Fire Management

Fire has played a major role in shaping the Australian landscape, structuring its ecosystems, biogeography and evolutionary history. Indigenous Australian's have successfully managed the landscape through fire, something which today we attempt to mimic through collaboration and knowledge obtained from such a rich history.

Bush Heritage recognises that in the context of the Australian landscape, active fire management is an essential and ongoing responsibility. Fire planning is critical. Working collaboratively with staff and partners, including local land holders, researchers and fire authorities, medium to long-term Fire Management Plans for reserves are developed. Fire ecology and risk management regimes are reserve specific and seek to maintain the ecological values of the reserve, as identified in the reserve's management plan, and include specific management actions, decision making criteria and priorities for that reserve.

Fire, or its absence, plays a critical role in maintaining the conservation values of each reserve, and therefore an annual fire management activity plana are developed and, where possible, integrated within a regional context. Our ongoing cooperation with local landholders and other conservation partners ensures the protection of nature conservation values on Bush Heritage Reserves and neighbouring properties, as well as infrastructure assets.

Wildfires are a natural event and, akin to our controlled fire management program, we work collaboratively with local land holders and fire authorities to minimise the impacts of them. Safety is paramount and working as a team enables fire management under these conditions to be undertaken with the greatest duty of care for all.

With approval from the local fire authority, controlled burning on reserves is conducted under strict supervision from reserve managers, with the support and on-ground assistance (where required) of relevant park or fire agencies. Sound knowledge of climatic conditions e.g. rainfall and wind, are monitored closely to ensure the most optimal times are chosen for burning.