SoE2020: Extent and rate of change of freshwater wetland systems

More than 94% of the pre-European settlement extent of freshwater wetlands in Queensland remained in 2017. Changes in the extent of freshwater wetlands have been monitored in Queensland since 2001. The rate of freshwater wetland loss reduced to 0.05% during 2005–2009 and 0.02% in 2009–2013. Between 2013 and 2017 that rate has increased to 0.13% due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development. Of the 3 freshwater wetland systems — lacustrine, palustrine, riverine — the greatest ongoing losses have occurred in riverine and palustrine systems in the Gulf and North East Coast Drainage (Great Barrier Reef) divisions.