New research links the severity of wildfires in southeastern Australia to land-use changes made during colonial times.

The study, published in Nature and conducted by University of Melbourne researchers with Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Corporation, reconstructed 1,000 years of vegetation, fire, and erosion patterns. It reveals that pre-colonial Indigenous practices maintained a balance that minimized wildfire risks, which were disrupted after European settlement.

The findings suggest that modern land management strategies in Australia need to incorporate traditional Indigenous methods to better control wildfires.

This disruption has led to increased vulnerability of the region's forests and ecosystems to severe fires, with long-term implications for biodiversity and carbon storage.

What is the long-term climate outlook for this region?

The research indicates that without a return to more sustainable land management practices, southeastern Australia will likely face an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires. This could exacerbate existing issues like drought and heatwaves, further stressing local ecosystems.

Long-term prospects look grim unless traditional methods are integrated into modern wildfire prevention strategies.