Rapid assessment of the biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires to guide urgent management intervention and recovery and lessons for other regions

Abstract

Aim The incidence of major fires is increasing globally, creating extraordinary challenges for governments, managers and conservation scientists. In 2019–2020, Australia experienced precedent‐setting fires that burned over several months, affecting seven states and territories and causing massive biodiversity loss. Whilst the fires were still burning, the Australian Government convened a biodiversity Expert Panel to guide its bushfire response. A pressing need was to target emergency investment and management to reduce the chance of extinctions and maximise the chances of longer‐term recovery. We describe the approach taken to rapidly prioritise fire‐affected animal species. We use the experience to consider the organisational and data requirements for evidence‐based responses to future ecological disasters. Location Forested biomes of subtropical and temperate Australia, with lessons for other regions. Methods We developed assessment frameworks to screen fire‐affected species based on their pre‐fire conservation status, the proportion of their distribution overlapping with fires, and their behavioural/ecological traits relating to fire vulnerability. Using formal and informal networks of scientists, government and non‐government staff and managers, we collated expert input and data from multiple sources, undertook the analyses, and completed the assessments in 3 weeks for vertebrates and 8 weeks for invertebrates. Results The assessments prioritised 92 vertebrate and 213 invertebrate species for urgent management response; another 147 invertebrate species were placed on a watchlist requiring further information. Conclusions The priority species lists helped focus government and non‐government investment, management and research effort, and communication to the public. Using multiple expert networks allowed the assessments to be completed rapidly using the best information available. However, the assessments highlighted substantial gaps in data availability and access, deficiencies in statutory threatened species listings, and the need for capacity‐building across the conservation science and management sectors. We outline a flexible template for using evidence effectively in emergency responses for future ecological disasters.

Remarkable Resilience of Forest Structure and Biodiversity Following Fire in the Peri-Urban Bushland of Sydney, Australia

“…The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 were reported to result in massive losses of biodiversity across eastern and southern Australia [7]. However, in our study of temperate eucalypt communities, overall biodiversity metrics (e.g., S, E) were not adversely affected by the highest levels of fire frequency studied (3-4 fires in 25 years), in opposition to our hypothesis.…”

“…This combination will drive greater likelihood of intense forest fire conditions [3], with more hot, dry, windy weather, such as recently witnessed during the "Black Summer" of 2019-2020, which resulted in the most extensive forest fires in Australia's recorded history [1,4,5]. These mega-fires pose increasing risks to human life, biodiversity and socioeconomic wellbeing in Australia and other fire-prone regions globally [6,7] (Figure 1). As extreme fire conditions increase in frequency near urban areas, the probability of damage to life and property has risen exponentially in recent years [5,8].…”

“…Climate 2022, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 21 most extensive forest fires in Australia's recorded history [1,4,5]. These mega-fires pose increasing risks to human life, biodiversity and socioeconomic wellbeing in Australia and other fire-prone regions globally [6,7] (Figure 1). As extreme fire conditions increase in frequency near urban areas, the probability of damage to life and property has risen exponentially in recent years [5,8].…”

Accounting for the neglected: Invertebrate species and the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

“…In order to do this, the GEEBAM layer was masked using the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) dataset on the extent and distribution of vegetation types in Australian landscapes (Commonwealth of Australia, 2020). Following Legge et al (2021), we calculate species distributional overlap with all fire categories (i.e., classes 3–5) and also with “high‐severity” fire (classes 4 and 5) only. We undertook these two calculations (i.e., overlap with all fires and overlap only with fires of high severity) on the basis that some species might be affected by any fire (even mild fires), whereas others are likely to be impacted only (or much more so) by high‐severity fires.…”

Monitoring populations and threats to range‐restricted freshwater fishes: A case study of the Stocky Galaxias (Galaxias tantangara)

“…A bushfire in the vicinity of Tantangara Creek would pose dual risk to Stocky Galaxias via heat and direct mortality, and vegetation loss and subsequent deterioration in water quality from ash and sediment runoff (Legge et al 2021). Rapid reconnaissance surveys should aim to document the level of disturbance on the population, provide qualitative assessments of significant ash and/or sediment input (or likelihood of subsequent input), measure water quality parameters, and estimate numbers of fish remaining (Southwell et al 2021).…”