentation is often more damaging than outright clearing: isolated patches of bush cannot support viable populations of larger species that require territory sizes exceeding the fragment.
What Hunters Can Do
The most direct action is political engagement. Land clearing policy is determined by state government legislation. Hunters who contact their local member on habitat issues are significantly more influential than they imagine — the combination of genuine knowledge and demonstrated community presence matters to elected representatives.
Property-scale actions also matter. Many hunters access private land. Encouraging landowners to maintain riparian vegetation, retain shelter belts, and control erosion creates habitat that improves both ecological outcomes and hunting quality.
