Citation

Dickman CR. Integr. Environ. Assess. Manag. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry)

DOI

10.1002/ieam.4496

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Fire has long been a part of the Australian environment and remains a potent force in shaping the adaptations of species, the dynamics of populations, and the structure of ecological communities. However, the fire regime is changing. Fire seasons are longer, wet vegetation types that do not usually burn are now at risk, and fire intensity and severity are greater than in the recent past. A particularly widespread event occurred in the forest and woodland regions of Australia over the summer of 2019-2020. Termed the 'Black Summer' bushfires, remotely sensed data indicate that over 30 million hectares of vegetation were burned, including an unprecedented large area of forest. The extraordinary geographical scale of the Black Summer fires, as well as the intensity and speed of fire spread, have led to widespread concern about the ecological damage that occurred. Recent estimates suggest that almost three billion vertebrates were affected by the fires, as well as up to 240 trillion invertebrates. Fires were experienced in part of the geographical ranges of 832 vertebrate species and 37 threatened ecological communities, with some entities feared to be at risk of extinction. Field assessments of ecological recovery have been slowed by covid-19 restrictions, and also by a diminution in ecological monitoring capacity that occurred before the last fire season. This paper assesses the dire ecological consequences of the Black Summer bushfires and proposes a series of steps to help achieve recovery of biodiversity and mitigate the effects of future mega-fires. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Ecological communities; Ecological recovery; Fauna; Flora; Wildfire