Report by Gill Anderson, Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group
In November 2025, the Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group hosted this special community event at Mount Buffalo Chalet.
More than 60 people attended this special forum, where a knowledgeable group of speakers examined the ecology of a range of locally threatened species. They discussed why these species are at risk and how they have fared five years following the fires of 2020.
We heard that the alps have never been in such a precarious position. Ecosystems such as Snow gum, Alpine ash and alpine peatlands are at serious risk of collapse due to too frequent and widespread fire recently. We must do all we can to keep fire out of these areas and let them mature, or we are going to lose them, according to ecologists.
Some of the questions addressed during the event:
Where does the Mountain Pygmy Possum live? How has this tiny possum and other threatened small mammals such as Broad-toothed Rat, Smoky Mouse and Long-footed Potoroos managed to survive increasingly frequent bushfires?
How are Spotted Tree Frogs and the Macquarie Perch—two endangered animals inhabiting our stream banks and rivers surviving?
We also heard the challenging view from Dr Phil Zylstra Associate Professor Curtain University who has researched fuel reduction burns. He found that in many cases, especially those burns remote from towns and houses, burning increases fire risk as they promote shrub growth and prevent forest maturing into less flammable states.
Graeme Gales, President of the Upper Ovens Valley Landcare, said “it is extremely rare to have the chance to interact locally with such a renowned group of expert ecologists discussing fire, and the recovery of plants and animals after fire. The presentations on the day far exceeded our expectations and added greatly to our appreciation for all the great work being done to help protect our precious plants and animals, beautiful mountains, rivers and National Parks”.
Key recommendations stressed the need to prevent fires from spreading into alpine and subalpine regions, plus identifying and prioritising the special natural values to be protected. More remote firefighting teams are needed to quickly tackle smaller fires and lightning strikes. Of course, the influence of climate change, related weather extremes and forest types is an added complexity.
Other insights highlighted the urgency of investing in programs to enhance post fire response, including seed collection and storage, breeding threatened frogs and fish for restocking, and invasive species control to strengthen native plant and animal resilience.
Many animal species experience heightened predation and starvation when fire destroys both shelter and food sources. The habitat of the Victorian pygmy possum fortunately avoided the worst effects of the 2020 fires, and other wildlife populations appear to be recovering although ongoing monitoring and investigation is always needed.
Thank you to all the expert presenters and the Ovens Landcare Network and Alpine Shire for their support.
Expert presenters included Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth, Elizabeth Wemyss, DEECA, Floret Meredith, Parks Victoria, Glen Johnson, Wild Research, and Sakib Kazi, Zoos Victoria (pictured below from left).
