The Victorian Alps is an area of unique biodiversity that evolved under specific climatic conditions resulting in unique Alpine habitats that are under extreme threat from the potential impacts of climate change.
This Friends of the Earth report “An Icon at Risk – Current and Emerging Threats to the Victorian High Country” highlights these many threats to the fragile Alpine environment. It starts by quoting from Victoria’s Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) investigation into the 2019/20 fires, ’the past is no longer a reliable guide to the influence of climate and weather upon bushfires into the future’.
The 2019/20 fires burnt through 1.5 million hectares of this region in Victoria, NSW and the ACT. Additional threats to the region include ‘salvage’ logging of burnt areas, logging of precious unburnt forest, invasive plants and animals, feral horses and overdevelopment. Overarching all of this are the threats posed by climate change. Predicted changes in the climate will result in decreased snow fall, higher temperatures, increased fire frequency, longer fire seasons and decreased overall rainfall but increased intense rainfall events,
Alpine Ash forests did not evolve to tolerate hot fires. In the last 20 years, 85% of Alpine Ash forests have been burnt by hot fires, in some cases several times. This species requires a minimum of 20 years and up to 30 years between fire events for regrowth to be mature enough to produce viable seed. When this does not occur, changes in the structure and diversity of these forests will result. NSW also has significant areas of alpine ash regrowth that needs protection.
To protect these Alpine areas and their unique habitats, vegetation and wildlife, the report recommends the following actions to be implemented in regard to fire.
- Increase remote area firefighting resources
- A remote area volunteer firefighting force
- Urban volunteer fire fighters
- A national remote area fire fighting force
- Additional air capacity
- Broaden intervention to protect threatened vegetation communities
- Re-thinking prescribed burning
IBG comment
The NSW High Country faces similar threats, with significant areas of Alpine Ash regrowth that need protection from further fire events. The Independent Bushfire Group supports these recommendations from the Friends of the Earth report and has been advocating for similar initiatives.
Left: Alpine Ash regrowth after fire Right: Unburnt Alpine Ash forest (both Kosciuszko National Park)
Independent Bushfire Group 