Destruction and Rehabilitation

In 2009, wildfires ripped through large swathes of the Australian State of Victoria, destroying large areas of forest and razing a number of towns. Many people died defending their homes against the blazes.

This week, Penelope joined me and a friend on a visit to Kinglake, one such town that was literally burnt to the ground.

Following the tragedy, a rehabilitation and reconstruction program was swiftly instituted by the government. Now, under two years later, we were witness to the intense building program underway. It was fascinating.

A flurry of activity was going on as houses were in various stages of construction. At one point we passed the remains of a Greek Orthodox church damaged by the conflagration, waiting to be rebuilt.

The local Kinglake National Park was so badly damaged that it was closed to the public. Most of it still is. One track, however, has had sufficient regrowth to be reopened to the public. A walk through the one open trail was eye opening. The forest looked totally different to normal.

All trees in the forest are totally charred, clearly showing the damage. However, new stems and regrowth shoots out of the otherwise dead looking trunks, giving the appearance of something out of a Dr Zeus book. Eucalyptus trees, containing flammable oil, are known for thriving after fire which helps its seeds to germinate.

Insects of all sorts flit amongst the stunning wildflowers and weave webs that form curtains in every direction. The bushes beside us rustled loudly and we managed to spot a huge echidna (indigenous spiny anteater) ambling in the other direction through the undergrowth.

What seem like thick low bushes are actually baby eucalyptus stems rapidly growing in the now intense summer rains.

The issue of natural regrowth is particularly relevant today for people like me, following recent massive forest fires in Israel's Carmel forest. The automatic Israeli response is to plant new trees. As if on cue, my parents receive a letter from the Jewish National Fund of Australia with the subject title Operation Carmel Renewal: from Black to Green, requesting donations so that replanting can take place 'as soon as possible'.

In the meantime, I have been reading that allowing natural regrowth is a much healthier

approach. If mid-east flora has anything in common with that of southern Australia, then it certainly seems to be a logical approach indeed.

Kinglake township and national park. Still beautiful. I am glad we went.