New research into Australia’s bushfire history has highlighted the complex relationship between climate change, land management and the frequency and intensity of fires across parts of the country’s south-eastern regions.

Researchers examining long-term environmental changes say Australia’s wildfire patterns have been shaped by multiple factors, including changes in land use and the decline of traditional Indigenous fire-management practices following European colonisation.

For thousands of years, Indigenous communities used carefully managed burning techniques in many Australian landscapes. These practices could reduce accumulated vegetation and create a patchwork of areas with different levels of fuel, potentially influencing how later fires spread.

The disruption of traditional land-management systems changed the way fire was used across many parts of the continent. Researchers are now examining whether these historical changes contributed to the development of conditions that can support more severe fires.

Climate change has added another layer of risk. Rising temperatures, prolonged periods of dry weather and changes in rainfall can make vegetation drier and increase the amount of available fuel in some regions.

When dry vegetation combines with strong winds and extreme heat, fires can spread rapidly and become difficult to control. Australia has experienced several devastating bushfire seasons in recent decades, highlighting the scale of the threat.

The research does not suggest that climate change or land management alone explains Australia’s bushfire patterns. Instead, scientists are examining how multiple environmental and human factors interact to influence fire behaviour.

The findings have renewed interest in Indigenous knowledge and traditional approaches to managing landscapes. Supporters of cultural burning argue that carefully planned low-intensity fires can help manage vegetation while reducing the accumulation of combustible material in appropriate environments.

However, researchers also stress that traditional burning methods cannot simply be transferred unchanged to every modern landscape. Fire-management strategies must take account of local ecosystems, weather conditions, land ownership and current environmental circumstances.

Climate change is making this challenge more complicated. Warmer conditions can shorten the period during which controlled burns can safely be conducted in some areas, while extreme weather can increase the danger associated with both planned and uncontrolled fires.

Effective bushfire management therefore increasingly requires a combination of approaches. These can include prescribed burning, vegetation management, improved forecasting, Indigenous ecological knowledge, emergency planning and efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Early-warning systems are also becoming increasingly important. Monitoring weather conditions, soil moisture, vegetation dryness and fire behaviour can help authorities identify dangerous situations before fires become uncontrollable.

The economic and social consequences of severe bushfires can be substantial. Large fires can destroy homes, damage infrastructure, disrupt communities and affect agriculture and tourism. Smoke from major fires can also create serious air-quality problems over large distances.

The latest research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that Australia’s fire environment is changing and that historical land-management practices should be considered when developing future strategies.

Scientists say understanding the past is important for preparing for future climate conditions. Historical records and Indigenous knowledge can help researchers identify how landscapes responded to different fire regimes before modern land-use patterns developed.

Australia’s experience also offers a broader lesson for other countries confronting increasingly severe wildfire seasons. Climate change can amplify existing vulnerabilities, while land management can influence how much combustible material is available when extreme weather arrives.

As temperatures continue to rise, Australia is likely to face continued pressure to strengthen bushfire resilience. Combining scientific research with carefully evaluated traditional knowledge could become an important part of that effort.