Impacts of drought stress on bushfire risk

Funding period: 2021-2022

Funding agency: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and RedEye Consulting

Project leader, researchers and collaborators: Dr Rachael Nolan (Lead), Dr Chris Gordon, Prof Matthias Boer, Dist Prof Belinda Medlyn, Prof Brendan Choat and Dr Anne Griebel

Project summary:The project focuses on two key knowledge gaps in the understanding of bushfire risk across eastern Australia. The first research activity will focus on identifying the conditions under which the fire resistance of usually wet parts of the landscape is eroded. The second research activity will focus on how drought stress and canopy dieback influences fire severity patterns more broadly across forest communities. This research will contribute to improved prediction of forest fire risk, and will improve our understanding of the impacts of climate driven changes in fire regimes.