The Natural Environment
A common theme in Australian literature examines the conflict between prescribed burning for fuel reduction and conservation of biodiversity. Fire regimes are a vital factor in shaping landscapes, communities and ecological biodiversity (Gill et al. 2002; Hodgkinson et al. 2002; Keith et al. 2002). Research has shown that manipulation of fire regimes, in both natural and modified ecosystems, can affect biodiversity (Gill 1996). At the Wildland-Urban interface, fire regimes are often modified by prescribed burning for fuel reduction (Luke and McArthur 1978; Whelan and Muston 1991). Controlled, low intensity fires mitigate fire hazard by reducing fuel loads on the forest floor and thus directly influencing the subsequent wildfire intensity and the ability for successful control. To reduce wildfire hazard and protect human life and property, prescribed burning at the wildland-urban interface is often used.
The interaction between fire regimes and species response is complex. The response of a species to a fire regime, or a change in fire regime, is related to the life history of the species, the condition of the population, time since last fire, time of year, and the specific aspects of the individual fire (Gill 1975; Whelan et al. 2002). Low-intensity fires, such as prescribed burns, in close succession (less than 7-8 years) have been shown to have significant effects on species composition by reducing evenness of species distributions and creating a simplified, homogeneous botanical community (Morrison et al. 1995; Bradstock et al. 1997).
Increase of human habitation at the wildland-urban interface in Australia, and else where, creates a conflict between protecting property and human lives and the conservation of biodiversity (Whelan 2002). Trying to maintain biodiversity and fuel reduction concurrently by simply compromising inter-fire frequency (e.g. four-eight years) will not be successful and may hinder the ability to accomplish either management goal (Morrison et al. 1995). Thus a question frequently asked in Australian literature is how do we manage biodiversity and reduce fire hazards?
For further information on fire frequency and conservation of Biodiversity in Australia, please see (searchable bibliography coming soon):
Bradstock, R. A., M. G. Tozer, et al. (1997). Effects of high frequency fire on floristic composition and abundance in a fire-prone heathland near Sydney. Australian Journal of Botany 45(4): 641-655.
Gill, A. M. (1975). Fire and the Australian flora: a review. Australian Forestry 38: 4-25.
Gill, A. M. (1996). How fires affect biodiversity. In: Fire and Biodiversity: The effects and Effectiveness of Fire Management, Biodiversity Series Paper no. 8: 47-55.
Gill, A. M., R.A. Bradstock, J.E. Williams (2002). Fire regimes and biodiversity: legacy and vision. In: Flammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent (eds. R. Bradstock, J.E. Williams, A. Malcolm Gill): 429-446.
Hodgkinson, K. C. (2002). Fire regimes in Acacia wooded landscapes: effects on functional processes and biological diversity. In: Flammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent (eds. R. Bradstock, J.E. Williams, A. Malcolm Gill): 259-277.
Keith, D. A., J.E Williams, J.C.Z Woinarski. (2002). Fire management and biodiversity conservation: key approaches and principles. In: Flammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent (eds. R. Bradstock, J.E. Williams, A. Malcolm Gill): 401-425.
Luke, R. H. and A. G. McArthur (1978). Bushfires in Australia. Canberra; Australian Government Publishing Service.
Morrison, D. A., G. J. Cary, et al. (1995). Effects of fire frequency on plant-species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney region - inter-fire interval and time-since-fire. Australian Journal of Ecology 20(2): 239-247.
Whelan, R. J. (2002). Managing Fire Regimes for Conservation and Property Protection: an Australian Response. Conservation Biology 16(No. 6): 1659-1661.
Whelan, R. J., R. Muston (1991). Fire regimes and management in southeastern Australia. In High intensity fire in wildlands: management challenges and options. Proceedings of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 17: 235-258.