Burning our bushland
Why will indiscriminate burning permanently alter our bushlands? And why do we need to rethink how we use fire in our landscapes?
Our biodiversity is going up in smoke: harming our health and the plants and animals that make Perth and the South-west of Western Australia a world biodiversity hot spot.
After making headway in the 1990’s with collaboration between DFES, DBCA, bushcare groups, community and local governments, we have returned to hierarchical decisions.
Our scientists are showing us the compelling evidence!
The speaker
Come along and hear the scientific evidence presented by Professor Kingsley Dixon from Curtin University and previously Foundation Director of Science at Kings Park and Botanic Garden.
You can read Kinglsey’s article in the Spring 2019 Urban Bush Telegraph that links the problem of invasive weeds with fire risk and ultimately the loss of biodiversity values.
You can also listen to his recent Science Show episode “Controlled burns destroy ecosystems and may not reduce fire risk”. Here he says “whereas some forests may experience a natural fire every 80 years, there is no chance for the ecosystem to re-establish when that frequency becomes a prescribed burn every five years. “
Join us on Wednesday 22 July from 6 pm at 2 Delhi Street West Perth. This is a ticketed (but free) event. But there are only a few tickets left! Book here…
We will also make the talk available by Zoom. If you are interested in that option please email UBC at ubc@bushlandperth.org.au to receive a link to the session.
Photos by Marg Owen from Landsdale Conservation Park
More about burning and our bushland
If you want to read more about burning and our bushland, our Winter 2019 edition of the Urban Bush Telegraph talked about the 2019 Prescribed Burning Conference held at UWA. The key themes at the conference were (i) Indigenous fire management – history and current practice; (ii) the health effects of prescribed burns and wildfires; and (iii) impact of prescribed burns and wildfires on biodiversity. Read the summary here
And if you want to follow up further, you can find many of the conference presentations here….