DRAFT No 1
Prepared by:date written: / / / /
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Contents
The tables of contents are self-generating. Once you have finished the draft, right mouse click on the grey area and select ‘Update Field’. You will then be prompted to ‘Update Page Numbers Only’ or ‘Update Entire Table’ – select ‘Update Entire Table’. For some reason when Word does this it reformats the table and sometimes puts in an unwanted tab-stop. If you find the entries don’t line up properly, select the table, view the ruler and delete the first tab-stop. With future drafts, if you don’t alter the text of any headings, you can select ‘Update Page Numbers Only’ when prompted.
List of Figures ii
List of Tables ii
List of Appendices ii
List of Maps iii
1. Introduction 1
1.1 Climate 1
1.2 Regional context 2
Fire History 4
1.3 Objectives for fire management 4
2. Flora 8
2.1 Vegetation description 8
2.2 Native species/communities of significance and/or potential indicator species 9
2.3 Priority weeds in relation to fire management 11
2.4 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines 13
3. Fauna 17
3.1 Species of significance and/or potential indicator species 17
3.2 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines 18
4. Cultural resources 19
4.1 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines 20
5. Protected Area infrastructure 20
5.1 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines 21
6. Resources on adjoining land 22
6.1 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines 22
7. Factors affecting fire behaviour and management 22
8. Fire Management Zones 23
8.1 Introduction 23
8.2 Fire Management Zones 23
8.2.1 Protection Zone 24
8.2.2 Wildfire Mitigation Zone 25
8.2.3 Conservation Zone 26
8.2.4 Rehabilitation Zone 29
8.2.5 Reference Zone 30
8.2.6 Exclusion Zone 31
9. Fire research and monitoring 32
10. Fire Management Areas 33
11. Access track system 34
11.1 New access tracks/control lines 34
11.2 Track closures 35
12. References 36
12.1 Personal communications 36
Example A 41
Example B 43
List of Figures
Figure 1 Location of ... 3
List of Tables
Table 1 Native flora species and communities of particular management significance with information on potential value as indicators in monitoring programmes. 5
Table 2 Details of significant/ priority weeds in relation to fire management. 5
Table 3 Fire management objectives and preferred fire regimes for the vegetation communities. 8
Table 4 Fauna species of significance with information on potential value as indicators in monitoring programmes 10
Table 5 Locations of Protection Zones and associated management regimes. 14
Table 6 Locations of Wildfire Mitigation Zones and associated management regimes. 15
Table 7 Quick reference guide for fire management requirements in the Conservation Zone. 17
Table 8 Locations of Rehabilitation Zones and associated management regimes. 18
Table 9 Locations of Reference Zones and associated management regimes. 18
Table 10 Vegetation type, location and management details for Exclusion Zones. 19
Table 11 Locations and boundaries of Fire Management Areas and details of relevant features. 21
Table 12 New access tracks required in the Protected Area. 22
Table 13 Tracks to be closed in the Protected Area. 23
List of Appendices
Appendix 1 Meteorological data for ... (Bureau of Meteorology site no. ...)
Appendix 2 Flora species recorded in...
Appendix 3 Fauna species recorded in...
Appendix 4 Fire Management Zones and Fire Management Areas
Appendix 5 Fire Research and Monitoring Projects
List of Maps
Map 1 should be produced as a paper copy. Maps 2-5 can be produced either as paper copies or transparent overlays.
Map 1. Map of the park showing tracks, infrastructure, named sites and neighbouring properties.
Map 2. Vegetation map for the park
Map 3. Known fire history.
Map 4. Fire Management Zones.
Map 5. Fire Management Areas.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
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Throughout the Fire Strategy document ensure that you draw on, and reference, all relevant internal and external documents e.g. Management Plan, weed and feral animal management plans, cultural heritage survey reports, disaster plans, research reports, recovery plans, social/visitor surveys.
