The Australian government approved the clearing of more than 57,000 hectares of habitat for threatened species in 2025. This is the highest amount in 15 years, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF). The cleared area is about 10 times the size of Sydney Harbour. It is more than double the amount approved in 2024 and over five times the 10,426 hectares approved in 2023. Adam Bandt, the ACF’s new CEO and former Greens leader, said the doubling of habitat loss year after year is "really distressing." He added, "A lot of people don’t know that Australia is a global deforestation hotspot… every year, we lose more forest than the loss from the entire palm oil industry in Indonesia." The report also revealed that 42 new plants and animals were added to Australia's endangered species list. The northern quoll was the worst affected, with 7,643 hectares of its habitat cleared. Most of the clearing happened in Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales, making up 98% of the total. Two-thirds of this clearing was for mining projects. The Pilbara region in Western Australia was hit hard, affecting five animal species: the northern quoll, night parrot, ghost bat, Pilbara leaf-nosed bat, and Pilbara olive python. Bandt said these mining projects are "massive and devastating" to wildlife there. The night parrot, thought extinct until 2013, was moved closer to extinction and now classified as critically endangered. At the same time, the government approved clearing of an area equal to over six Sydney Airports of its habitat. Bandt said this approved land clearing is just "the tip of the iceberg," as most agricultural clearing was not assessed under national laws until recent reforms. New nature laws passed in November now require some agricultural clearing and clearing near waterways in the Great Barrier Reef catchments to be assessed. Bandt said he hopes the new laws "could give nature a fighting chance," but warned, "the devil will be in the detail." The new laws also plan to create an environmental protection agency. Bandt added, "A lot will hinge now on how it is established and resourced, and what rules it’s given to enforce. It can and should be a very strong watchdog for nature." A federal government spokesperson said the Albanese government is "committed to protecting Australia’s unique and diverse plants and animals." The government fought for the national Environment Protection Agency and changes to the EPBC Act last year. Under these reforms, projects must show a net gain for nature to get approval, offering stronger protection for threatened species and habitats. Some changes are already in place, with more starting soon. The government aims for better environmental protection, faster and stronger project approvals, and greater transparency in decision-making.