Ash forests rise and rise again

New growth in the ash forests of Victoria. The forests are undergoing a remarkable process of natural regeneration after the Black Saturday fires. Photo: David Blair

A new book that graphically documents the spectacular natural recovery of Victoria’s ash forests after the Black Saturday bushfires also argues that wildfires are typical natural disturbances in these environments.

Co-authored by researchers from The Australian National University, Forest Phoenix combines stunning colour photography of the ash forests? natural regeneration with scientific explanations of the many complex post-fire recovery strategies used by plants and animals.

Lead author, Professor David Lindenmayer, who has studied the ash forests for nearly three decades, said better knowledge of fire ecology is essential.

‘Understanding of how forests respond after fire matters, because fire is a key ecological process in almost all Australian landscapes,’ said Professor Lindenmayer.

?In fact high severity fire is quite normal for environments like the Victorian ash forests.

‘It is a common misconception that everything is burnt in large wildfires and that nothing remains afterwards. Yet contrary to the first impressions of total annihilation the forests are rising from the ashes,’ he said.

Professor Lindenmayer also noted that improved understanding of fire ecology is essential because of the long-term consequences of how forests are managed after fire.

‘This is particularly the case when you look at the value of prescribed burning as a forest management practice,’ said Professor Lindenmayer.

?A recurrent theme after almost all major fires in Australia is a public outcry that insufficient prescribed burning was done prior to ‘the wildfires’ and that if it had been done then ‘none of this would have happened’.

?In the case of the ash forests, these are unfortunate comments generally made in the absence of ecological understanding.

‘Any burning of a young regenerating forest comprised of trees less than 20-30 years old risks killing all of the trees and losing the forest altogether, along with the myriad of plant and animal species associated with it,’ he said.

Forest Phoenix is co-authored by David Lindenmayer, Sam Banks and Lachlan McBurney and includes photography by David Blair. The book was released this week by CSIRO PUBLISHING.

For interviews: Professor David Lindenmayer - 02 6125 0654 / 0427 770 593 or Dr Sam Banks - 02 6125 9288

For media assistance: James Giggacher, ANU Media - 02 6125 7988 / 0416 249 241