ACF's latest report, Bulldozers and Broken Promises, an investigation into deforestation, has ruffled a few feathers. But someone has to do it.
Why? Because deforestation is a huge problem in Australia.
An average of around 400,000 hectares of forest and woodland are bulldozed every year*, with much of it unregulated and driven by a small number of beef farmers. Deforestation destroys the homes of threatened animals like koalas and greater gliders, pink cockatoos and endangered skinks - 20 million animals are killed, maimed, or displaced every year through deforestation.
Flattening forests also releases carbon into the atmosphere which contributes to the climate crisis and damages soils which is a risk to food security. On top of all of this, deforestation in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area can cause sediment to flow into, smother, and damage the reef.
ACF's 2026 investigation revealed 150 cases of recent bulldozing which amounted to the destruction of more than 32,000 hectares of native bushland - and we know this is just a snippet of the total forest destruction that likely occurred in the past year.
Behind the bulldozers, are some of Australia's biggest banks, fast food chains and supermarkets.
