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Fire and biodiversity workshop
During the week of Monday 9th February, the Burnett Mary Regional Group in partnership
with the SEQ Fire and Biodiversity Consortium held two-day workshops on Biodiversity
and Fire Monitoring at Bundaberg and Kilkivan . Land managers from the Burnett
Mary region and beyond came together to learn about the relationship between Fire
and Biodiversity.
Individuals from the Rural Fire Brigade, Department of Emergency Services, Queensland
Parks and Wildlife Service Traditional owners, Regional Bodies, Regional Councils,
and community groups all came along to learn about the effects of fire, and how
to manage it for safety and biodiversity values.
The workshop focused on the need to use science as a means of decision making
as opposed to opinions, which are known to vary greatly in relation to fire management. The workshop explained data collection and monitoring techniques, that provide
baseline and tracking information to inform the development of ongoing fire management
plans. Attendees also learned about how to assess the ‘fuel loads” within an area as
a way to inform fire management and bushland planning and maintenance.
The workshop was presented by Mr Cuong Tran a Project Coordinator from the SEQ
Fire and Biodiversity Consortium, based at Griffith University . Mr Tran is a fire ecologist and has an extensive background in fire behaviour
and the effects of fire on biodiversity, both positive and negative.
Mr Tran said “that in light of the terrible tragedies occurring in Victoria,
holding these workshops and implementing the learning’s from it within the community
,is a great way to help protect the Burnett Mary community from the effects of
wildfire, but also to help maintain the bush’s natural ecological processes”
“Fire is a natural part of Australia’s ecology and our native plants have adapted
to this. Many plants actually rely on fire to reproduce, which when carefully executed
(fire management) can aid in improving biodiversity outcomes” he said.
During the workshop there was much discussion about the compromise needed between
maintaining public safety and the protection of property and the need to manage
the landscape as appropriately as possible for the flora and fauna that reside
there that we all enjoy.
To find out more about Fire and Monitoring workshops please contact Cuong Tran
on
P: 07-5552 8259 or email c.tran@griffith.edu.au
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