Sustainability and Regeneration of Australian Bushfires
By Christopher J Chalk
27 Oct 2009
In a previous essay I submitted under the title "Hell on Earth" I described my personal story on that catastophic day where bushfires were raging across my State of Victoria.
Fuelled by 45o heat (118F), radiant winds gusting over 100km per hour and a 10 year prolonged drough which destroyed lives and everything in its path. There was nothing anyone could have done to control these wildfires, especially in areas heavily populated by dense forests and inassecable gorges. In some areas the Fire Fitghers had no choice but to let these fires burn for months until cooler temperatures and rains eventually smouldering the ground to ash.
Mother nature provides us with beauty and it also provides us with natural sustainability in disaters such as bushfires. Whilst in the natural environment many plants have evolved over millions of years to adapt to, and cope with fires.
It's a fact that the very survival of our forests is dependent on the occurrence of fires. The remains of mountain ash can only regenerate from seeds, and fire is essential to provide the right conditions for the germination of its seeds. However, the effects of fire in regenerating the bush can be dramatic.
Immediately after a bushfire, the landscape might be charred and barren, completely black and seemingly devoid of life. Yet only a few months later, the bush is re-born. My recent visit to the worst affected arrears, gave me an incredible insight of how sustainability works without the aide of man. The bush and trees and how they have begun to re-sprout and flower, and seeds that have been released and germinated by the blaze are taking root. Animals and invertebrates return to adapt to the changing landscape and begin a new life cycle.
The images I have included in this essay depict the horrific losses but also the stunning regeneration gains!
"Sustainability in my essay is not created by man but by Mother Nature itself".
2 responses
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Maura Wolfson-Foster gave props (3 Nov 2009):
You have my vote - for a very meaningful essay and beautiful photos!!!
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Dee Brown gave props (13 Nov 2009):
Fantastic Chris, you always have my vote.
