Proactive approaches to fire management for the protection of life, property and the environment
will become increasingly important as the rules applied in the past change under climate change.
“Many areas of Australia can expect an increase in bushfire activity and the number of days when
fire danger ratings are very high to extreme as the impacts of climate change take hold,” the
Nature Conservation Council’s Hotspots Strategist Waminda Parker said today.
“Now more than ever, it is important that landholders and local authorities work together
strategically to prepare well for fire.
“Landholders in the Capertee Valley are participating in a series of workshops aimed at empowering
them to plan for protecting farm assets, homes and the diversity of native plants and animals on
their land as part of the Hotspots Fire Project.
“The Hotspots Fire Project in the Capertee is run by the Nature Conservation Council with the
support from the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority.
“Participants will have the opportunity of working with local authorities, such as the Rural Fire
Service, on developing and implementing detailed fire management plans for their property. In
many cases, neighbours will be cooperating for the first time on plans covering several properties.
“By understanding the ecology of their property, landholders can manage fire to help protect all
their assets, including their homes, productive farmland and the diversity of native plants and
animals.
“Planning across a number of properties or at a landscape level can help create a mosaic of
vegetation in different stages of post-fire development, providing a variety of food and shelter
sources for native animals.
“It is impossible to eliminate fire from your property if you live in an area like the Capertee Valley,
but managing fire is an important part of better protecting your assets and managing the land,” Ms
Parker said.
Nature Conservation Council’s Hotspot Fire Project Workshop
When: Tuesday, 24 March 2009.
Where: Capertee Valley, NSW (Please note: This workshop is complete – no new participants)
