Underpinnings of fire management for biodiversity conservation in ...

Fire and adaptive management
viii
Foreword
South-eastern Australia has many areas of very high conservation value. It also has people and assets
and is highly prone to fire. In recent years the area has experienced extended droughts, mega-fires
and floods and faces the uncertainty and effects of climate change. Managing this landscape is
complex and challenging.
A major source of difficulty is the connection between issues, place and time. For example, decisions
about fire and water catchments on one side of the mountains may impact on livelihoods and
biodiversity more than 100 km away and 50 years hence.
Knowledge is essential but incomplete. Therefore, a manager such as DSE must use the best
knowledge available and predict the likely consequences of action – and just as importantly, inaction.
We must make decisions and move forward, while continuously learning and adapting.
The author of this report, Dr A Malcolm Gill OAM, is very aware of these challenges and is well
qualified to offer insight. He is a pre-eminent fire ecologist who has authored or co-authored over
200 scientific works. Dr Gill was also one of two independent experts who assisted in the conduct of
the 2002–2003 Victorian Bushfires Inquiry. Most of all, however, Dr Gill has long recognised the need
for managers to be adaptive and to account for multiple needs, not just those that fall within his main
interest area of fire ecology.
This report summarises existing knowledge about the management of fire in relation to the
conservation of biodiversity reserves. It has the worthy aim of exploring ideas and promoting
discussion, not of dictating particular actions. It will provide significant support for decision-making
about fire in Victoria and elsewhere.
Ewan Waller
Chief Officer Fire and Emergency Management
Department of Sustainability and Environment