Fires in rainforests: Quantifying litter bed flammability of cool temperate rainforests in eastern Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Rainforests are usually too wet to burn, acting as natural barriers to fire spread and as refuges for biodiversity. However, climate change is increasing the risk of fire incursion into rainforests. Our capacity to manage these impacts is hindered by limited research on rainforest flammability.

Methods

Fallen leaf and litter bed samples were collected from cool temperate rainforest and eucalypt forest in Willi Willi and Werrikimbe National Parks, New South Wales, Australia. Litter bed flammability of 13 common temperate rainforest species was measured in the laboratory. The flammability of rainforest litter beds and fire-prone eucalypt forest litter beds were compared for 0.07 m² and 7.2 m² beds. We also examined links between flammability and k

SUBMITTER: Burton JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12572681 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature