What's it all about Fires are a fact of life across much of the Australian continent. They can breathe new life into our landscapes but at times, can cause untold devastation. For many land managers and communities the responsible use and management of fire represents an ongoing challenge. The needs of the bush must be balanced with the needs of those of us who live on and utilise the land. But how? This is where the Hotspots Fire Project comes in. This innovative project looks at how fire can be managed to conserve native plants and animals (biodiversity) and other natural assets - as well as the lifestyle and land uses we value. Through a coordinated program of research, training and education initiatives, Hotspots bundles up the latest developments in ecological fire management and puts them into a management framework for land managers and regional communities. Hotspots is about taking fire management planning into the bush, onto the farm and into the community. Back to top Who’s involved?The Hotspots team works with a diverse range of people interested in fire - from landholders and rangers to fire fighters, ecologists, government agencies and others. Not surprisingly, the team’s search for case studies is unearthing some of our regions’ quiet achievers, along with leading scientists, park managers, and other experts on the fire and biodiversity front. With the help of experienced science communicators and trainers, the team is also creating a set of booklets and other resources relevant to each region. Every day language is used to explain things like fire planning, ecological fire regimes, biodiversity issues, legislation, monitoring and more. The resources are a great way for landholders, extension staff and others to access information and advice. The Hotspots team then ensures this information reaches key people in each of the regions through a series of practical workshops. Honing in on fire management within and between properties, these workshops explore with landholders and extension staff opportunities for meeting the goals of different land uses such as farm production and biodiversity conservation. The Hotspots Fire Project is funded by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust. Partners in the project include the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Catchment Management Authorities of NSW, NSW Farmers Association, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at the University of Wollongong, Forests NSW, Local Government and Shires Association of NSW and the Southeast Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium. Back to top What is Hotspots doing? (photo example of a workshop in the Northern Rivers [356 KB])Back to top Working with nature
Triggered by lightning strikes and traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians, fire has long shaped the diversity and character of the Australian bush. Fire continues to play an important role in our landscapes, impacting on wildlife, vegetation and other aspects of the natural environment. Different native plants and animals respond differently to fire. In fire-prone areas of New South Wales, many species have strategies for coping with fire, and some species take advantage of the opportunities created by fire. Responses also depend on the season, how intense a fire is, its extent, and how long it’s been since the last fire. Too much or too little fire may cause certain species to take over, while others may disappear. Fire ecology is an exciting area of scientific study and is beginning to offer valuable guidance to people on the ground. Armed with better information, landholders can feel more confident about managing fire to protect the variety of native plants and animals in their area. While the goal still remains to protect economic and social assets, this goal is evolving to encompass environmental assets such as biodiversity, native vegetation and healthy landscapes. Fire ecology is all about delving into the fascinating links between living things, fire and the surrounding environment. Patchy burning, for instance, can provide refuges for animals and plant seed stores, allowing burnt areas to naturally regenerate. Keen to tap into the latest advances in fire and biodiversity management, a growing number of landholders are already keeping an ear to the ground for new information. Drawing on the most promising advances in fire ecology, Hotspots is sourcing and providing this much-needed information at the regional level. The project is translating science into a practical management framework as well as encouraging collaboration within communities, between agencies and across tenures. Back to top Hotspots aims to...Improve the management of fire as a tool for conserving biodiversity in New South Wales Improve landholders’ understanding and knowledge of the role of fire and ability to manage fire for healthy landscapes Improve the capacity of communities to work together to manage fire
So that ultimately...Landholders successfully manage fire for a mixture of outcomes Communities have the capacity to maintain understanding, knowledge, skills and comfort with respect to fire
HOTSPOTS HELPS PEOPLE TO MANAGE FIRE FOR HEALTHY LANDSCAPES  |
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