1. Introduction
Describe the protected area in general terms (e.g. location, landscape, general habitat description). Outline why it was gazetted and detail the overall (rather than specifically fire related) long-term aims of protected area management. These will be available in the Management Plan if there is one. Otherwise consult acquisition proposal and gazettal documents, your Regional Planner etc. Note: ‘Protected Area’ is used throughout when referring to the specific place. If you prefer, you can change this to the name of the protected area or simply use a term like ‘the Park.’ If the Strategy applies to tenures in addition to the protected area (e.g. some unallocated state land) make sure that this is clear in the introduction.
1.1 Climate
Describe the climate in general terms for the protected area (e.g. annual temperature range, annual rainfall, timing of wet season). Provide details of monthly and long-term averages in Appendix 1. To the best of your abilities describe the ‘normal’ fire season (in terms of Fire Danger Index if you can). If you do not have long-term records for the protected area, climatic summaries are available (free) from the Bureau of Meteorology’s web site. Choose the Bureau station nearest to the protected area. If this is the best data available clearly state its limitations and, if possible, give some idea how the protected area’s climate might vary from that of the Bureau site. The address for the Bureau’s web site is provided in the Reference Section of this template. Specific details re. how climate might affect fire behaviour and management should be addressed in Section 7 rather than here.
1.2 Regional context
The values of the Park are:
Provide a picture of how the protected area ‘fits’ into the surrounding landscape in terms of habitat and fire management. For example, the protected area might be surrounded by cleared grazing country or there may be large tracts of remnant vegetation adjoining it. In cases where the majority of the surrounding land is frequently burnt, flora & fauna species which are adapted to short fire intervals are well catered for in a regional context. Accordingly, we should generally focus on meeting the fire ecology requirements of species adapted to longer fire intervals.
Draw on details provided in the Management Plan and similar documents.
Include details on the significance of the area e.g. Regional Ecosystems.
It may also be appropriate and useful to include a brief discussion about the attitudes/perceptions of neighbours, visitors, key stake holders etc. as they pertain to fire management. Provide reference/s to relevant social surveys etc.
Fire History
Briefly describe and discuss fire history (if available) - include wildfires and planned burns. Give a synopsis or interpretation of the salient points (e.g. common sources of fire, dates and extent of significant wildfires) and include a map which summarises fire history. Refer to, rather than include, individual fire history maps and provide details as to where they are stored (e.g. Arcview, map cabinet in District office). If relevant, refer to Section 7 for further details…otherwise delete the last sentence given below.
Refer to Map 3.
Refer to Section 7 for further details on factors affecting fire behaviour and management
1.3 Objectives for fire management
Objectives for fire management for Parks are:
- Protection of life and property on the Protected Area and neighbouring lands (as required under the Queensland Fire & Rescue Authority Act 1990 and QPWS Good Neighbour Policy).
- To conserve natural and cultural resources, and in accordance with an approved plan. The role of fire as an ecological process in shaping native vegetation communities and flora and fauna habitat is re-established and maintained where possible.
Include legislative obligations. For example, protection of life and property on the protected area and neighbouring lands. Provide clear, useful and specific objectives for fire management on the protected area. For example: “… to maintain wet sclerophyll communities and the wet sclerophyll/rainforest interface and the fauna populations which rely on those habitats;” “… to protect the brigalow and gidgee communities and their edges from fire and to thereby minimise the risk of invasion by buffel grass;” “… as part of the rehabilitation strategy the aim is to use fire firstly to reduce infestations of rubbervine and subsequently to use planned burns to reduce the risk of wildfire impacting on the regeneration site;” “… to create a mosaic of burn ages in heathland and sedgeland communities in order to provide suitable habitat for the fauna communities which occur in the area and in particular to ensure that sufficient areas are maintained as suitable habitat for the ground parrot.” Generalisations such as ‘to maintain biodiversity’ are not acceptable.
Figure 1 Location of Park.
2. Flora
Explain what (if any) flora assessments have been carried out, when they were conducted and provide references (full details in the References Section). State whether our understanding of the flora is adequate and, if not, what further flora assessment is required.
