Our national parks are a haven for humans, plants and animals alike.

Protected areas such as national parks are a cornerstone of our efforts to conserve nature. But these unique ecosystems can still bear the scars of past fires, floods and other natural disturbances.

Our new study examines how repeated bushfires have changed, and continue to change, one of Australia’s iconic national parks.

Located on Australia’s southernmost tip, Wilsons Promontory or “the Prom” is one of Victoria’s most popular national parks, famous for its wombats, rosellas, mountains and coastlines.

But in the first half of last century, the Prom was repeatedly burnt by intense bushfires. This pushed thousands of hectares of eucalypt forests towards collapse. And as our climate changes, bushfires will only become more frequent and severe.

The history of the Prom may provide a preview of what our forests could look like in a warmer, more fire-prone future. It could also give us clues about how to protect them.

Fire and forests: a delicate balance

Over millions of years, Australia’s eucalypt forests have evolved to both survive........

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