Overview

The ability to live with fire in an ecologically and socially sustainable manner requires integration of knowledge from a suite of disciplines and cultures (Dovers et al. 2004). As part of the scientific expertise component of the Living with Fire in Chaparral Ecosystems (LFCE) project, a literature search on fire in Mediterranean ecosystems was conducted and many references from the international literature were compiled into a database (searchable bibliography coming soon).

Research on the bushfires in Southeastern Australia has contributed significantly to the understanding of fire in Mediterranean ecosystems. For this reason, a deeper investigation of the fire literature from Australia was examined and collaborations with Australian scientists, A. Malcolm Gill, Ross Bradstock, Justin Leonard, and John Handmer were started. To promote discussion and possibly further research, we briefly state a few of the recurring themes in Australian bushfire research and compare and contrast SE Australia and Mediterranean California (comparisons largely made by A. Malcolm Gill, Ross Bradstock, Justin Leonard, and John Handmer). The recurring themes in Australian fire literature briefly discussed here include: building performance and advancements, stay-or-go policy, and conservation of biodiversity.

Hosted by the Center for Fire Research and Outreach, updated January 31, 2008 .