Bushfires have a range of environmental, economic and social impacts. While is it possible to estimate the economic costs of such events, the social and environmental impacts of fire are much more difficult to quantify. Some of these impacts can last for years and, in some cases, the changes may be permanent.

Vegetation – The environment has evolved in the presence of fire. As a result, many plant species have developed a range of adaptations that enable them to survive the impact of fire.

Trees – After a bushfire, eucalypts produce sprays of leaves from epitomic buds, which are normally held in heck under the bark. When the crown of the tree is destroyed by fire the buds shoot very quickly to photosynthesise for the tree until the crown recovers. The same process produces shoots from lignotubers at the base of plants.

Seeders – Many species of eucalypts are extremely sensitive to fire and can be killed by the passage of even a moderate-intensity fire. Other native plant species store their seeds in well-insulated seed cases capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. It is only after the fire has passed that these seed cases burst open dropping seeds onto the ash-fertilised ground.

Animals – Bushfires have a major impact on animals that are unable to flee the flames. Those that are not killed often suffer from injuries, their homes in fallen logs burnt and find it very difficult to obtain food in a landscape when it gone through fire.

Fire had a lasting impact on the ecosystem, water supply and timber industry. A year on the effects of the fire are still stark, but the signs of recovery are there were parts of the reserve were so badly burned it could take up to 40 years to recover the twin effects of years of drought and severe fire damage to the catchment area left Canberra’s with no choice but to cut back on water usage. Most of the supply was always drawn from the National Park and the Cotter catchment, areas so pristine the water needed little treatment to make it enjoyably drinkable. The fire changed all that-the vegetation that filtered the water is gone, the dams have high ‘turbidity’ because of erosion and ash. A huge upgrade of the treatment plant for the Bandore and Corrine dams, both fed from the Cotter.