Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing Planned Burn Guidelines Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland

DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 1 6/05/13 3:57 PM Prepared by: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Enhanced Fire Management Team, Queensland Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR).

© The State of Queensland Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing 2012. Copyright enquiries should be addressed to or the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, 41 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000.

First published May 2013 Published by the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Planned Burn Guidelines – Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland First edition Bibliography ISBN 978-1-7423-0929 1. Planned Burn – Guideline 2. Fire Management 3. Bioregion – Queensland

Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. All Queensland Government planned burning should be done in accordance with government policies, procedures and protocols.

Acknowledgements The following people made substantial contributions to the intellectual content of these planned burn guidelines based on experience and/or expert knowledge with regard to fire management in the Mulga Lands bioregion. QPWS staff include: Mark Handley, Stephen Peck, Andy Coward, Christine Crafter, and Teresa Eyre. The following people made considerable efforts in ensuring the guidelines were supported by accurate and comprehensive photographs: Mark Handley, Jenny Handley, Stephen Peck, Robert Ashdown, Karen Smith, Teresa Eyre and Rob Murphy. This guideline has been developed and produced by the QPWS Enhanced Fire Management Team: Mark Cant, David Shevill, Wayne Kington, Jenise Blaik, Kerensa McCallie, Troy Spinks and Justine Douglas; supported by David Clark, Caroline Grayson, Ellen Thyer and Tim Killen. Following a successful pilot project (QPWS South East Region Planned Burn Guidelines) initiated and developed by QPWS staff: Wayne Kington, David Kington and Mark Burnham. Front cover photograph: QPWS, Idalia National Park, overview showing vegetation changes over the landscape. Bp2014

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 2 6/05/13 3:57 PM Foreword The Mulga Lands bioregion is dominated by flat to undulating plains and low ranges which support a range of mulga Acacia aneura dominated forest and woodland communities. The area is considered semi-arid and often experiences periodic high rainfall events which result in floods followed by a rapid increase in the vegetation biomass.

The landscape is considered one of the most degraded in Queensland (Sattler and Williams 1999). The causes of this degradation are complex and are often the result of a combination of factors that include property size, socio-economics, grazing and stocking practices and vegetation management. One resulting implication of this degradation has seen a significant change in the frequency, severity and behaviour of fire in the Mulga Lands landscape.

The use of fire as a land management tool within the Mulga Lands bioregion is highly variable. Subject to the effects of the boom and bust cycle of the Mulga Lands the recent fire history of this bioregion has been dominated by the infrequent, large-scale and high-intensity fires of the 1950s and 1970s, followed by long periods of limited or absent fire within the landscape. The aim of this guideline is to provide important supporting information for the use and management of fire in the landscape to achieve resilient and sustainable biodiversity and improved conservation outcomes.

Stephen Peck Ranger South West Region Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 3 6/05/13 3:57 PM Table of contents Foreword...... iii

Purpose of this guideline...... vi

Scope...... vii

Fire and climate in the Mulga Lands bioregion...... ix

How to use this guideline...... x

Chapter 1: Eucalypt forest and woodland...... 1 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands....2 Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands...... 16 Issue 3: Manage eucalypt forests where understorey fuels are not usually continuous...... 25 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses...... 27 Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings...... 28

Chapter 2: Grasslands...... 29 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands...... 30 Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities...... 41 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses...... 51 Issue 4: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings...... 52

Chapter 3: Wetland and melaleuca communities...... 53 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities...... 54 Issue 2: Avoid fire in wetland communities...... 56

Chapter 4: Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities...... 60 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests...... 62 Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests...... 75 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses...... 83 Issue 4: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings...... 84

Chapter 5: Mulga dominated communities...... 85 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities...... 86 Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses...... 90

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 4 6/05/13 3:57 PM Chapter 6: Acacia dominated communities...... 91 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities...... 92 Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses...... 97

Chapter 7: Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities...... 98 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities...... 99

Chapter 8: Common issues...... 104 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns...... 105 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites.....113 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups...... 122 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses...... 129 Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings...... 141

Glossary of fire terminology...... 149

References...... 157

Appendix 1: List of regional ecosystems...... 160

Appendix 2: Mosaic burning...... 166

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 5 6/05/13 3:57 PM Bioregional planned Purpose of this guideline burn guideline This guideline was developed as part of the (and other parameters) Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing’s (NPRSR) Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Fire Management System to support the formation of fire strategies, burn proposals and Park-based fire on-ground planned burn implementation (supported management strategy by the Planned Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your Burn is Ready to Go). They assist rangers and other land managers to:

• protect life and property Planned burn • maintain healthy ecosystems program/burn proposal • promote awareness of fire management issues in the field • identify clear fire management objectives to address those issues; and how to assess objectives to assist in adaptive management Planned burn • identify suitable fire behaviour, burn tactics and implementation weather conditions to achieve objectives • provide information and tools to assist in How the planned implementing planned burns. burn guideline fits Please note that this planned burn guideline uses ‘fire into the QPWS Fire vegetation groups’ provided in ParkInfo that assist Management System. their integration into maps and fire strategies. A fire vegetation group is a group of related ecosystems that share common fire management requirements.

