Publications
The spiritual values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and implications for wilderness management
This research reveals that the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area holds significant spiritual value, distinct from general spirituality. It identifies key landscape elements and characteristics that contribute to wilderness spirituality, emphasizing the role of solitude and peace. The study also shows that conservationists are more attuned to wilderness spirituality than the general public or managers. Using a questionnaire survey, statistical analyses, and photo-elicitation techniques, the research provides actionable recommendations for preserving spiritual values in wilderness management, with broader implications for global practices.
Post‐fire restoration ofSphagnumbogs in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Australia
Post-fire recovery of Sphagnum bogs in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is extremely slow, with no recovery observed in severely burned areas. A field experiment tested the effectiveness of shading, fertilization, and transplanting to aid restoration three to four years after a 2016 fire. Shading significantly promoted recovery of damaged Sphagnum, while fertilizer application proved detrimental even to healthy bogs. Transplants performed poorly in both moderately and severely burned areas. These findings underscore the potential for shading strategies in post-fire Sphagnum restoration but highlight the need for further research to optimize shade duration and methods.
Changes in Lightning Fire Incidence in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, 1980–2016
A significant increase in lightning-caused fires has been observed in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) since 2000, with no corresponding changes in rainfall, soil dryness, or fuel load. Instead, the variability and mean of the driest conditions have predicted both the number and area of these fires, suggesting that a higher proportion of lightning strikes occurring during drier periods has enhanced ignition efficiency. This shift poses substantial challenges for heritage management, as projected increases in fuel loads and drier climates could further exacerbate fire incidence, threatening the site's globally significant natural and cultural values.
Impact of changes in lightning fire incidence on the values of the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area
A shift from arson to lightning as the primary cause of fire in Tasmania since 1980 threatens unique ecosystems and Aboriginal cultural landscapes within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Lightning-caused fires endanger highly fire-sensitive species, organosols, and palaeoendemic plants, while simultaneously reducing burning in fire-dependent vegetation types. The study highlights the need for increased planned burning of fire-tolerant and fire-requiring vegetation, alongside improved ignition suppression, rapid response capabilities, and lightning fire detection to preserve World Heritage values.
Firescape ecology: how topography determines the contrasting distribution of fire and rain forest in the south-west of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
Rain forest distribution in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is strongly influenced by topography, with these ecosystems predominantly found in valleys and steep south-facing slopes—areas less prone to fire. This study reveals that rain forests occupy topographic 'fire refugia,' where fires are least likely to burn, while highly flammable moorlands dominate flats, ridges, and north-facing slopes. Using geospatial statistics and satellite imagery, researchers mapped large-scale fires (>40,000 ha) to demonstrate how vegetation types interact with topography to shape fire patterns. The findings support a hierarchy of fire frequency (moorland > scrub > wet sclerophyll > rain forest), suggesting that fire-topography interactions play a critical role in maintaining vegetation mosaics in fire-prone landscapes. This insight challenges traditional models by emphasizing the antagonism between fire and rain forest, offering implications for understanding stable vegetation states in similar ecosystems.
Distribution and risk factors for spread of amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Australia
A study reveals that the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) remains largely free of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), with only 3% of surveyed sites testing positive, despite providing optimal conditions for the pathogen. In contrast, surrounding areas with human disturbance—characterized by gravel roads, forests, and altitudes under 1000 meters—showed a 52% infection rate. The research suggests anthropogenic activities may facilitate Bd spread, while walking tracks in remote regions were strongly associated with its absence. These findings imply that the TWWHA’s inaccessible nature and lack of Bd could make disease control feasible, given that Tasmanian frogs reproduce in ponds rather than streams.
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