Deep in South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, something surprising is happening: land managers are lighting fires on purpose — and the wetland plants are thanking them for it.
Peatlands are ancient wetlands where dead plants pile up over thousands of years in soggy, low-oxygen conditions. They eventually form a dark, spongy soil called peat. Though they cover only about 3% of Earth's land surface, these wetlands lock up roughly one-third of all carbon stored in soils worldwide. When that peat dries out and burns, it can smolder underground for months or even years, releasing enormous amounts of carbon and devastating wildlife.
But in some Australian environments, fire isn't just a threat — it's a tool for survival. The Fleurieu Peninsula hosts nationally threatened peat swamps that host species found nowhere else on Earth. Land managers there run ecological burning programs, lighting small, controlled fires that sweep through the vegetation without ever reaching the peat beneath.
The results have been remarkable. The Yundi guinea-flower, a small flowering plant, and the southern emu-wren, a delicate bird with a long tail, are both bouncing back on managed burn sites. Research shows the heat and smoke from these controlled fires actually helps certain seeds sprout, giving new plants a chance to grow in places that would otherwise become overgrown.
This isn't a new idea. Charcoal and pollen records suggest First Nations peoples were already burning parts of these wetlands long before European settlers arrived. Indigenous burning practices often timed fires to protect key species and keep ecosystems healthy — a tradition that modern ecologists are now rediscovering.
Keeping fire above the peat layer is critical work. In 2024, an underground peat fire burned for more than six months in southwestern Western Australia, making it one of the state's longest-running fires in recent memory. It kept burning even through record rainfall and relentless firefighting efforts. Wetlands hit by peat fires can take centuries to recover.
Climate change is making this challenge harder. Rising temperatures and drier conditions increase the risk of peat fires igniting and spreading. More frequent wildfires elsewhere mean land managers must plan ecological burns with increasing precision and care.
Still, experts see real promise in the approach. By identifying which peatlands benefit from careful burning — and ensuring the peat stays wet and protected at all costs — Australia may be able to keep these ancient carbon stores intact while helping threatened species thrive. The Fleurieu Peninsula swamps suggest this balance is possible: a place where fire, carefully applied, becomes a form of protection rather than destruction.