@article{b7217e9e1149456c956219d72785f30a,
title = "Rapid assessment of the biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires to guide urgent management intervention and recovery and lessons for other regions",
abstract = "Aim: The incidence of major fires is increasing globally, creating extraordinary challenges for governments, managers and conservation scientists. In 2019–2020, Australia experienced precedent-setting fires that burned over several months, affecting seven states and territories and causing massive biodiversity loss. Whilst the fires were still burning, the Australian Government convened a biodiversity Expert Panel to guide its bushfire response. A pressing need was to target emergency investment and management to reduce the chance of extinctions and maximise the chances of longer-term recovery. We describe the approach taken to rapidly prioritise fire-affected animal species. We use the experience to consider the organisational and data requirements for evidence-based responses to future ecological disasters. Location: Forested biomes of subtropical and temperate Australia, with lessons for other regions. Methods: We developed assessment frameworks to screen fire-affected species based on their pre-fire conservation status, the proportion of their distribution overlapping with fires, and their behavioural/ecological traits relating to fire vulnerability. Using formal and informal networks of scientists, government and non-government staff and managers, we collated expert input and data from multiple sources, undertook the analyses, and completed the assessments in 3 weeks for vertebrates and 8 weeks for invertebrates. Results: The assessments prioritised 92 vertebrate and 213 invertebrate species for urgent management response; another 147 invertebrate species were placed on a watchlist requiring further information. Conclusions: The priority species lists helped focus government and non-government investment, management and research effort, and communication to the public. Using multiple expert networks allowed the assessments to be completed rapidly using the best information available. However, the assessments highlighted substantial gaps in data availability and access, deficiencies in statutory threatened species listings, and the need for capacity-building across the conservation science and management sectors. We outline a flexible template for using evidence effectively in emergency responses for future ecological disasters.",
keywords = "ecological disturbance, emergency response, fire impacts, fire management, megafire, rapid assessment, wildfire",
author = "Sarah Legge and Woinarski, {John C.Z.} and Scheele, {Ben C.} and Garnett, {Stephen T.} and Mark Lintermans and Nimmo, {Dale G.} and Whiterod, {Nick S.} and Southwell, {Darren M.} and Glenn Ehmke and Anne Buchan and Jenny Gray and Metcalfe, {Dan J.} and Manda Page and Libby Rumpff and {van Leeuwen}, Stephen and Dick Williams and Ahyong, {Shane T.} and Chapple, {David G.} and Mitch Cowan and Hossain, {Md Anwar} and Mark Kennard and Stewart Macdonald and Harry Moore and Jessica Marsh and McCormack, {Robert B.} and Damian Michael and Nicola Mitchell and David Newell and Raadik, {Tarmo A.} and Reid Tingley",
note = "Funding Information: The assessments presented here represent the shared effort of many individuals and organisations who cooperated rapidly and generously to provide scientific information to guide the coordinated response to a national ecological disaster. With thanks, we acknowledge the Australian Government, and the Minister for Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, for acting swiftly to initiate the Government's Bushfire Recovery response, including convening the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel. Dr Sally Box, the Australian Government's Threatened Species Commissioner, expertly Chaired the Expert Panel and guided the work presented here, supported by the Bushfire Taskforce team: Sarah-Jane Hindmarsh, Glenn Block, Hilary Johnson, Kate Lea-Perry, Georgina Newton, Lena Saboisky, Sam Dutton, Fiona Fraser, Fiona Beynon. Many other staff in the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment contributed to the assessment: Kylie Galway, Alexis McIntyre, Sue Fyfe, Peter Lyon, Fiona Woods, Ian Warren, Bianca Kallenberg, Ian Warren, Karl Newport, Evan Hallein, David Williamson from the Geospatial and Information Analytics Branch (Portfolio Strategy Division) carried out most of the spatial analyses, with significant input from Jason Ferris and Kate Steer from the Protected Species and Communities Branch (Biodiversity Conservation Division). We thank state and territory representatives who supported the work of the Expert Panel, and acted as conduits for cooperation between levels of government: Tracey Churchill, Kirstin Kenyon (Queensland Department of Environment and Science); Lisien Loan (South Australia Department for Environment and Water); Georgina Kelly, Sharon Molloy, Mark Peacock, Atticus Fleming, Richard Kingswood (NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment); Juanita Renwick (WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions); Jasmyn Lynch (ACT Environment Directorate), Rachel Alderman (Tasmania Department of Primary Industries, Park, Water and Environment), Mark Norman (Vic Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning). Many experts graciously provided advice on particular species, or aspects of the assessment framework and analysis, including Sarah Barrett (WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions); Steve Beatty (Murdoch University); Ethan Beaver (Australian National University); Chris Bird (WA DPIRD); Michael Braby (Australian National University); Renee Brawata (ACT Department of Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development); Matt Bruce (Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning); Allan Burbidge (WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions); Chris Burwell (Queensland Museum); Gerry Cassis (University of New South Wales); Tracey Churchill (Queensland Department of Environment and Science); Paul Close (University of Western Australia); Sarah Comer (WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions); Will Cornwell (NSW Department of Environment, Energy and Science; Mitch Cowan (Charles Sturt University); Karen Danaher (NSW Department Primary Industries); Roger De Keyzer (University of New South Wales); Eren Delgado (NSW Department of Environment, Energy and Science); Fabian Douglas (University of Adelaide); Rachael Gallagher (Macquarie University); Graeme Gillespie (NT Government); Richard Glatz (University of Adelaide); Mark Harvey (WA Museum); Harry Hines (Qld Parks and Wildlife Service); Katja Hogendoorn (University of Adelaide); David Hunter (David Hunter, New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment); David Keith (University of NSW); Scott Keogh (The Australian National University); Shawn Laffan (University of New South Wales); Richard Loyn (La Trobe University); Peter Menkhorst (Victorian Department of Conservation and Environment); Geoff Monteith (Queensland Museum); Dave Morgan (Murdoch University); Joe Neilson (NSW Department Primary Industries); John Neilsen (Australian Museum); James O'Connor (Birdlife Australia); Paul Oliver (Queensland Museum); Michael Pennay (Australasian Bat Society); Chris Reid (Australian Museum); April Reside (University of Queensland); Karen Richards (Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment); Mike Rix (Queensland Museum); Jodi Rowley (Australian Museum); Don Sands (CSIRO); Matthew Shaw (South Australian Museum); Cameron Slatyer (Australian Museum); Melissa Snape (ACT Department of Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development); Ricky Spencer (Western Sydney University); John Stanisic (Queensland Museum); Allen Sundholm, Gary Taylor (University of Adelaide); Kevin Thiele (Australian Academy of Science, Taxonomy Australia); Ken Walker (Victoria Museum); Michelle Ward (University of Queensland); David Yeates (ANIC). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Diversity and Distributions published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",
year = "2022",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1111/ddi.13428",
language = "English",
volume = "28",
pages = "571--591",
journal = "Diversity and Distributions",
issn = "1366-9516",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "3",
}