The Australian government approved the destruction of over 57,000 hectares of threatened species habitat in 2025, marking the highest amount in 15 years, according to an analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF). This figure represents an area approximately 10 times the size of Sydney Harbour, more than double the 2024 total, and over five times the 10,426 hectares approved in 2023.
Key Findings from ACF Report
The ACF's "extinction wrapped" report highlighted several critical points:
- 42 new plant and animal species were added to Australia's list of species facing extinction.
- The northern quoll was the species most affected by federally approved land clearing, with 7,643 hectares designated for destruction.
- 98% of the threatened species land clearing occurred in Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales.
- The mining industry was responsible for two-thirds of the total area cleared.
- The Pilbara region of Western Australia saw five animals significantly impacted: the northern quoll, night parrot, ghost bat, Pilbara leaf-nosed bat, and Pilbara olive python.
Former Greens leader Adam Bandt, the new chief executive of the ACF, described the year-on-year increase as concerning, noting that Australia is a global deforestation hotspot. He pointed out the night parrot, reclassified as critically endangered in 2025, had over six Sydney Airports' worth of its habitat approved for destruction.
Legislative Context and Government Response
Bandt stated that federally approved land clearing is only part of the issue, as most agricultural clearing was not previously assessed under national environmental laws. Reforms to nature legislation, enacted in November, now mandate assessment for some agricultural clearing and clearing within 50 meters of waterways in Great Barrier Reef catchments.
The new legislation includes the establishment of an environmental protection agency. Bandt expressed hope that these laws could benefit nature but emphasized that their effectiveness would depend on the agency's establishment, resources, and enforcement rules.
A federal government spokesperson affirmed the Albanese government's commitment to protecting Australia's plants and animals, citing the introduction of a national Environment Protection Agency and reforms to the EPBC Act. The spokesperson indicated that under the reforms, projects would need to demonstrate a net gain for nature to receive approval, providing stronger protections and more robust project approvals. Some changes are already in effect, with others scheduled for implementation in the coming months.