Land clearing has significant negative environmental impacts and sadly Australia is the only developed nation among the world’s deforestation hotspots. When land is cleared it greatly increases erosion and the runoff of sediments, nutrients and other pollutants. These then enter our waterways, wreaking havoc on the health of river systems by increasing algal blooms. It then enters the ocean, causing further damage to coral reefs and seagrass beds. Animal extinction is a common byproduct of land clearing, with animals left with insufficient habitat to survive. Quite possibly worst of all, it contributes to a warming climate as there is less rain and less trees to capture carbon.