Autumn 2014 Newsletter

BUSH In this issue HERITAGE 4 Mosaic burning research 5 Reserve scorecards 8 Songs of the bush 10 Support behind Caring for Country NEWS 12 Visiting Bush Heritage reserves Autumn 2014 · www.bushheritage.org.au Managing a summer scorcher Prescribed burning on Carnarvon Station Reserve, Qld. Photograph by Emma Burgess Bushfires during the long hot summer Working around the clock they carried Some, such as the northern quoll, are are an expected part of land management out back burns and upgraded firebreaks nationally threatened and sensitive to fires in Australia. This summer, on Carnarvon to contain the spreading flames. that could remove their shelter of low shrubs Station Reserve in Queensland, wildfires and fallen logs, as well as interrupt their “As the weather conditions are so intense, burnt for several weeks. Changing climatic food supply. back burns have to start at midnight with conditions are making fire planning and teams working through until the early Continued on page 3 preparation, to handle such events, more hours,” says Executive Manager North, important than ever. Rob Murphy, who fills us in while Chris When dry storms and lightning strikes led has a much-deserved rest. “Those are the to wildfire on Carnarvon Station Reserve, coolest times and therefore the safest and Manager Chris Wilson sprang into action, most effective times to burn.” “At Carnarvon we’ve had fires joining colleagues, members of the Rural Carnarvon Station abuts Queensland’s Fire Brigade, neighbours and teams from on every point of the compass spectacular Carnarvon National Park. adjacent National Parks to deal with it. – north, south, east, west – The reserve’s sandstone hills, narrow valley The fire started in grasslands, and was soon floors and high escarpments create a dramatic over the past month.” crowning (burning up into tree canopies) setting that’s home to hundreds of animal Rob Murphy, Executive Manager North, to the south of the reserve. and plant species. Carnarvon Station Reserve Right: Woodlands, Carnarvon Station Reserve. Photograph by Cathy Zwick Below: Gerard O’Neill, CEO. Photograph by Peter Morris From the CEO Bush Heritage Australia Who we are Bush Heritage Australia is a leading conservation organisation, protecting millions of hectares of Out on the reserves fire always plays a role The escarpment is home to the white-throated ecologically important land for the over the warmer months, especially in the grasswren, short-eared rock wallaby, black benefit of nature and all Australians. south. So far our preparation and planned wallaroo, giant cave geckos and diadem burning strategies are working. The expertise horseshoe bats along with many endemic Why we’re successful of our Reserve Managers and science staff or vulnerable threatened species. Feral cats It’s our way of working that makes has either extinguished bushfires or used fire and unplanned fires are key issues. Bush Heritage Australia so successful to enhance ecological conditions for priority We are working with the Warddeken traditional – and makes us optimistic that we can habitats and species. owner group and others such as The Nature expand our great conservation work This is skilled work requiring a strong Conservancy, The Pew Environment Group, to meet the challenges ahead: commitment to safety. We specialise in Northern Territory Government, NAILSMA • We pursue non-confrontational, working with volunteer fire services, station and Karrkad Kanjdji Trust, among others, pragmatic solutions to conservation owners, and traditional owners to get the to secure this priceless heritage. challenges. best possible outcome from any fire situation. Another partnership with Balkanu Land • We work closely with our neighbours Our responses to wildfires usually involve Development Corporation on Cape York is and local communities to share the working closely with neighbours. Chris Wilson, featured, alongside the Warddeken agreement, outcomes and knowledge gained Reserve Manager at Carnarvon and Thornton on page 10. These are among 11 established for the benefit of all. Kerr, Field Officer, have been tackling a or emerging partnerships with Aboriginal • Everything we do is built on number of fires with Queensland Parks people across the country. good science – aided by our staff and Wildlife Rangers and Station Managers. ecologists and science partners. Working together in this way is vital in order Fires have burnt for nearly a month in the • We have more than 20,000 (and to be relevant and influential in the great hills, though recent rains are helping suppress growing) committed supporters challenges of protecting Australia’s priceless their intensity and we expect a good result. who enable us to work on a scale natural heritage. that matters and to implement Such collaborations, whether written down All this, of course, is not possible without solutions that endure. or sealed with a handshake are part of the your support. Through you we are making way we operate. By working together, we are • We partner with Aboriginal a difference and I see that in the ‘reserve building conservation into communities as communities, other land owners, scorecards’ we produce to report on ecological a natural part of the Australian landscape. non-profits, businesses and conditions. They provide a great insight into governments, because we know Speaking of partnerships, I am pleased our work. However, as Chris Wilson and the that by working together we can to say we have extended a key partnership team know, we have to be vigilant. The next achieve so much more. with the Warddeken Aboriginal Land challenge may be just over the hill. • We invest in the land, in our Management in west Arnhem Land recently. partnerships and in our growing The agreement sees us supporting conservation number of supporters. Our mission work on the Arnhem Land plateau. is for the benefit of all Australians, Cheers, forever. Gerard O’Neill, CEO 2 Bush Heritage News | Autumn 2014 Left: Sunset, Carnarvon Station Reserve. Photograph by Wayne Lawler / Ecopix Below: The threatened northern quoll is sensitive to fires. Photograph by Jean-Paul Ferrero Continued from cover “We burn when there’s good soil moisture, At the time of writing some significant recent low temperatures and higher humidity,” rains had fallen and it looks like we’ve avoided Planning for wildfires says Rob. “This enables us to create a mosaic any significant damage to the ecology on So far the intensity of the main blaze has been effect with various burn histories and reduced the reserve. reduced by patches of land with recent burn fuel loads that can help to slow and decrease “There are no guarantees with any fire. histories – including some burnt in a similar the intensity of any wildfire that does alight You need a bit of luck as well as careful 2013 wildfire – which wouldn’t easily burn through there again. planning,” says Rob. “But these wildfire again. As Ecologist Murray Haseler explains, The cooler months are also a time for events have become more frequent and evaluations of the 2013 fire confirmed that preparing and maintaining firebreaks and intense over the past ten years, so we really our best defence is a mosaic of controlled access roads, and ensuring equipment and need to make sure we’re as well prepared burns conducted over many years. safety plans are up-to-date in preparation and resourced as we can be.” “These strategically reduce fuel in priority for what can be long episodes working with Carnarvon Station Reserve was acquired in 2001 areas, and greatly reduce the impact of wildfires over summer. with the assistance of the Australian Government’s unplanned fires,” he says. National Reserve System program. A 2013 report by the recently formed Climate Like any reserve, Carnarvon has a diversity Council (formerly the Climate Commission) of vegetation types, which all respond titled Be Prepared: Climate Change and the differently to fire and climatic conditions. Australian Bushfire Threat, outlines some of Careful planning goes into recording rainfall the factors working against land managers. and temperature, monitoring vegetation It reports that climate change is making growth and mapping the fire history of the hot days hotter and heatwaves longer and area to feed into controlled burn planning. more frequent, reducing the opportunity for controlled burns. “Fire sensitive vegetation, such as brigalow, vine scrub, belah and lancewood, mostly The report suggests that Australia will occurs in small patches, often within natural experience an increase in the number of days fire barriers, such as rocky areas,” explains with extreme fire ratings and that prescribed Murray. “Their dense canopies provide some burning activities in some areas will need protection by naturally preventing the growth to increase two- to three-fold to counteract of ground-level fuel.” increased fire activity. “It’s the open grasslands and grassy woodlands “At Carnarvon we’ve had fires on every point that need to be most intensely managed by of the compass – north, south, east, west – We couldn’t do it without you controlled burns,” he says. “They also have over the past month,” says Rob. “There have Being adequately prepared for ongoing the highest density and diversity of small been more lightning strikes since the first, fire management is an expensive mammals that respond to changes in rainfall, and fires are burning in the neighbouring but essential part of managing your temperature and vegetation. Controlled properties and the National Park, so we’re reserves. That’s why we continue to burning removes cover and biomass (grass), helping out with those too.” need your support – donate today: meaning the animals must move to find “Carnarvon is quite amazing country”, he adds. www.bushheritage.org.au/donate food and shelter. However, cool burns also “It’s very rugged and broken, which means it’s promote growth so they return following Above: A dingo pup hunts crickets after fairly inaccessible.

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