Eucalypt species at the dry edge of their range face greatest future fire risk
Eucalypt species at the dry edge of their range face the greatest future fire risk.
Scientists examined eucalypt forests burnt in the 2019-20 Black Summer fires, which destroyed about seven million hectares of forest across eastern Australia. Large old trees in wet forests suffered the heaviest losses.
By contrast, dry forests on poor soils proved more resilient, with fewer large trees dying. Some eucalypt species growing at the dry edge of their natural range face the greatest threat from future severe fires.
These trees may struggle to resprout or produce new seedlings. Trees bearing fire scars are particularly vulnerable to being killed by future fires.
- Roughly 7 million hectares
- Forest burnt
- 2019-20
- Fire period
- 3 devastatingly dry years
- Preceding drought
- Over 800 known species
- Eucalypt species
Why it mattersAs climate change makes severe drought and fire more likely, some eucalypt species could face permanent loss, disrupting ecosystems that depend on them.
AustraliaAustralian forests risk permanent loss of some eucalypt species if severe fires and drought become more common, affecting native wildlife and forest structure.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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