Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
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Table 2-3B: Forests NSW control efforts for feral animal species – all regions (<strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>)<br />
40<br />
Region Number <strong>of</strong> species treated Expenditure (approx.)<br />
UNE 2 $16 680<br />
LNE 2 $47 700<br />
Eden 4 $128 904<br />
Southern 4 $250 000<br />
Total 6* $2,725<br />
* Total number <strong>of</strong> individual species treated across all regions.<br />
Source: Forests NSW data<br />
Fire<br />
Indicator 3.2: Impact <strong>of</strong> fire on forest-related values (Eden region)<br />
(This is an Eden region indicator. For continuity <strong>of</strong> reporting all regions are reported here.)<br />
Bushfires affected an estimated 46 131 ha <strong>of</strong> DECC estate <strong>and</strong> 5081 ha <strong>of</strong> State forests this year<br />
within the forest agreement regions. Prescribed burns <strong>and</strong> other planned burns were conducted<br />
Data <strong>and</strong> interpretation<br />
over an estimated 43 294 ha <strong>of</strong> DECC estate <strong>and</strong> 33 874 ha <strong>of</strong> State forests this year.<br />
The size, intensity <strong>and</strong> frequency <strong>of</strong> fire events are monitored across public forest areas to help identify<br />
the impact <strong>of</strong> fire on biodiversity <strong>and</strong> economic values <strong>and</strong> improve emergency <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> management<br />
practices. A fire event may be a bushfire or a prescribed burn. In general, prescribed burns are <strong>of</strong> lower<br />
intensity than bushfires <strong>and</strong> occur during the cooler months <strong>of</strong> the year. The exception to this is backburning<br />
to control the spread <strong>of</strong> bushfires. The PWG <strong>of</strong> DECC <strong>and</strong> Forests NSW use the Bushfire Risk<br />
Information Management System (BRIMS) to track hazard-reduction proposals <strong>and</strong> activities. This<br />
system is the central repository for all bushfire risk management reporting for NSW. The NPWS<br />
Incident database is used to record wildfire suppression.<br />
Bushfires<br />
The incidence <strong>of</strong> fire varies greatly from year to year. The number <strong>of</strong> fires is most closely linked to<br />
prevailing weather patterns <strong>and</strong>, in particular, the occurrence <strong>of</strong> extreme fire conditions, best indicated<br />
by the number <strong>of</strong> statewide fire bans declared in a fire season. The main factors determining the<br />
severity <strong>and</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> bushfires are wind speed, temperature <strong>and</strong> humidity. Contributing factors include<br />
the available fuel load, the physical structure <strong>of</strong> vegetation <strong>and</strong> the degree <strong>of</strong> dryness. The<br />
effectiveness <strong>of</strong> fire suppression actions also determines the extent <strong>and</strong> severity <strong>of</strong> running fires (NSW<br />
State <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Environment</strong> 2006, see www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2006)<br />
In <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>, DECC estate in the FA regions experienced a decrease in the total amount <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> burnt<br />
by wildfire (46 131 ha compared with 149 728 ha in 2006–<strong>2007</strong>) (Table 2-3C), although the 2005–2006<br />
season was comparable (46 323 ha). The decrease occurred across the Eden, LNE <strong>and</strong> Southern<br />
regions. Wildfire data are collected on a park basis. Two parks experiencing wildfire (New Engl<strong>and</strong> NP<br />
NSW FOREST AGREEMENTS AND INTEGRATED FORESTRY OPERATIONS APPROVALS