Environmental accounts

• 2020 was the only year Sparsely vegetated areas surpassed Grassland as the dominant land cover type, reaching 310.6 million hectares.
• Between 2019–2024, Inland water bodies (Perennial and Non-perennial) increased by 1.0 million hectares (114.4%) and 2.0 million hectares (114.2%), respectively.
• Since 1988, Artificial surfaces have increased by 281.9 thousand hectares (105.7%).

• Desert ecosystems make up 50% of Australia’s terrestrial landscape, or 383.8 million hectares.
• In 2020–21, half of Australia’s mangroves had at least 80% canopy cover.
• Between 2015–16 and 2020–21, 4% of natural environments adjacent to perennial rivers were converted to higher intensity land uses.
• Feral animal and weed species continued to spread.

• The area of land that was managed for resource protection (e.g. reserves) increased nationally by 14.1 million hectares between 2015–16 and 2020–21.
• 56.2 million hectares of natural terrestrial vegetated: herbaceous land (e.g. grassland) became natural surfaces (e.g. bare earth) between 2015 and 2020.
• Total land value increased 48.4% to $7,733.0 billion between 2015–16 and 2020–21.

In 2021-22:

• National water consumption by industries and households increased by less than half a percent to 13,449 GL (from 13,415 GL in 2020-21)
•  Water use by the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry increased by 3% to 9,981 GL, driven by high water availability in New South Wales and Queensland
• Household water use decreased by 2% to 1,779 GL
• Sea water used for desalination fell by 5% and groundwater use fell by 9%, following a 16% increase in major dam storages.

• In 2021 mangroves and saltmarsh combined provided coastal protection services for 280 thousand people occupying 150 thousand dwellings.
• In 2021 there were 1.1 million ha of saltmarsh.
• In 2020 there were 389 thousand ha of intertidal seagrass meadows.

• Australia generated 76 million tonnes of waste, 10% increase since 2016-17
• $17 billion spent on waste services, 18% increase since 2016-17
• Construction industry spent the most on waste services ($2 billion), 35% increase since 2016-17
• Exports remain steady since 2016-17 at 6% of total waste

Canberra region water accounting 2013-14 to 2016-17. Includes water assets, physical supply and use, monetary supply and condition/quality of water

The Environment and Agriculture Branch produced a set of Experimental Environmental-Economic and Ecosystem accounts for the Great Barrier Reef Region