Environmental Impacts 

For Australia specifically, the scale of land clearing is almost on par with the damage being done in the Amazon, which is often overlooked (Greenpeace, N/Y). In Queensland alone, around 80% of deforestation is legally completed, mainly to clear more land for cattle grazing and beef production. Every 100ha of native woodland cleared, around 2 thousand birds, 15 thousand reptiles and 500 native mammals will be affected and possibly die (Australian Conservation Foundation, 2025).  Locally, most deforestation is completed legally for timber, which makes the problem much larger as there are many loopholes in the regulations made by the Government which allow this large-scale deforestation to continue (Global Forest Watch, N/Y) The issue isn’t isolated, it’s large‑scale, and growing as demand for land and resources increases. The more land that is cleared, the ecosystems deminish, biodiversity drops, and carbon emissions rise (Foresty Australia, 2025). 

How is it damaging

These are damaging because the methane and the manure from the cattle, increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Which is damaging to the climate for multiple reasons. Cows are the highest agricultural source of greenhouse gasses worldwide (Quinton, 2019). Australia is the world’s second biggest beef exporter, exporting around 70-75% of beef to over 100 countries. This reason is how there are so many loopholes regarding the regulations of preventing deforestation by the government. Cattle grazing is more damaging to the environment with water pollution in the Great Barrier Reef, contributing to the decline in aquatic life in Northern Queensland. Cows increase the concentration of methane in the air, nitrous oxide from manure and carbon dioxide from their breathing. The continuous destruction of native animal habitats has caused irreparable damage to the population of koalas and many other endangered species. Methane from cattle is shorter lived in the atmosphere but 28 times more effective in warming the atmosphere. Often staying in the atmosphere for about 12 years, and returns to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (Department of Animal Science, 2020). 

Agriculture and farming is the biggest cause worldwide often for cattle grazing and cropping. Deforestation Free products will ensure lowering the amount of land clearing caused by consumers. 

WWF, 2025

The food and agriculture organisation states that agricultural expansion is responsible for about 90% of global deforestation with almost 40% worldwide linked to livestock grazing. Whereas over 50% for crop land. 

FAQ, 2021

Other often causes include logging, development of residentially-zoned areas and mining which further increases climate change, ensuring drier conditions which increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.

WWF Australia, 2025

"Trees cannot speak, therefore we must speak for them."