Alpine ecosystem recovery after fire

HELPING ALPINE ECOSYSTEMS RECOVER AFTER FIRE

Dr Anita Wild from Wild Ecology has been working on a project to look at the recovery of alpine ecosystems after bushfire. Anita specialises in organic soils, peat bogs and alpine vegetation, and has set up trials to test alpine restoration techniques after fire.

In 2016, severe fires burnt a large area of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area near Lake Mackenzie. Research began in 2019 to test and develop methods that have been used in mainland alpine areas, but adjusted for Tasmania’s unique climate, soils and vegetation.

The project aims to find ways to reduce soil loss after fire, mitigate long term erosion risks and restore ecological function after fire. Once Tassie-ready restoration techniques have been developed, the next step is to develop a decision framework to identify the conditions and circumstances where ecological restoration intervention should be implemented following wildfire.

If you would like to hear more about these special alpine environments, Anita Wild will be presenting some of the results of her research at Cradle Coast Authority or online 1pm on Wednesday 28 September.

Please contact Hannah for more information: hsadler@cradlecoast.com

Left: Ecosystem restoration trial (photo by Anita Wild). Right: Sphagnum bog at Cradle Valley