Colonial land-use change drove Australia’s current wildfire crisis in southeastern forests

Indigenous burning maintained open woodlands

Before British invasion in 1788, the Gunaikurnai people used frequent cultural burning to keep vegetation as stable, open woodlands. This practice prevented catastrophic fires even during dangerous weather seasons that occurred repeatedly before colonization.

Colonization altered fire and fuel

Disruption of Indigenous care caused a fourfold rise in eucalypt cover and a shift from open woodland to forest. These changes increased fire temperature and soil erosion, creating more flammable landscapes before anthropogenic warming began.

Climate records show past fires

Researchers found that dangerous fire weather recurred in the region repeatedly prior to colonization despite the protective open landscape. The study suggests integrating Indigenous knowledge is essential for restoring resilience and mitigating future wildfire risks.