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 6 6/05/13 3:57 PM Scope • This guideline applies to the Mulga Lands bioregion (refer to Figure 1) and covers the following fire vegetation groups: mulga dominated communities, eucalypt woodlands, grasslands, melaleuca communities, cypress pine and bulloak communities, other acacia dominated communities and riparian/ springs/fringing communities (refer to Appendix 1 for regional ecosystems contained in each fire vegetation group). • It covers the most common fire management issues arising in the Mulga Lands. In some cases, there will be a need to include issues in burn proposals beyond the scope of this guideline (e.g. highly specific species management issues). • This guideline recognises and respects Traditional Owner traditional ecological knowledge and the importance of collaborative fire management. Consultation and involvement should be sought from local Traditional Owners in the preparation and implementation of planned burns and specific guidelines incorporated into fire strategies where relevant. • Development of the guideline has been by literature review and a knowledge- capturing exercise, using both scientific and practical sources. It will be reviewed as new information becomes available.

Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Thrushton National Park.

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 7 6/05/13 3:57 PM Figure 1: Map of the Mulga Lands bioregion of Queensland

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 8 6/05/13 3:57 PM Fire and climate in the Mulga Lands bioregion Stretching from St George in the east to Thargomindah in the west and north to Jundah in Central Queensland, the Mulga Lands bioregion is dominated by a hot, persistently dry, semi-arid climate which has cold winters, hot summers and receives variable rainfall from 200 to 500 mm annually, with protracted dry spells.

Many fire vegetation groups do not generally have enough fuel to carry a fire and therefore planned burns have rarely been used in the bioregion by either Aboriginal or European land managers other than to maintain seasonal grasslands and more recently, to control vegetation thickening. Burning generally has occurred in years following above average rainfall when late summer, monsoonal low-pressure systems or rain depressions often result in floods producing heavy rainfall in southwest Queensland (Neldner 1984). This rainfall variability influences the production and distribution of available biomass fuel which in turn influences the opportunities for ecological prescribed burning and the chances of a wildfire event. The ‘normal’ fire season in the Mulga Lands runs from October to April, however under optimal conditions, ecological fires outside these periods can be applied to specific vegetation communities. The fire season is generally characterised by hot dry conditions with periods of reduced temperature and increased humidity during rain events (which provide storm burning opportunities) or influxes of southern airflows.

Where sufficient fuel is available, fire risk is linked to the occurrence of fire weather days or sequences of days (FDR very high+ / FDI 25+). The average temperature on these days is often above 34˚C with low humidity (below 15 per cent) and sustained winds of more than 16 km/hr (refer to Figure 2).

Further information can be found in the QPWS Planned Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your Burn is Ready to Go and on the Bureau of Meteorology website at .

Charleville Fire Danger Index (1972-2010) Thargomindah Fire Danger Index (1972-2010) FFDI 25+ (VH+) GFDI 25+ (VH+) FFDI 25+ (VH+) GFDI 25+ (VH+) 16 25

14 20 12

10 15

8 10 6

4 Average days per month Average days per month 5 2

0 0 JanFeb Mar Apr May June July AugSeptOct NovDec Jan Feb MarApr MayJune July Aug Sept Oct NovDec Month Month

Figure 2: Fire weather risk in the Mulga Lands bioregion. The likelihood of a fire weather day or sequence of days (FDI 25+) increases significantly from September to March. Data (Lucas 2010).

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DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 9 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 10

x Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline 1. this simple exercise: you go about your work. To assist you inobserving theenvironment, undertake this guidelinesoit becomes partof your observation of theenvironment as that you manage (andthesurrounding landscape). Familiarise yourself with Step 2:Observethecountry. It is essential to regularly observethecountry 1999 andotherlegislative requirements). Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act issues are considered (e.g. zoning plan, threatened species, fire histories, strategy before completing your planned burn proposal to ensure all ecological the majority of issues in your area, it is essential you also review your fire and supports your local fire strategy. While theguidelineshould address Step 1:Know your local fire strategy. This planned burn guidelineworks with How to use this guideline 3. 2.

