We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

Click to view the State of the Environment report

On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

Reference

Lewis T, Reif M, Prendergast E & Tran C (2012). The effect of long-term repeated burning and fire exclusion on above- and below-ground blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) forest vegetation assemblages. Austral Ecology 37:767–778.

Tasker E, Rennison B, Watson P & Baker L (2017). Vegetation change associated with reduced fire frequency in Border Ranges: loss of grassy forests and associated endangered fauna. In: Fire, fauna and ferals: from backyards to bush, proceedings of the 2017 Bushfire Conference, Sydney, 30 May – 1 June 2017, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Sydney.

Baker A, Catterall C, Benkendorff K & Fensham R (2020a). Rainforest expansion reduces understorey plant diversity and density in open forest of eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 45:557–571.