By Megan Clement, The Conversation
As Australia gears up for another risky bushfire season this summer, some of its most iconic and valuable forests are at risk.
Giant eucalpytus trees rely on fire to regenerate, but an increase in major bush fires due to climate change could stunt their growth, a Tasmanian ecologist has warned.
The Unviersity of Tasmania’s Professor David Bowman says giant gum trees – which can act as valuable carbon stores – may become a thing of the past.
Giant gum trees can grow up to 100 metres, and are hundreds of years old.
“They are a globally unique rainforest tree that recovers from bushfires with explosive growth to out-compete the other rainforest trees,” Bowman said.