a) d) c) b) a) b) a) c) b) observe where relevant: shrubs andgrasses but not yet inthecanopy) observe thefollowing: following: For fire vegetation groups with a For fire vegetation groups with a If a

understorey? by oneorafew juvenile tree species? Are weeds dominating the shrubs? shrubs, ferns orsedges? and vigorous? Are there well-formed grass clumps? bark? rainforest species)? How openordense is themid-layer? Are there any dead trees? Does theground-layer have adiversity of species oris it dominated Are shrubs looking healthy and vigorous? Are there dying crowns onthe Is there abuild-up of dead anddecaying matter associated with grasses, The presence of grasses andgrass clumps. Dothe grasses look healthy Is there evidence of fire? What is theprevalence andheight of blackened What are themid-layer trees (young canopy trees, wattles, casuarinas or Are there rainforest, scrub orriparian ecosystems nearby? Are there habitat trees (e.g. trees with hollows)? Is tree branch foliage dying? Is there epicormic regrowth onbranches? canopy is present (e.g. for openforests andwoodlands) observethe ground-layer of grasses, sedges orshrubs, mid-layer (trees above theheight of 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 11 estate. Instructions can beobtained from the QPWS Fire Management System. as partof astructured photo-monitoring process at various locations within the shortfalls in your fire strategy, consider reviewing it. Step 9 can beimplemented or difficult to understand please seek advice. further If this process identifies to keep observing theland. If theresults of fire management are unexpected (such as weed control) are not resolved with asingle burn andit is important years aftertheoriginal burn—once again applying this guideline.Many issues area starting from Step 1).Return to theburn area afterone year andthenafew Step 9:Review your fire management issue (re-apply this guideline to the burn your fire report. objectives. This guidelineprovides information onhow to reporttheresults in in your burn proposal). This will indicate if you have achieved your planned burn undertake thepost-fire assessment recommended by this guideline(as defined Step 8:Review themeasurable objectives in your burn proposal. Afterafire, proposal objectives. this guidelinewill enable you to predict fire behaviour andachieve your burn How to Assess if Your Burn is Ready to Go. Becoming familiar with thetools in Step 7:Is your burn ready to go? Refer to theQPWS Planned Burn Guidelines: have to adjust thewording. guideline andpaste them(ctrl+v)into theburn proposal. Note that you may into your burn proposals. Copy (ctrl+c)statements from aPDF version of this tactics andweather conditions sections of each chapter can becopied directly Step 6: Write aburn proposal. The management ranger orequivalent. If you findit difficult toidentify your objectives, contact your natural resource Do you needto develop objectives not already included inthese guidelines? the land. Do you needto adjust theobjectives sothey apply to your situation? objectives in your fire strategy). Choose oneormore objectives whilst observing measurable objectives to include in your burn proposals (beguidedalso by the Step 5:Choose measurable objectives. Each chapter of this guidelineprovides intended to guidebothland managers andapproval bodies. based onastandard QPWS planned burn proposal prioritisation framework for determining fire management priorities. The statements about priorities are Step 4:Consider your fire management priorities. Each chapter offers guidance proposal. more than oneissue—do not necessarily limit yourself to oneissue perburn apply to thearea you are observing. It is common for burn proposals to address Step 3:Read therelevant chapters of this guidelineanddecide which issues measurable objectives, fire behaviour, 6/05/13 3:57 PM xi Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 1

1 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Invasive grasses pose asignificant threat to eucalypt community health. associated with severe fire. Often this is associated with anabsence of fire or mass germination events Overabundant saplings inthemid-stratum can lead to woody thickening. extended periods of very highfire danger. exacerbated by large tracts of inaccessible land, longspring dry periods and impacting its ecological values andnearby fire-sensitive communities. This is A key management issue for this fire vegetation group is extensive wildfires Fire management issues grasses andherbs. species Eucalyptus coolabah, with anunderstorey of smaller trees, shrubs, populnea, silver-leaved ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia andcoolabah eucalypt species. Inmost areas, common species include poplar box Eucalyptus soil type. The canopy is between 12–25metres (m),dominated by oneorafew contains a variety of communities that vary with annual rainfall, landform and This fire vegetation group occurs throughout the Mulga Lands bioregion and Chapter 1:Eucalypt forest and woodland 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: 24 ha. National Park, 441ha; Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 404ha; Powrunna State Forest, 13 000ha; Currawinya National Park, 10066ha; Albany State Forest, 1327ha; Narkoola Examples of this Thrushton FVG: National Park, 13265ha; Mariala National Park, Appendix 1for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 783201hectares (ha), 4percent;Regional ecosystems: Refer to

Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings. Manage invasive grasses. usually continuous. Manage eucalypt forests where understorey fuels are not Maintain mixed eucalypt andacacia woodlands. Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests andwoodlands. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 2 (e.g. Eremophila spp. andAcacia stenophylla inthered soil country) andcypress pine. health, diversity andstructure of thecommunity andcontrol overabundant saplings • • understorey: Key indicators of ahealthy eucalypt forest orwoodland with agrassy Awareness of theenvironment Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forest orwoodland with mosaic burning. woodlands Issue 1:Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and John Neldner, Queensland Herbarium, south-west of Dirranbandi. Maintaining fire inopen forests onfloodplains with tall grasses will ensure the • • • •

