b) Why fire is needed in the Dandenong Ranges
Fires can actually be good for the forest.
Fires are a natural part of a forest’s growth. Some types of trees need fire for their health, for example pine cones that remain hidden until a fire melts, it frees the seeds for distribution.
Fires also help consume the dead and mouldy undergrowth and can help renew some types of forests.
Although forest fires can release large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane into the environment, the new growth that follows a fire can also capture large amounts of carbon, effectively cleaning the air and producing oxygen.