Professor Thomas Schlacher from the University of the Sunshine Coast has urged the government to consider banning all-terrain vehicles on certain sandy areas due to the irreversible harm they inflict on marine life.

Earlier this year, Schlacher temporarily relocated his family to the United States after receiving aggressive backlash from some four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, including a threatening letter that ominously stated, “we know where you live.”

Despite these threats, Schlacher has returned more determined than ever to speak out against four-wheel-drive tourism on beaches. He recently told nine.com.au that he remains committed to advocating for Australia’s endangered coastal wildlife.

“Very little can survive on those beaches,” said Schlacher, who was born in Austria. “In these critical times, we cannot allow a minority of ‘petrolheads’ to jeopardize ecosystems that are meant to be preserved for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.”

“We cannot, in this dire age, carry on for the benefit of a few who are just basically ‘petrolheads’, to compromise ecosystems which belong to our children, our grandchildren and future generations to come.”

Schlacher publicly revealed his new research earlier this year which found widespread 4WD use on beaches causes serious harm to birds and impacts long-term conservation.

On a recent visit to a beach in Queensland, he found a bird that had been critically injured after being hit by a 4WD.

”People actually going directly at birds, driving straight at them, trying to hit them,” he said.

Schlacher’s environmental plea caught the attention of the 4WD community in Australia.

He soon began receiving death threats, cruel messages and sinister letters.

“It is very scary. It actually goes beyond just being a keyboard warrior,” Austrian-born Schlacher said.

“This is actually personal and directed… there was another [comment] coming through, which said ‘How many college professors can we bury on a beach?’

“I had a note in my postbox. And it basically said, ‘we know where you live’. And there was a photo of my car.”

Schlacher said while he has been “distressed” by the threats on his life, he remains steely in his resolve.

After 30 years of work on beaches, the professor said he has concluded 4WDs are persistently wiping out entire marine ecosystems.

“The evidence is massive and it’s solid and it’s unambiguous. It’s worldwide,” he explained.

“And you can just basically say it is the worst thing you can do in terms of how to use a beach.”

Schlacher said some of the worst 4WD damage is being inflicted on Queensland’s Bribie Island, where up to 1000 4WD drivers head to the sand on a busy weekend.

There is a 23 kilometre one-way stretch on Ocean Beach which legally allows 4WDs on the sand.

But Schlacher said his plea to conserve some parts of the beach from 4WDs has so far been unanswered by the state government.

He also said Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell’s dual portfolio represents a conflict of interest.

“The government only listens to the 4×4 lobby” Schlacher claimed.

“Because they’re powerful and as you have seen, they’re violent.”

Schlacher pointed out he has not called for a blanket ban on 4WDs on beaches.

He explained a “reasonable” starting point would be setting aside half the beach in popular spots across Queensland, Victoria and NSW for 4WDs, and conserving the other half.

“Even that seems to be not be heard,” Schlacher added.

“But I’m not going to budge from that.”

Nine.com.au has contacted Powell for comment.