Overall, it is easy to seeandwalk through. providing refuge for fauna. Logs andfallen branches of various sizes may bescattered ontheground plants such as herbs andsedges. Although dominated by grasses theground layer has adiversity of other are well-formed with little thatch ordead material. Grasses dominate theground-layer andmay becontinuous and/orclumps shading effect onground-layer plants. (enough to eventually replace thecanopy) but are not having anoticeable Some young canopy species may bepresent inthemidandlower stratums mature canopy trees with occasional stags andlive trees with hollows. Eucalypt trees vary inage from seedlings just above thegrassy layer to

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2 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 3 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 3 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands • • • • forest orwoodland: The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain agrassy eucalypt Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Thrushton National Park. A fire would reinvigorate thegrass diversity inthis popular box community.

with fewer species of grass andalack of herbs between tussocks. Where theground layer was once dense anddiverse it is becoming sparse suspended leaf litter, bark andtwigs. There is abuild upof fine fuels such as dead grass material, leaf litter, beginning to have shading impacts ontheground layer. layer (upto around waist height,if they are higherrefer to Issue 2)andare Dodonaea spp. are beginning to emerge in abundance above theground Eucalypts, acacias, cypress pineCallitris glaucophylla, orhopbush and/or grasses have collapsed. Grass clumps are poorly formed, there is anaccumulation of dead material 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 4 • • • Discussion • • • • •

out duringperiods. dry saplings will oftenoccur following major rainfall events andwill naturally thin- events than fires. For example, aflush of coolabah, Eucalyptus coolabah Eucalypt floodplain communities are more influenced by rainfall andflooding apiarists are operating, orrestrict burning to small patches. Mulga Lands bioregion. Avoid burning from April to October near where Yapunyah Eucalyptus ochrophloia is a vital nectar tree for apiarists inthe recommendations with regard to buffel grass management). of buffel grass, particularly if already established nearby (refer to Issue 4,for Be aware that fire promotes conditions that can be suitable for the expansion (e.g. grasses) required for planned burns. 2004). Grazing can contribute to ground-layer sparseness andremoval of fuels some areas has resulted inadense layer of trees andshrubs (Myers et al. with agrassy understorey can result intheloss of perennial grasses andin Overgrazing by domestic, feral andnative animals ineucalypt communities within these communities to ensure thesustainability of suitable habitat. Using these guidelines will helpland managers maintain adiversity of habitats (ironbark) orwoodland, brigalow forest andopenshrubland (QPWS Wildnet). requirements, but is known to occur inassociation with sclerophyll opendry forest The issue. healthy grassy eucalypt forest orwoodland should besufficient to control the the understory to carry fire, theimplementation of theguidelines for managing have beenleft unmanaged. Provided grasses are still continuous enoughin In someareas thecanopy may become more closed as overabundant saplings regeneration is occurring andnot damaged by subsequent fires. areas may require targeted burning, followed by monitoring to ensure eucalypt trees) or not contain sufficient canopy-recruiting species of various ages. These systems thecanopy may besparse with few large trees (including habitat from previous land management practices (e.g. clearing andgrazing). Inthese Newly gazetted estates contain disturbed systems that may berecovering Eucalyptus camaldulensis, as these species are less likely to recover from fire. are detrimental to species that are inwinter dormancy, such as river red gums High-severity fires during extended periods dry infloodplain communities, vulnerable yakkaskink Egernia rugosa ,

has poorly understood habitat 6/05/13 3:57 PM

4 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 5 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 5 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands Patchy to low-severity burns insurrounding areas that onsomeoccasions trickle into Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, Nairana National Park (2002). useful to reduce fuel andmitigate theimpacts of wildfire. floodplain communities (such as coolabah open woodlands onalluvial plains) may be (2006). Currawinya National Park Robert Ashdown, QPWS, the soil. from thegrass-heads into and theseeds have fallen the grasses have cured flats. Avoid using fire until grass inopeneucalypt promote good growth of Seasonal conditions will 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 6 after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Very high Priority High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem structure, usually within wildfire mitigation zones. Planned burn required to mitigate hazard orsimplify vegetation Priority assessment 6/05/13 3:57 PM

6 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 7 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 7 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands Select at least two of thefollowing as most appropriate for thesite: scorch. canopy Minimal infrastructure. resources or cultural natural/ wildfire to subsequent impact by prevented burning has planned Proactive patches. of burnt mosaic spatial 40–70 % Measurable Measurable objectives canopy scorch within visual field. burn area) andestimate percentage of of landform andecosystems within locations (that represent the variability drive past planned burn area inthree In thedays post fire, walk through/ wildfire onanannual basis. estimate area of planned burns against Using fire scar remote sensing data, c. b. a. Choose oneof these options:

