Dryandra Woodland - Department of Environment and Conservation ...

Rock Sheoak is highly sensitive to fire, but has seed stored in the canopy and regenerates prolifically
after fire. The resulting thicket is ideal Tammar Wallaby habitat. As the vegetation ages and its
density decreases, the thickets become suitable for Red-tailed Phascogales. Maintenance of different
age classes of this community may require the protection of some thickets from disturbance
(including fire) for several decades. Some of the Rock Sheoak areas within Dryandra may eventually
require regeneration bums, but none are proposed during the term of this Management Plan.
Currently, some poison thickets are- being maintained by a low level of seedling establishment in the
absence of fire, while other thickets have collapsed through senescence or have not regenerated
satisfactorily following fire. A burn under dry soil conditions is one management tool that can be
used to regenerate the poison thickets. As the seed stored in the soil is rapidly predated by birds and
insects following seed release in early summer (Burrows et al. 1987), regeneration is likely to be
more prolific after an autumn burn than a spring bum.
Fire also influences the availability of hollow logs through destruction of existing logs and the
creation of new logs when hollow trees fall. The balance between these two processes depends on the
intensity of the fire. Very intense fires destroy logs, but replaces them by bringing down trees. Less
intense fires destroy logs without replacing them. Mild fires (especially in spring when logs are
waterlogged) have almost no impact. Hence, fire intensity must be carefully managed. Currently, the
supply of hollow logs is adequate for Dryandra's fauna; however, the continued decomposition of
logs may necessitate habitat manipulation in the future. Further research on the effect of fire
intensity on hollow log production is required (J. A. Friend pers comm.).
Fire Management
Since 1938, most of Dryandra has been subjected only to prescribed edge burning off major roads
and tracks. Edge burning involves the use of wind driven fires planned to burn a short distance from
the road before self-extinguishing. Historically, very little broadacre burning for fuel reduction
purposes was done, but it is likely that some of the edging (especially in autumn) ran deep into the
blocks. Between 1979 and 1985 there was some prescribed broadacre burning, with variable results.
Since 1985 a system of 50-100m internal buffers, based upon existing roads, has been the
cornerstone of wildfire protection, although two broadacre research burns have been conducted to
research the effects of fire on Numbats (J. A. Friend pers comm.). The buffers are burnt in either
spring or autumn when fuel levels reach 7-8 tonnes per ha. Alternative sides of the road are burnt
each time to reduce the frequency of burning of any particular strip, and hence minimise any
possible effects on fire sensitive species. Fuel reduction burning near the perimeter of Dryandra
results in an invasion of weeds and is therefore not practised.
A Wildfire Threat Analysis (WTA) has been prepared for Dryandra. Values identified as being at risk
within Dryandra include:
- the Settlement;
- vegetation where known rare fauna occurs;
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