Land clearing and damage
More native land is cleared in Australia for animal grazing than any other industry, including mining. Land clearing results in greenhouse gas emissions, a loss of biodiversity and the displacement of native animals, increasing the risks of species endangerment and extinction. Not only this, but farming animals like sheep damage and erode land.
Biodiversity loss and species extinction
Over the last 200 years, the highest recorded mammalian extinction rate has been seen in Australia. More than 50 animal and 60 plant species have become extinct.
Conservative estimates put more than 1,800 plant and animal species and woodlands, forests and wetlands at risk of extinction.
The United Nations identified agriculture as one of the primary causes of biodiversity loss globally, with about 28% of Earth’s land surface being grazed by farmed animals.
Land damage and soil erosion
Hooven animals like sheep, especially where they are non-native like in Australia, greatly damage the land. In Dark Emu, 17th century colonists on stolen Australian land are quoted reporting on the severe impact imported sheep had on land and edible vegetation. Wooleen Station and even the wool industry itself has found that ‘destocking’ land of farmed animals (removing them) results in important revegetation and land regeneration.
In the first half of the 20th century, Patagonia, Argentina was second only to Australia in wool production. We can see the power of ‘destocking’ at Patagonia Park.
Patagonia Park stated that intense sheep ranching on their land resulted in widespread desertification, due to soil erosion. Since the removal of these sheep, project biologists are ‘impressed with the speed at which these grasslands have regained their vitality’ as those working to restore Patagonia Park ‘watch the land heal and transform at an astounding rate’.
References
54% of all land degradation in Australia is due to animal industries
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
In Queensland, where most deforestation takes place…
The Wilderness Society
Average bale weights and the land used to produce them
See formula and relevant references
Biodiversity loss and species extinction information
The Guardian
The United Nations identified agriculture as one of the primary causes of biodiversity loss globally
The United Nations
…about 28% of Earth’s land surface is grazed by farmed animals
See formula and relevant references
In Dark Emu, 17th century colonists on stolen Australian land are quoted reporting severe impact imported sheep…
Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture (p10-11, 12, 21, 23 and beyond)
Wooleen Station destocking
Wooleen, Vegan Australia
Wool industry destocking
Australian Wool Innovation, Land & Water Australia
Patagonia Park destocking
Patagonia Park, Reference Model in Earth Systems and Environmental Studies