The Effects of Fires on Bushland
Fire has been present on the Australian continent for millions of years. Many of our plants and animals have evolved to survive fire events and subsequently most Australian ecosystems have developed very specialised relationships with fire.
Most forests and woodlands in Victoria have a similar structure, featuring a number of strata or layers. The overstorey, or top layer, is generally composed of large eucalypt species. The understorey generally has a multi-layered structure comprising acacias, other small trees and tree ferns, shrubs, ferns and tussock grasses. The ground cover often includes various grasses, ground ferns and herbs. Species within the various forest ecosystems vary across Victoria.
The long-term effect of fire on a landscape varies according to sequences of fire events, rather than to a single fire event. Sequences of fire events are known as ‘fire regimes'. Fire regimes are determined by three factors: intensity (how severe fires are), frequency (how often fires occur) and season (the time of the year fires occur).
More Information on the Effects of Fire on Bushland - Prepared by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.