Tasmania’s towering eucalypts, the tallest flowering plants on Earth, are at risk of disappearing forever as bushfires and climate change push them to the brink.
These natural giants, some reaching over 90 metres tall with trunks as wide as small cars, are vital to Australia’s ecosystems and global biodiversity.
A new study published in the Australian Journal of Botany reveals that almost half of Tasmania’s giant eucalypts exist outside protected reserves, leaving them exposed to logging, land development, and increasingly severe bushfires.
Since 2004, 60 per cent of the state’s largest eucalypts have been killed by fires, including some of the most iconic specimens.
“These trees are an iconic part of Tasmania’s natural heritage,” said David Bowman, a co-author of the study and professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science at the University of Tasmania.
“Without a dedicated management plan, we risk losing them entirely, along with the biodiversity and cultural identity they represent.”
The research highlights 18 giant trees taller than 90 metres, mostly Eucalyptus regnans, found in Tasmania’s cool, wet forests. These trees can live for many centuries, but their survival depends on a delicate balance: they rely on occasional fires to regenerate, yet today’s more intense bushfires are causing catastrophic damage.
Beyond their size, these eucalypts play a vital role in their ecosystems. They provide homes for birds, insects, and animals, store massive amounts of carbon, and stabilise entire forest systems.
Scientists warn that losing these remaining giants would be a tragic loss of a precious part of the Earth’s biological heritage.
The study’s authors are urging immediate action to save the trees, including stronger legal protections for those outside reserves, better fire management tailored to their needs, and raising public awareness about their importance.
They warn that Tasmania’s forests are facing a “now or never” moment.
“These trees are not just big, they are irreplaceable,” Professor Bowman said.
“If we lose them, we lose an essential part of what makes Tasmania unique—and a critical piece of our global natural heritage.”
Read the journal article here: https://doi.org/10.1071/BT23088
