Understanding the impacts of bushfires on mangroves leads to major project

Batemans Marine Park staff were on the Clyde River recently investigating the impacts of the 2019 bushfires on the mangroves.

“I never thought I would be doing bushfire work as a Marine Park Manager and at no point would I have thought sections of a marine park could catch on fire – but it happened!”

Batemans Marine Park Manager, Norm Lenehan said his team worked alongside three University of Wollongong Honours students.

“We spent two days in the mud taking measurements along transects through bush fire impacted sites to record the mortality and recovery rate of two species – River mangroves and Grey mangroves,” he said.

"There is very little knowledge or published literature on bushfires and mangroves so the work will provide a major contribution to the collective knowledge on the subject."

Mr Lenehan said DPI Fisheries have supported three Honours students from the University of Wollongong over the past three years.

“We are looking forward to continuing this collaboration with a project that will investigate more detailed management responses to major fire events within mangroves, saltmarsh and peat lands,” he said.

The project is a partnership with DPI Fisheries, the University of Wollongong and other marine estate partner agencies via a major Australian Research Council funded project.