Blackened roots and green shoots : emerging trends in decline and recovery in Australian plant species after the 2019-20 wildfires

Previous analyses found that the 2019-20 wildfires of eastern and southern Australia burnt across suitable habitat for 17 197 plant taxa (hereafter 'species')" 69% of the currently described flora of Australia (Gallagher et al. 2021; Table 9.1). Collections made since 1950 confirmed the relatively recent presence of 9092 of these species across the fire grounds, including 587 plants listed as threatened under national legislation (44% of Australia's threatened plants). For many plant species, the 2019-20 fires brought welcome renewal to populations by promoting recruitment. However, the presence of several key pre-existing threats may jeopardise the long-term viability of many fire-affected populations and some species. Identifying which species may be most vulnerable to poor recovery involves (1) undertaking a rapid vulnerability assessment, and (2) conducting field surveys to confirm, or revise, predictions about at-risk taxa.