The Australian alpine environment bushfire region covers over 13 million hectares across the Australian Capital Territory and parts of New South Wales and Victoria.
The Traditional Owners of the alpine country include the Ngunnawal, Monaro Ngarigo, Wiradjuri, Wolgalu, GunaiKurnai, Bidawal, Dudhuroa, Jaithmathang, Mitambuta, Ngarigu-Currawong, Taungurung, Waywurru and Wurundjeri.
Impacts of the 2019–20 bushfires
More than 573,000 hectares of the Alpine region was burnt with 60 per cent of that at a high to very high severity.
This map shows the extent and severity of the 2019–20 bushfires in the forests and coastal ecosystems of the Australian Alpine region.
Text version of image
This map shows the extent and severity of the 2019–20 bushfires in the forests and coastal ecosystems of the Australian Alpine region.
Environmental values
Important environmental values impacted by the bushfires identified by the Expert Panel for management intervention in the region include:
- the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves National Heritage Place
- three Threatened Ecological Communities, including Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens
- 58 animal species including the Mountain Pygmy-possum, Alpine She-oak Skink, Northern and Southern Corroboree Frogs, Spotted Tree Frog, Alpine Silver Xenica Butterfly, and the Alpine Crayfish
- 31 plant species including Brumby Sallee, Pine Mountain Grevillea and Bago Leek-orchid.
Photo: Alamy |
Photo: Steve Wilson |
Photo: Victoria Museums CC BY-NC 2.0 |
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The Mountain Pygmy Possum is a tiny endangered marsupial found in only three isolated areas. The Alpine region makes up 71 per cent of its range, of this 20 per cent was burnt, almost all at a high to very high severity. |
The critically endangered Southern Corroboree Frog grows up to 3 cm long and produces its own poison which is secreted through the skin. The Alpine region is home to 86 per cent of its range, of which 29 per cent was burnt. |
The endangered Alpine Crayfish is facing habitat destruction from feral pests. It has 75 per cent of its range within the region, of which 28 per cent burnt. |
Australian Government bushfire recovery funding in the region
More than $12 million has been invested in recovery of native wildlife and their habitat in the Australian alpine environment bushfire region. This investment is in two phases.
Phase 1 – Emergency Response
The Australian Government directly invested $3.47 million in the Australian alpine environment bushfire region as part of its initial $50 million investment in bushfire recovery for wildlife and habitats. This includes:
- $1.05 million to the regional NRM organisations for emergency recovery actions including pest animal control, weed control and habitat restoration:
- $100,000 to ACT NRM
- $350,000 to Murray Local Land Services
- $100,000 to Riverina Local Land Services
- $500,000 to North East Catchment Management Authority
- $1.06 million to the New South Wales Government for work on threatened species within this region, including the Mountain Pygmy Possum, Southern Corroboree Frog and Smoky Mouse
- $495,000 to Taronga Zoo to undertake a breeding program for the Northern Corroboree Frog
- $98,880 to Zoos Victoria for a Spotted Tree Frog conservation breeding program and wild population monitoring and habitat supplementation for the Alpine She-oak Skink
- $500,000 to the Australian Capital Territory Government for remedial works around bogs and fens, predator management, catchment stabilisation, and improving habitat for the Broad-toothed Rat
- $271,370 to La Trobe University for an assessment of bushfire impacts on the Alpine Stonefly and identification of priority recovery actions.
Additional funding includes:
- $2.64 million in grant projects which have some activity occurring in or relevant to species the region
- $3 million to the Victorian Government to assist with post-fire recovery of species across the state including in the alpine region
- $2 million to the New South Wales Government for pest control work across the state including in the alpine region.
Phase 2 – Resilience and Recovery
The Australian Government is investing over $8 million in the Australian alpine environment bushfire region under the $110 million Regional Bushfire Recovery Fund to increase the resilience and recovery of fire-affected species, ecological communities and natural assets. This includes:
- $3.37 million to Murray Local Land Services, Riverina Local Land Services, North East Catchment Management Authority and ACT NRM for pest animal and weed control, erosion control, Traditional Owner-led land management and actions targeted at the recovery of specific species such as Macquarie Perch, two-spined blackfish and Mountain Pygmy possum
- $5.47 million to state governments to undertake activities such as Traditional Owner-led reading and healing country, weed control, fire management for Alpine Ash forest, pest control, and actions for alpine fauna and flora species:
- $2.07 million to the New South Wales Government
- $2.76 million to the Victorian Government.
This investment was guided by recommendations from a co-design workshop held with stakeholders for the region on 23 September 2020. The workshop report is available on the Workshops and ministerial roundtables page.
A further $800,000 is being invested in this region through 8 projects supported under the $10 million Bushfire Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat Community Grants Program.
A detailed list of funded projects is available on the Activities and Outcomes page.
Australian Government funding for NRM projects is delivered through the Commonwealth’s broader Regional Land Partnerships (RLP) program. A full list of NRM functions and projects can be found on the NRM Complementary investments page.