Visiting Canberra 5 Years After Catastrophe

This week I visited Canberra as part of my Exchange with my eyes set on securing buy-in for the US-Australia International Arrangement. While I was there, however, there was a major story to be told.

The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT)pasture, forests (pine plantations) and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed. After burning for a week around the edges of the ACT, the fires entered the suburbs of Canberra on 18 January 2003. Over the next ten hours, four people died and more than 500 homes were destroyed or severely damaged, requiring a significant relief and reconstruction effort.

Thanks to Neil Cooper and his staff at ACT Parks Conservation and Lands for hosting me and sharing stories of complete destruction and recovery. The post-fire photos show just how resilient fire-adapted ecosystems within the world's 2nd driest continent (behind Antarctica) can be. It is hard to imagine the destruction held in blackened landscapes and communities from just 5 short years ago. And now how the human and biotic landscapes are well along on the road to recovery. The forested landscapes are such a contrast to intermountain forests in the US. Keep up the excellent work Neil and Crew!