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The relative importance of fine scale fuel mosaics on reducing fire risk in south-west Tasmania, Australia
Citation
King, KJ and Bradstock, RA and Cary, GJ and Chapman, J and Marsden-Smedley, JB, The relative importance of fine scale fuel mosaics on reducing fire risk in south-west Tasmania, Australia, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 17, (3) pp. 421-430. ISSN 1049-8001 (2008) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2008 CSIRO
Official URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au
DOI: doi:10.1071/WF07052
Abstract
In many landscapes, an important fire management objective is to reduce the negative impacts from unplanned
fires on people, property and ecological values. In Australia, there exists an inherent assumption that high spatial variability
in fire ages and hence fuel loads will have negative effects on both the incidence and spread of subsequent fires, and
will enhance ecological values.A recent study using the process-based computer simulation model FIRESCAPE-SWTAS
predicted several relationships between prescribed burn treatment levels and spatial patterning and management objectives
in south-west Tasmania, Australia. The present study extended this investigation to additionally explore the effects of
prescribed burning treatment unit size on unplanned fire incidence and area burned both in the general landscape and
specifically in fire-intolerant vegetation. Simulation results suggest that treatment level had the greatest influence on
modifying fire effects, whereas treatment unit size had the least effect. The model predicted that all three parameters
interacted to determine the mean annual area burnt by unplanned fires. In fire-intolerant vegetation, treatment unit size
did not influence the incidence of unplanned fires and the area burnt by unplanned fires in these communities. Where
significant differences were evident, fire risk was reduced by higher treatment levels, deterministic spatial patterns of
burning units, and smaller burning unit sizes.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Fire management; FIRESCAPE; Simulation |
| Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
| Research Group: | Environmental Science and Management |
| Research Field: | Conservation and Biodiversity |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Land and Water Management |
| Objective Field: | Mountain and High Country Land and Water Management |
| UTAS Author: | Marsden-Smedley, JB (Dr Jonathan Marsden-Smedley) |
| ID Code: | 50734 |
| Year Published: | 2008 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 43 |
| Deposited By: | Geography and Environmental Studies |
| Deposited On: | 2008-03-07 |
| Last Modified: | 2009-06-10 |
| Downloads: | 4 View Download Statistics |
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