This
study aims to identify the most important variables determining the
current distribution of rainforests in the Sydney region and their
implications for management under current and global change
conditions.
The distribution of vegetation
across landscapes is determined by a range of environmental factors
including historical fire regimes, climatic variation, soil
fertility and characteristics; topography and water availability.
Rainforests appear to be strongly influenced by fire. Although some
rainforest species are able to persist after a fire, there is
evidence suggesting that frequent and severe fires can eliminate
even these species from the landscape.
The Sydney region is one area where
the relative high incidence of both natural and anthropogenic fires
appears to be in direct conflict with rainforest persistence.
Currently, fire management practices in this area aim to protect
people and property, while simultaneously maintaining biodiversity
values. However, these objectives are often in conflict as
prescribed burning for fuel reduction can eliminate rainforest
species. This problem is likely to be exacerbated under global
change conditions, for which fire frequency and severity have been
forecast to increase. Therefore, an investigation that identifies
key factors contributing to the persistence of rainforest in this
landscape, and how incompatible fire regimes may change rainforest
distribution, is vital for the development of optimal management
strategies.
