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“Based on this research, it would be fair to say that the current drought has been made worse by past clearing of native vegetation. Our findings highlight that it is too simplistic to attribute climate change purely to greenhouse gases," he continued. “Protection and restoration of Australia's native vegetation needs to be a critical consideration in mitigating climate change.”

“Our work shows that the 2002-03 El Nino drought in eastern Australia was on average two degrees Centigrade hotter because of vegetation clearing,” said Dr Clive McAlpine of the University of Queensland.

The researchers found that mean summer rainfall decreased by between four percent and 12 percent in eastern Australia, and by four percent and eight percent in southwest Western Australia. These were the regions of most extensive historical clearing.

native vegetation holds more moisture that subsequently evaporates and recycles back as rainfall

process keeps the surface temperature cooler and aids cloud formation