Science at the Local Library - Survivors: The Secret Safe Havens of Australia’s Megafires

Journey into the hidden refuges that help bushland and wildlife persist through some of Australia’s most extreme bushfires.

Join the team from Science at the Local and Dr Eli Bendall from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment for a fascinating Science Week talk.  

Following the devastating Black Summer fires and increasing climate-driven droughts, scientists are racing to understand why some pockets of the landscape escape the worst impacts of fire.  

Traditional Owners have long recognised ‘special places’ within the Blue Mountains: refugial areas that are naturally protected from the impacts of drought and fire. Known as ’fire refugia’, these natural safe havens can act as lifeboats for biodiversity, protecting species, preserving habitat and helping ecosystems recover after catastrophe.  

Drawing on research from the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Eli will share stories from the field, including how researchers identify refugia, what makes these places resilient and why they may be critical to conserving iconic Australian species in a hotter, more fire-prone future.   

The session is best suited for adults and families. Tickets cost $5 per person. RSVP for Science at the Local Library. 

About Dr Eli Bendall  

Dr Eli Bendall is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Plant Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment. His research focuses on how forests respond to fire, drought and climate change, with a focus on ecosystem resilience, post-fire recovery and conservation of threatened species. He is a key researcher in the NESP project examining fire and drought refugia in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.