Fires by the seaside: historic vegetation changes in northwestern Tasmania

Abstract

Dramatic changes in landscape and vegetation have occurred on the northern section of the west coast of Tasmania since the invasion by Europeans. Insidious changes such as the introduction of new species are to be expected but the destabilization of large sections of a major landform has also occurred with the development of extensive sand blows. A variety of forms of evidence relating to changes in land use patterns are examined in an attempt to date the start, and assess the extent, of this change.