Academics are investigating whether creating “hotspots” in controlled burn offs in tuart forests will effectively stimulate regeneration in the trees.

The researchers have designed regeneration trials to work within the controlled burning program by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) at various sites on the Swan Coastal Plain.

“If our trials are successful, we hope this could be a cost effective way to get these young eucalypts off to a good start in life,” said Dr Ruthrof, who has been researching tuart ecology for more than 10 years.