Canary in the coal mine: Lessons from the Jarrah Forest suggest long-term negative effects of phosphorus fertilizer on biodiverse restoration after surface mining

Despite nutrient enrichment having widely reported negative impacts on biodiversity, fertilizer is routinely applied in post mining restoration to enhance plant growth and establishment. Focusing surface mine (predominately bauxite mineral sands), we outline the long-term of fertilizer, particularly phosphorus community composition, species richness, fire fuel loads, belowground nutrient-cycling. We draw from extensive research south-western Australia further afield, noting geographical coincidence mining, impoverished soil high biodiversity. highlight trade-offs between rapid plant-growth under fertilisation longer-term effects communities diversity. note that initial benefits may not persist water-limited environments: unfertilised forests can eventually match fertilised forest, throwing doubt premise necessary at all.