satellite imagery. percentage of vegetation burnt from Quantitative estimation of burnt. determine thepercentage of area with GPS, plot onGIS andthereby Map theboundaries of burnt areas vantage points,orfrom theair. vegetation burnt-–from oneormore Visual estimation of percentage of How to beassessed burnt. <30 %or>80 Not Achieved: or 70–80%burnt. between 30–40% Partially Achieved: 40–70 %burnt. Achieved: layer scorched. of thedominant tree > 25%of thecrown Not Achieved: layer scorched. of thedominant tree 10–25 %of thecrown Partially Achieved: layer scorched. of thedominant tree < 10%of thecrown Achieved: impact. has had significant Not Achieved: Wildfire wildfire. prevents impact by area planned burnt Achieved: Annual How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 8 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned retained. trees) (habitat bearing trees live hollow- and standing dead trees standing > 95%of retained. ≥10 cm) diameter logs (with a > 95%fallen stubble. remain as bases grass > 90%of the percentage retained afterfire. of habitat trees. Determine the fire intensity) and estimate number the variability of landform andlikely or more transects (taking into account Select oneormore sites orwalk one retained ineach chosen location. area) anddetermine thepercentage provide arepresentative sample of the long but lengthmust beadequate to one ormore linetransects (e.g. 100m the numberof fallen logs crossed by (immediately–very soonafter),count Before andaftertheburn remaining afterfire. intensity) andestimate grass stubble variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: < 75%bases remain. Not Achieved: remain. 75–90 %bases Partially Achieved: > 90%bases remain. Achieved: 6/05/13 3:57 PM

8 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 9 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 9 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time Mark Cant, QPWS, Cambooya Conservation Park (2010). been reduced to earth. Assessing theobjectives of alow-severity burn. Grass bases remain intact andhave not 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 10 • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity strike abalance between tree reduction andcanopy tree recruitment. help to ensure emerging overabundant trees are managed. It is important to Low class Low Fire (M) (L) oroccasionally moderate. Anoccasional moderate-severity burn can

150–500 intensity (kWm < 150 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 height flame < 0.5 (m)

Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch < 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) Little ornocanopy scorch. scorching of elevated fuels. grass stubble retained. Some habitat trees, fallen logs and layer retained. Nearly all retained but charred. Humus Significant patchiness. Litter Little ornocanopy scorch. Some scorch of elevated fuels. trees andfallen logs retained. stubble remain. Most habitat half thehumus layer andgrass scorched litter remains. About patchiness.Moderate Some (loss of biomass) Description 6/05/13 3:57 PM

10 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 11 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 11 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Other considerations • • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • •

assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire pocketsof vegetation. conditions. This helps retain features such as micro-climates anddense of ranges) unburnt areas tend to remain whenburning under mild In moister areas (e.g. near gullies, rocky creek beds andthebase target communities. A mosaic is achieved with generally 40–70percent burnt within the ough to themaximum timeframe). Consider abroad fire interval saic planned burns across thelandscape range of between three to five years. equencies to create varying stages of burnt of Apply patchiness and Fire frequency mosaic to limit fire spread andseverity. The best mitigation against wildfires is the creation of amulti-aged single age-class fuel. wildfire) andprevent acycle of repeated wildfire events promoted by This will helpmanage overabundant seedlings/saplings (stimulated by break upareas of continuous fuel andre-establish vegetation age-class. Once anarea has recovered from awildfire, plan mosaic burning to year inamanagement area. woodlands with agrassy understorey should beburnt within thesame In general, nomore than 10–30percent of eucalypt forests and

fr

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r ecently 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 12 reasons: plants are actively growing. Goodsoil moisture is critical for arange of It is important to burn under conditions of good soil moisture andwhen Soil moisture hr inforests). Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–4,or<23km/hr(ideally between 10–23km/ DI (KBDI):Ideally 60–90,but <120 FFDI: <13 Season: Autumn to early spring and/or wildfires. changes can beavoided. Drought conditions may also lead to poorresults as partof theplanning andsothat undesirable conditions andweather It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider? • • • • • •

burning. To promote amosaic of burnt andunburnt areas—to facilitate later To encourage species regeneration soonafterfire. of weeds. To limit thecreation of bare ground—to prevent erosion andencroachment factor. good spring rains). Goodsoil moisture at thetimeof burning is thecritical the year (e.g. late season, inthedry during early storm season orafter Maximise species diversity—aim to implement burns at varying times of logs. Minimise loss of habitat features such as hollow-bearing trees andfallen competitive advantage over invasive grasses andwoody weeds. To protect andretain thebases of grasses—to ensure they have a 6/05/13 3:57 PM

