Publications

'Frequent, hot fires threaten infrastructure, cause significant effort to be spent controlling fires, disturb pastoral production and threaten biodiversity. The Hamersley Ranges are particularly sensitive to fires, containing vegetation easily destroyed in fires, short-range endemic species and Declared Rare flora and fauna species. The area is considered a Biodiversity Hotspot.

 

The fire sensitive vegetation communities of the Hamersley Ranges are varied in their species composition and characteristics and are dispersed across the landscape, however, they have in common a sensitivity to high intensity and high frequency wild fires which results in significant changes to their structure, long term viability and ability to support other species.

 

Mulga communities are particularly sensitive to fire, and contain several short-range endemic invertebrate species, which if their habitat is lost, are potentially vulnerable to extinction.

 

The project was required to strengthen communication between corporate, private and government landholders for improved fire management of the Hamersley Range. Fire management in the area has generally been undertaken on an individual basis by landholders. Burning practices vary greatly in their timing, extent, method, and effectiveness.'