Daniel Collins

Supervisor: Dan Metcalfe (CSIRO).

Daniel looked at areas where there is geographic information system (GIS) or other mapping or aerial photo evidence of a changed forest cover in the wet tropics since European settlement.

Sites were chosen to undertake field work to try to determine if there has been an increase inschlerophyll forest or rainforest. The schlerophyll forest was then related to possible increased fire effects and whether these instances are examples that compare with the numerous predictions for changed forest cover expected with changing climate.

If the fires were unnecessary and can be stopped, this was investigated and if they seemed inevitable due to increased schlerophyll forest growth this was noted.