2.1 Vegetation description
Provide a general description of the flora of the protected area to the best of your abilities. If a flora assessment has been carried out, you should be able to extract the information from the report (provide a reference to it and put the details in the References section). If there is no vegetation mapping available for the protected area you will need to produce at least a basic map. At the very least this map should show the distribution of fire sensitive vegetation as well as general vegetation communities (e.g. dry eucalypt woodland/forest, Melaleuca woodland). This is best done by using aerial photography coupled with your local knowledge.
2.2 Native species/communities of significance and/or potential indicator species
Seek assistance from your Resource staff when determining which species or communities are significant. All species listed under the NCA as Threatened (V or E) should be listed, together with any others that may be significant (e.g. endemic, locally threatened). Some Rare species may be worthy of inclusion. Determine which Regional Ecosystems are present and list any that are “Of Concern” or “Endangered.” Modify the text as required.
Table 1: Indicate (Y/N) whether the flora species or community is useful as an indicator of fire management (either appropriate or inappropriate management). Explain why the species or community is considered significant (e.g. Of Concern Regional Ecosystem, habitat for threatened fauna species). If the species or community has the potential to be used as an indicator of either appropriate or inappropriate fire management, explain what it is an indicator of, and how this can be assessed.
Table 1 Native flora species and communities of particular management significance with information on potential value as indicators in monitoring programmes.
Status codes: E = Endangered (Schedule 2) under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994 (NCWR);V = Vulnerable (Schedule 3) under the NCWR; R = Rare (Schedule 4) under the NCWR; OC=Regional Ecosystem described as “Of Concern” in … (1999); EN = Regional Ecosystem described as “Endangered” in … (1999).
Species/Community / Status code / potential indicator? / Details2.3 Priority weeds in relation to fire management
It is critical to link the Fire Strategy with the protected area’s Weed Management Programme. Modify the text as required. Provide a reference to the Weed Management Strategy here and include it in the Reference list.
Table 2: If fire management is required, explain the role of fire in controlling the weed. Also if a weed is promoted by burning it should be included in this table.... a lot of weeds will fall into this category so include only those which are significant or a priority on the Protected Area.
Table 2 Details of significant/ priority weeds in relation to fire management.
Scientific name / Common name / DetailsAt the time of writing there was no further information available detailing the nature all of these infestations. Further studies need to be undertaken to further the impacts and distributions of all the above pest plant species.
2.4 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines
Provide objectives and guidelines for fire management of the vegetation communities on the protected area. Include an assessment of the risks associated with inappropriate fire management and how those risks will be minimised.
Start with an over-riding paragraph. For example: “The minimum that should be achieved in the Protected Area is the maintenance of the current distribution, diversity and extent of the plant communities. This is particularly important in the case of communities which are poorly conserved (Map units 6, 7 & 9) and/or that are important fauna habitat (see Table1 and Table7). In addition, fire can play an important role in facilitating or inhibiting the invasion and control of exotic plants. Where appropriate, fire regimes which inhibit exotic plant invasion should be given preference. Fire will also be used for the control of fire-sensitive exotic plants (with follow-up herbicide application) as part of an integrated management programme.”
Mention the objectives in terms of the Regional Context. For example: “Since shorter fire-intervals predominate across the region as a whole (see Section1.2), preference should be given to longer fire-intervals in the protected area (within the ecological thresholds of the communities)”.
Modify the text given below to suit the protected area. Be as specific as possible with the objectives and guidelines.
QPWS Ecology Database - this database includes information on the types of regimes which are suitable for particular plant communities. The information is linked to bioregions. Information on plant species responses to fire can be recorded on, and retrieved from Wildnet. Priority should be given to collating such information for the species on the Park, particularly from field observation.
Table 3: Be careful to describe what you mean in the Fire Regime column. In particular, be careful not to confuse the kind of weather conditions you require with the kind of fire that will result. For example, you may require severe conditions before a fire will carry through a particular plant community but that does not necessarily mean that the fire will be of high intensity. It may in fact be a low to moderate intensity fire.