12 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 13 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 13 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands Progressive burning • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • Aerial ignition suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

ground crews may impair the vision of thepilot andhamper lighting efforts). the plane andthespacing of theaerial incendiaries (smoke from fires lit by that this tactic requires agood understanding of the flight path or‘runs’ of ground ignitionto secure anedge around thearea being burnt.Be aware In someinstances this tactic may beimplemented inconjunction with to burn away from thecommunity. igniting theedges of non-target communities to create abuffer, allowing fire such as peaks, ridges andspurs. Creating backing-fires that burn downhill or A helicopter provides theopportunity to directly target topographical features Mulga Lands bioregion dueto thescale of areas being managed. Aerial ignitionfrom afixed wing aircraft orhelicopter is often used inthe higher-severity fire ignited inside the burn area. intensity backing fire into the burn area or create a containment edge for a Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can create alow- important food source for birds andmammals. diversity of grasses andherbs providing habitat andproducing seed—an progressive burning of small areas. This will promote theavailability and After agood wet season orduring a wet cycle theopportunity may exist for burning. This produces amixture of burnt areas with multiple ignitiondates. of land weeks ormonths aftertheboundaries have beensecured by early vegetation. Subsequent repeat ignitions can beused within thesame section secure boundaries—particularly when burning areas adjacent to fire-sensitive Burning should begin very soonafterthewet season (March to April), to sufficiently cured for a burn to through to carry), storm burning. communities from late wet season to early season dry (as soonas fuels are Fires (of varying extents, severity andat various times) are lit infire-adapted provided with acopy priorto ignition. drop path onto amap oraerial photograph andensure ground crews are gain anunderstanding of terrain. It is good practice to plot theincendiary is recommended (if possible stereoscopic images are particularly useful) to The use of aerial photographs, satellite images or quality topographical maps

6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 14 • • • • •

restricted to aflooding event. the base of trees may bea result of many years of accumulation andis not impacts of later high-severity fires. Be aware that large amounts of bark at a low-severity mosaic fire may be useful to reduce the fuel load andlimit the large amounts of debris deposited around thebase of trees. Inthis instance coarse fuels) andcan also deposit Following it. afloodthere will oftenbe Flooding events. These events can remove fuel from asite (including heavy, stress) andthepotential for fire to compound these issues. index andsoil moisture, signs of poorhealth (e.g. tree death from drought In this instance beaware of any containment issues, thecurrent drought tactics such as afternoonornight ignitionto reduce environmental impacts. of prolonged drought) but fire management is required, implement suitable Afternoon orevening ignition.If conditions are not ideal (e.g. during periods line (e.g. firelines). grasses (Williams 2008).Contain burns that are unbounded by aconstructed to promote germination andtherecruitment of native legumes andsome severity fires and storm burning at the start of the wet season can be useful if thelikelihood of rain inthedays post burn is high.Occasional higher- soil moisture indicators are visible surface water orflowing creeks. It is ideal is good soil moisture throughout thesite including drainage lines) Good from wet season toseason middry (following sufficient rain). Ensure there Storm burning. When possible aimto conduct someplanned burns late conditions, topography andfuel loads. spots should regularly vary throughout theburn dueto changes inweather apartwillfurther result inalower-intensity fire. Note that the spacing of the (i.e. as spots merge they create high-intensity junction zones). Spots placed closer together will result inalineof fire that is of greater intensity particularly where there is anaccumulation of volatile fuels. Spots placed Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire and overabundant seedlings andsaplings. This tactic is also useful to reduce fine fuels such as grasses, leaf litter, twigs a minimum,thefire has agreater amount of time to burn fuels inthat area. reduction of available fuels. As theintensity andrate of spread are kept to will generally result inthemore complete coverage of anarea andabetter A low-intensity backing fire with good residence time.Aslow moving fire 6/05/13 3:57 PM

14 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 15 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 15 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt forests and woodlands Spot lighting using matches. Spots closer together will result inaline of agreater intensity Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, Mount Elliot (2009). changes inweather conditions, topography andfuel loads. result inalower intensity fire. the Vary spacing of the spots throughout thearea to cater for (as spots merge andcreate hot junction zones) while increased spacing between spots will 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 16 • • • Key indicators of healthy woodland with anacacia understorey Awareness of theenvironment Maintain healthy eucalypt and acacia woodland with mosaic burning. Issue 2:Maintain mixed eucalypt andacacia woodlands QPWS, Welford National Park (1999). A healthy eucalypt woodland community that has benefited from a burn. • • •

present andof flowering age. Scattered fire-sensitive shrubs including mulga and tangled lignum, may be grasses and/orpatches of bare earth. Where theshrublayer is patchy there may beaground layer with amix of The shrublayer can vary from dense to patchy. than four metres). sandalwood Eremophila mitchellii andE.deserti, (usually of aheight less this will include smaller acacia species, hopbush Dodonaea spp. andfalse Understorey is dominated by adiversity of shrubs (not juvenile trees). Often a noticeable shading effect ontheshruborground layer. lower-stratums (enoughto eventually replace thecanopy) andare not having Some young canopy species andsmaller trees are present inthemidand heights andages. Hollow-bearing habitat trees may bepresent. Trees appear healthy andthecanopy is characterised by trees of various 6/05/13 3:57 PM

16 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 17 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 17 Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands • • • and acacia woodland The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain amixed eucalypt Tony Bean, Queensland Herbarium (2001). young could assist inmanaging theissue. Juvenile cypress pinedeveloping intheunderstory. Planned burning while these trees are

