Beef demand drives deforestation surge in New South Wales

Forests across New South Wales are being cleared at an alarming rate, with new data revealing a 50% increase in tree loss over the past year.

The main cause is large-scale agriculture, as major beef producers rush to meet growing demand for meat faster.

Conservationists warn this push is destroying wildlife habitats and putting Australia on the map as a global deforestation hotspot.

Image: Image from Shutterstock

Produced By: Moemina Shukur

Featured In Story: Nathaniel Pelle – Business and Nature Lead at Australian Conservation Foundation

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 29 July 2025