This project is developing adaptive fire management strategies to improve prospects for threatened ecological communities by integrating remote sensing, ground survey and citizen science with management.

The 2019/2020 bushfires were absolutely devastating on the east coast of Australia. Both humans and wildlife lost homes, and these fires were some of the largest and hottest we have seen. Changes to our environment and climate are making bushfires larger and more intense - and this may affect how well some ecological communities recover.

We're particularly interested in fire-sensitive ecological communities, including two peatlands, four rainforests and two wet eucalypt forests, which urgently need assessment and restoration after the 2019-20 fires. They are increasingly vulnerable under a drying climate and are highly sensitive to fire. We address four threats, using a monitoring design to evaluate recovery and build capacity for decision making: frequent fire and post-fire weed invasion, erosion and predation.

What can YOU do?

As part of our research activities, we need citizen scientists to record which species are recovering after the massive 2019/20 bushfire season. All you need is a phone to photograph and record what you see - anything from resprouting plants to animals returning home.

Providing it's safe to do so, take a walk in areas of burnt bushland and upload your observations to the Environment Recovery Project.

Head to the iNaturalist website to find out more!

People

Professor | Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science Richard Kingsford
Professor | Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science
opens in a new window
Associate Professor Mark Ooi
Associate Professor
opens in a new window
Associate Professor | Postgraduate Coordinator Will Cornwell
Associate Professor | Postgraduate Coordinator
opens in a new window
Senior Lecturer Adrian Fisher
opens in a new window
Postdoctoral Fellow Corey Callaghan
opens in a new window
Lecturer (UNSW) | Curator of Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology (Australian Museum) Jodi Rowley
Lecturer (UNSW) | Curator of Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology (Australian Museum)
opens in a new window
ARC DECRA Research Fellow Miriam Munoz-Rojas
ARC DECRA Research Fellow
opens in a new window
Default profile picture, avatar, photo placeholder. Vector illustration
Research Assistant
opens in a new window
Research Fellow Mitchell Lyons
opens in a new window

Related

Environment Recovery Project: Australian bushfires

The ERP relies on citizen scientists to record their observations. Discover how you can help.

Post-fire seed production in Hakea Gibbosa

Discover our adaptive fire management strategies to protect threatened ecological communities.

Managing fire regimes with thresholds to save threatened flora and fauna

Find out about improving fire management strategies and conservation outcomes to save threatened flora and fauna.