Fire has been a part of the landscape for tens of thousands of years, with many of our native species adapting to survive them.
Through human induced climate change, fire regimes are changing, and we are seeing more frequent and severe fires in the Alps.
This means that the vegetation communities and fauna in the alpine zone that have evolved to low intensity and infrequent fires are less likely to be able to survive, regenerate and recover.
Changes in the fire regime lead to greater stress on ecosystems, including nutrient and habitat loss, vegetation change, and higher rates of biodiversity loss and extinction.
Plant regeneration
Plants regenerate from fire with different mechanisms. Some plants resprout from their base via lignotubers, some shoot leaves out from their trunk (epicormic growth), and some establish from seed.
With more frequent fires, species such as Alpine Ash that take 15 to 20 years to reach maturity, may not get the chance to produce seeds before the next fire destroys them.
Higher intensity fires can kill seed bank within the soil as the heat is too severe. Intense fires can consume tree crowns rather than just scorch them, further reducing seeds that could be released that aren’t already in the soil.
Snow gums
Snow Gums are the most cold-tolerant species of Eucalyptus, growing at higher elevations than any other tree in Australia. Over 90% of Victorian Snow Gums have been burnt since 2003.
Each of the large fires of the last 15 years have covered some of the same ground, leaving thousands of hectares of snow gums burned 2 or 3 times. These more frequent burns have exhausted some lignotuber energy stores, resulting in the death of entire stands of snow gums.
Alpine bog and fen communities
Alpine bog and fen communities suffer greatly from fire. Fire can dry out areas that need to be waterlogged for the vegetation to survive.
Alpine bog plants can’t grow without water, meaning peat can no longer be produced.
In most years, because the vegetation is so wet, it is unlikely to be able to carry fire, but with more intense fires and a drier, warmer climate it could be very detrimental for these important communities.
Fire in peatlands also releases stored carbon that then pollutes the atmosphere. More bare soil from fire increases sedimentation and the chances for weeds to grow.
Animal survival
Animals have evolved strategies to survive fires over time. Some escape by retreating from the area, while others take refuge in burrows, hollows, waterways, in the tops of trees and other sheltered sites.
Animals who survive the fire itself face a reduction of food and habitat, as well as greater exposure to predators.
There can be different impacts of fire depending on the season. If a fire comes through in spring, it can disrupt many species’ breeding season. Breeding success can reduce due to the stress of habitat loss and food reduction, with offspring less likely to survive.
As the fire regimes are changing, the greater intensity fires that burn hotter can unfortunately injure or kill wildlife that take refuge in places that would usually be safe in a lower intensity fire.
There has been some great work by organisations and volunteers in revegetation post fire, as well as fire suppression works around the fire season.
The best way we can reduce the effects of increasing fire risk in the alps, and worldwide, is to rapidly reduce our contribution to global warming.
Learn more about fire regimes that cause declines in biodiversity.
Page last updated: 21/04/26