Colonisation created catastrophic wildfire loop in south-east Australia, study
Research shows colonisation 1,000 years ago changed south-east Australia. Open woodland became dense forest. This made severe bushfires far more likely.
A study looked at 1,000 years of fire history in Victoria's Gippsland region. The study reveals how colonisation created today's devastating bushfires.
Researchers examined pollen and charcoal in sediment cores from Purghagoolah lake in Croajingolong national park. Researchers found something important.
When colonisation removed the Gunaikurnai people from the land, open woodlands became dense forest. Loss of cultural burning practices led to hotter, more intense fires.
Eucalypt growth then increased, which raised further fire risk. The research, published in Nature, shows the landscape shift happened more than a century before modern climate change.
Yet it fundamentally changed fire behaviour. Experts say restoring Indigenous fire management could help break the cycle.
- 1,000 years
- Fire history period
- After 1788
- Colonisation date
Why it mattersUnderstanding how colonisation made Australia's forests easier to burn helps future fire management. It shows the critical value of reviving Indigenous burning practices.
AustraliaThe findings suggest integrating Indigenous knowledge into Australian fire management could reduce catastrophic bushfire risk across south-east Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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