Environmental scientists have criticised a move by the Australian government to protect the beef industry against European laws that will ban imports from areas with land clearing, saying cattle farming is “the biggest single driver of deforestation in Australia”.
The effect of the legislation would be most acute in Queensland, where 45% of Australia’s cattle graze. The World Wildlife Fund has identified Queensland as a major part of theThe University of Queensland adjunct senior lecturer Martin Taylor said the Australian government should be supportive of strong environmental legislation rather than attempt to delay it., authored by Taylor, found as few as 205 properties were responsible for half of all land-clearing that occurred in Queensland.
Taylor described the claim as “patently false”, saying “beef is the biggest single driver of deforestation in Australia”. A spokesperson from Meat and Livestock Australia said the majority of land clearing is legal and occurs on a rotational basis. They said claims Australia is a deforestation hotspot are “flawed”.