Climate Change heightens need for fire management

The likelihood of higher temperatures and less rainfall in future years as a result of climate change has increased the need to reduce forest fuels.

Forestry Tasmania’s managing Director Bob Gordon said risk assessment undertaken by FT showed the threat of a mega fire occurring in Tasmania had increased.

Mr Gordon told the Government Business Enterprise Scrutiny Committee hearing today that in the previous financial year, more than 300 FT staff were deployed to fight wildfires that claimed almost 74,000 hectares.

“About two thirds of the area burnt was outside state forest. Wildfires do not recognise boundaries. They cross land tenures, emphasising the need for a coherent statewide fire management plan.

“FT works hand in hand with the Fire Service and Parks and Wildlife to minimise risk to private property, to state forests and to conservation areas,” Mr Gordon said.

“The three agencies are cooperating on an ongoing Fuel Reduction burning program funded by the Tasmanian Government.

“In September, the agencies undertook an 8000ha fuel reduction burn to the north of Bicheno in the first of a planned series burns across land tenures.

“A further six large fuel reduction burning operations are in the planning stage, ranging from the far North West to the lower East Coast.

“ There is every indication that the fire risk is higher than last year. The forest floor is extremely dry, following years of below average rainfall.”

Mr Gordon said if climate change predictions were correct, the risk of fire in future would increase and fire management would need to adjust to the growing threat.

5 December, 2007
ENDS

Media inquiries:
David Tuck,
Forestry Tasmania
Corporate Relations
6233 8249