Establishing a fire regime that varies in intensity, season,
frequency and scale is essential for managing biodiversity.
Inappropriate fire regimes have been implicated as a threatening
process for many rare fauna and flora species (
McCullough 2004 ). In the Desert Uplands bioregion, fires in
spinifex pastures can generate high heat, resulting in even
fire-tolerant species being wiped out (Morgan 2000).
The Burdekin rangelands are well adapted to fire (Gill et
al . 1990, cited by Ash 2004). Lightning activity and
intentional burning by Aboriginal people prior to European
settlement maintained a relatively high fire frequency. This was
initially maintained with the introduction of cattle; but fire has
been used less frequently in recent decades (Ash 2004).
The impact of altered fire regimes is complex and affects
various vegetation communities differently. Communities sensitive
to repeated or high intensity fires include dry rainforests,
riparian forests and many acacia scrubs. In contrast, a high
proportion of the upper Burdekin rangelands resprouts after fire,
and can result in rapid regrowth and seed germination (
McCullough 2004 ).
Fire can be used to manipulate pasture composition and modify
grazing patterns to the advantage of agricultural production
systems. It should be recognised that fire, including hot fires (to
manage woodland thickening) are, and will continue to be, a part of
ongoing management systems. If fire is removed from the system the
grazier have no way to control tree-thickening .
Fire is a much defamed and little understood tool. The community
directed FIREPLAN
project of the Tropical
Savannas CRC , as well as continuing to provide up-to-date fire
tracking information and facilitate regionally coordinated fire
management, aims to provide NRM regions across northern Australia
with materials required for fire management planning. The focus of
the project is to engage the community in fire management issue and
facilitate best practice fire management.