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Abstract ContextEnvironmental change impacts natural ecosystems and wildlife populations. In Australia, native forests have been heavily cleared and the local emergence of Hendra virus (HeV) is theorized to be related to environmental change. ObjectivesWe quantified changes in landscape factors for Pteropus alecto , a reservoir host of HeV also called black flying foxes, in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia from 2000-2020. We hypothesized that native winter habitat loss and native remnant forest loss were greatest in areas with the most human population growth.MethodsWe measured the spatiotemporal change in human population size and native ‘remnant’ woody vegetation extent. We assessed changes in the observed P. alecto population and native winter habitats in the 7 bioregions where P. alecto are observed roosting in winter. We assessed changes in the amount of remnant vegetation across bioregions and within 50km foraging buffers around roosts.ResultsHuman populations in these bioregions grew by 1.18M people, mostly within 50km foraging areas around known roosts. Remnant forest extent increased overall, but net growth was observed only in a bioregion with no Pteropus roosts. Winter habitats were continuously lost across all spatial scales. Observed populations of P. alecto declined. ConclusionNative remnant forest loss and winter habitat loss were not directly linked to spatial human population growth. Rather, most remnant vegetation was cleared for indirect human use. We observed forest loss and regrowth in response to state land clearing policies. Expanded flying fox population surveys are needed to better understand how landuse change has impacted P. alecto distribution and Hendra virus spillover.