Q&A: What fossils reveal about ancient Australian forests and fire

Australia's forest ecosystems, renowned for their extraordinary diversity of rare plants and animals, also play a vital role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon. However, fossils from these ancient forests are reshaping the understanding of modern forest management practices. According to Peter Wilf, professor of geosciences at Penn State, current methods, including prescribed burning, may be disrupting the delicate ecological balance.