Is Australia’s environmental situation really better than it was after the recent bushfires?
The key points
- Although the environment has improved since 2020, the benefits of rain and cooler temperatures might be short-lived
- Over the past five year, 34 species have been endangered
- Environmentalists warn that the time for meaningful change is rapidly running out
According to Australia’sEnvironment 2021 ReportWhen compared to 2020, a time when parts were made up of charcoal and dust things, the nation is doing well.
Score out of 10: Environmental condition has risen four points over the previous year. 2021 received a 6.9
Conservationists warn against complacency. The recovery of the Australian landscape is largely due to the high rainfall and cooler temperatures.
These conditions will likely be temporary as the Bureau of Meteorology expects rainfall conditions to return to normal once the peak of La Nina is reached.
The Australian National University led the study and revealed some disturbing trends.
Animals are the tellall factor
Shoshana Rapley, Ecologist, helped to conduct the annual analysis using vast amounts of satellites as well as field stations to measure environmental conditions.
It found that the oceans stored 6.5% more heat each year, and 2021 was the sixth warmest year ever recorded.
Ms Rapley stated that one the most concerning aspects of the situation is the rapid and sustained decline in animal species and plant species.
In the past five years, 34 species have been endangered, including eight bird species, four frog species, and two fish varieties.
There have been no animals removed from the endangered species list.
Koalas, as well as the gang-gangcockatoo, are now endangered.
According to the Nature Conservation Council, there is still a lack in political will to address this dire reality.
Tremain stated that the government spent $50 million to improve koala habitats and $2 billion to subside diesel fuel prices.
Despite high levels of rainfall and runoff in eastern Australia’s region, waterbirds continued to decline in number.
Ms Rapley warned that species may not benefit from a reprieve from dry conditions.
She stated that conditions must be maintained for Australia’s ecosystem to recover from an increasingly difficult climate.
Not all bad news is bad.
The average vegetable growth was well above the average, with better conditions in all major cropping areas except South Australia.
Although the inflows to national rivers were nearly 30% higher than the previous two decades, wetland flooding was still below average.
After losses from bushfires in South-east Australia and along south-west WA’s coast, tree cover has been restored.
Ms Rapley however stated that this would just provide more fuel for the fire in coming seasons when drier weather returns.
She hoped that the snapshot would be a catalyst for policymakers and the public to effect meaningful change.
