Source: The Guardian
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has revealed that more koala habitat has been approved for clearing in 2025 than in any year since the species was listed as threatened. So far, 3,958 hectares—equal to four Sydney airports—have been cleared for eight projects, including a Queensland coal mine. Despite government pledges to prevent extinctions, the ACF argues current laws are failing, with 2.3 million hectares of likely koala habitat destroyed from 2011 to 2023, mostly in Queensland.
Alarmingly, 98% of this loss was not assessed under national environmental laws, with agriculture the primary driver. Logging in New South Wales contributed another 391,000 hectares lost. Conservationists say reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act must establish strict habitat protections, close loopholes, and create an independent watchdog. The government has promised reforms this year, alongside $76 million in koala conservation funding, but critics warn delays risk further declines.