While parts of Australia are now beginning to rebuild after devastating bushfires, an inevitable part of that is clearing the debris, including ash and fallen trees - but scientists are warning people not to be over-zealous in that work.
Experts are pleading for leaders to look at the science and not make kneejerk decisions when it comes to managing fuel loads for bushfire risk. Professor David Lindenmayer gave his thought to the ABC's PM program.
For two weeks over the holiday period, Canberra has had some of the world's worst recorded air quality due to bushfire smoke. Former meteorologist and honorary lecturer Dr Clem Davis told the ABC that hot air acts like a lid and traps everything below the inversion, and the pollution is stuck.
As an uncontrollable wildfire took hold in Tallaganda National Park last month, it was soon apparent to ecologists that this was an unprecedented natural disaster. Associate Professor Philip Gibbons says the we gullies in the forest are home to ancient creatures whose habitat is becoming increasingly hard to find in Australia.
The original wild specimens of the ancient Wollemi pine tree are safe for now as fires which have burnt more than 220,000 hectares continue throughout the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales. Yet their exact location remains secret. Associate Professor Cris Brack explained why to the ABC.
With much of our food being grown globally, with plants dispersed far outside their place of origin, how does this change the relationship between bees and plants? Are crops which are grown in other regions visited by fewer types of bees?
What's the difference between back-burning and hazard reduction burning? And is it the solution to reducing bushfires? Professor Phil Gibbons explains the science and explores the limitations of hazard-reduction burning in the Canberra Times.