Suspended litter andbark perched inshrubs may bepresent. established. grass layer. Weeds such as tree-pear andnoogoora burr, may bebecoming deserti, hopbush, wilgaGeijera parviflora Species such as she-oak, cypress pine,false sandlewood, Eromophila brown leaves onshrubs. branches are present orsomecrowns are dying). There is anaccumulation of Shrubs may look unhealthy (e.g. beginning to lose lower level leaves, spindly

or acacia are emerging among the 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 18 • • • Discussion • •

affecting theextent to which burns will carry. Goat, pigandhorse paths andpads will break upthecontinuity of fuels sparseness andremoval of fuels (e.g. grasses) required for planned burns. resulted inextended openareas. Grazing can contribute to ground layer communities can result intheloss of shrubspecies andinsomeareas has Overgrazing by domestic, feral andnative animals ineucalypt/acacia varied andmature system to re-establish over time. understorey appears healthy, implementing this guidelineshould aidamore recruiting canopy species intheunderstorey. As long as thestructure of the larger trees (e.g. habitat trees) oroverstocked but not containing sufficient grazing). Inthese systems thecanopy may beunderstocked andhave fewer recovering from previous land management practices (e.g. clearing and Newly gazetted estates oftencontain disturbed systems that may be This will ensure thelocalised survival of these species. aim for at least three years of seeding priorto burning again insomeareas. time required afterfire for obligate seeders to mature andproduce seedand hakeas andthegenerations of seedcapsules onmelaleucas. Be aware of the a guideto indicate timesince fire. Examples include thefruiting nodes on Often shrubspecies that retain fruiting bodies onbranches can beused as these communities andensure suitable habitat remains. grassy eucalypt woodland. Using this guidelinewill helpmaintain bothof of transitional vegetation that separates dense acacia woodland from open The bridled nailtail wallaby Onychogalea fraenata diversity. without of theintervention fire, it is likely to result inthickening andloss of stratum. However, if anabundance of juvenile trees orsaplings are present, types of forests are characterised by anabundance of shrubs inthelower are typically multi-stemmed, remaining as small plants whenmature. Certain It is important to distinguish shrubs from juvenile trees orsaplings. Shrubs ,

has apreferred habitat 6/05/13 3:57 PM

18 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 19 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 19 Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands Select at least two of thefollowing as most appropriate for thesite: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? patches. of burnt mosaic spatial 40–70 % Very high Measurable Measurable objectives Priority High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem structure, usually within wildfire mitigation zones. Planned burn required to mitigate hazard orsimplify vegetation c. b. a. Choose oneof these options:

on NAFIorParkInfo2. more vantage points,from theair; of vegetation burnt –from oneor Visual estimation of percentage burnt within visual field. estimating percentage of ground more through planned burn area burn area), walk 300metres or landform andecosystems within account of the variability of In three locations (that take burnt. determine thepercentage of area with GPS, plot onGIS andthereby Map theboundaries of burnt areas How to beassessed Priority assessment burnt. < 30%or>80 Not Achieved: and 70–80%burnt. between 30–40% Partially Achieved: 40–70 %burnt. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 20 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring section of theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time area. over theburn promoted Acacia spp.) seeders (e.g. of obligate Recruitment retained. ≥ 10cm) a diameter logs (with > 95%fallen retained. trees) (habitat bearing trees live hollow- and standing dead trees standing > 95%of more vantage points orform theair. remain. Visually assess from oneor the burn footprint more mature shrubs ground layer. Within unburnt areas of of fire killed shrubs can beseeninthe 6–12 months aftertheburn, seedlings each chosen location. determine thepercentage retained in representative sample of thearea) and length must beadequate to provide a line transects (e.g. 100mlong but of fallen logs crossed by oneormore or very soonafter),count thenumber Before andaftertheburn (immediately percentage retained afterfire. of habitat trees. Determine the fire intensity) and estimate number the variability of landform andlikely or more transects (taking into account Select oneormore sites orwalk one across theburn area. of asingle age/height killed shrubs are all Not Achieved: Fire across theburn area. maturity of stages at variousheights/ shrubs are present Achieved: Fire killed < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: 6/05/13 3:57 PM

20 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 21 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 21 Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands canopy tree recruitment. are managed. It is important to strike this balance between tree reduction and severity planned burn will beuseful to ensure emerging overabundant trees Fire severity: Low What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity patchiness assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire saic planned burns across thelandscape tento years. the maximum timeframe). Consider abroad to create varying stages of Apply Fire frequency class Low Fire (M) (L)

mo 150–500 intensity (kWm

< 150 and adjusted for (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity

shou with theoccasional moderate. Anoccasional moderate -1 )

ld primarily bedetermined through Average 0.5–1.5 height flame < 0.5 (m)

po

wildfire risk st-fire response (i.e. Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch < 2.5 (m)

and dr Fire severity (post-fire) Little ornocanopy scorch. scorching of elevated fuels. grass stubble retained. Some habitat trees, fallen logs, and layer retained. Nearly all retained but charred. Humus Significant patchiness. Litter Little ornocanopy scorch. Some scorch of elevated fuels. trees andfallen logs retained. stubble remain. Most habitat half thehumus layer andgrass scorched litter remains. About patchiness.Moderate Some

fire interval range of between six ought cycles.

