Underpinnings of fire management for biodiversity conservation in ...

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In a conservation context, the effects of fires on indigenous and exotic organisms is of major interest;
persistence of the indigenous species and extinction of the exotics may be desired. The fires occurring
in a reserve, whether they have been ignited by people or natural means, have effects that are
determined by the fire regime – type, interval, intensity and season – and the ecosystem context.
Fire regimes may change as a result of prescribed burning, efficient suppression operations, reserve
isolation or changing climates.
There literature on the effects of fire regimes is vast, but this does not necessarily answer local
managers’ needs for specific information. Information is accumulating rapidly and managers can act
in ways that enhance local knowledge.
Fire and adaptive management Underpinnings of fire management for biodiversity conservation in reserves