r

ecently burnt at (loss of biomass) arange of Description on-ground

fr thr equencies ough to 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 22 Other considerations Landscape mosaic • • • • Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • Soil moisture: in forests). Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–4,or<23km/hr(ideally between 10–23km/hr DI (KBDI):Ideally 60–90,but <120 FFDI: <13 Season: Autumn to early spring wildfires. can beavoided. Drought conditions may also lead to poorresults and/or as partof theplanning andsothat undesirable conditions andweather changes It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns, What weather conditions should Iconsider? •

burning inareas adjoining fire sensitive vegetation (Williams 2008). conservation andhazard reduction (fuel management) burns andwhen Early season dry burns with good soil moisture are also useful for fallen logs andpromote amosaic of burnt andunburnt patches. Good moisture conditions are important to protect hollow bearing trees and ecological health issues such as overabundant saplings). planned burns inorder to prevent anotherwildfire event (andimprove Following awildfire reassess thearea andattempt to apply amosaic of and limiting too-frequent fire (Williams 2008). season.dry This can beeffective increating abuffer around shrubby areas that are not yet ready to burn, target thesurrounding grassy areas early inthe second burn. To limit fire encroachment into eucalypt/acacia communities such as away as to avoid themixed eucalypt andacacia woodland onevery Planned burn programs within abroader grassy landscape can beplanned in understorey within thesame year inamanagement area. Do not burn more than 30percent of forests andwoodlands with ashrubby retain features such as micro-climates anddenser pockets. along thebases of escarpments) unburnt areas tend to remain. This helps to In moister areas (e.g. near gullies androcky creek beds andprotected areas target communities. A mosaic is achieved with generally 40–70percent burnt area within the 6/05/13 3:57 PM

22 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 23 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 23 Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • Aerial ignition suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

ground crews may impair the vision of thepilot andhamper lighting efforts). the plane andthespacing of theaerial incendiaries (smoke from fires lit by that this tactic requires agood understanding of the flight path or‘runs’ of ground ignitionto secure anedge around thearea being burnt.Be aware In someinstances this tactic may beimplemented inconjunction with community. non-target communities to create abuffer, allowing fire to burn away from the and spurs. Creating backing-fires that burn downhill origniting theedges of opportunity to directly target topographical features such as peaks, ridges A fixed wing aircraft covers large areas while ahelicopter provides the Mulga Lands bioregion dueto thescale of areas being managed. Aerial ignitionfrom afixed wing aircraft orhelicopter is often used inthe conditions, topography andfuel loads. spots should regularly vary throughout theburn dueto changes inweather apartwillfurther result inalower-intensity fire. Note that the spacing of the as spots merge they create high-intensity junction zones). Spots placed closer together will result inalineof fire that is of greater intensity (i.e. particularly where there is anaccumulation of volatile fuels. Spots placed Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter thedesired intensity of afire and overabundant seedlings andsaplings. This tactic is also useful to reduce fine fuels such as grasses, leaf litter, twigs a minimum,thefire has agreater amount of time to burn fuels in that area. reduction of available fuels. As theintensity andrate of spread are kept to will generally result inthemore complete coverage of anarea andabetter A low-intensity backing fire with good residence time.Aslow moving fire higher-severity fire ignited inside the burn area. intensity backing fire into the burn area or create a containment edge for a Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can create alow- provided with acopy priorto ignition. drop path onto amap oraerial photograph andensure ground crews are gain anunderstanding of terrain. It is good practice to plot theincendiary is recommended (if possible stereoscopic images are particularly useful) to The use of aerial photographs, satellite images or quality topographical maps

6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 24 • • Bernice Sigley, QPWS, Mount Moffat (2009). Angophora woodland burning ondusk .

stress) andthepotential for fire to compound these issues. index andsoil moisture, signs of poorhealth (e.g. tree death from drought In this instance beaware of any containment issues, thecurrent drought tactics such as afternoonornight ignitionto reduce environmental impacts. of prolonged drought) but fire management is required, implement suitable Afternoon orevening ignition.If conditions are not ideal (e.g. during periods line (e.g. firelines). grasses (Williams 2008).Contain burns that are unbounded by aconstructed to promote germination andtherecruitment of native legumes andsome severity fires and storm burning at the start of the wet season can be useful if thelikelihood of rain inthedays post burn is high.Occasional higher- soil moisture indicators are visible surface water orflowing creeks. It is ideal is good soil moisture throughout thesite including drainage lines) Good from wet season toseason middry (following sufficient rain). Ensure there Storm burning. Whenpossible aimto conduct someplanned burns late 6/05/13 3:57 PM

24 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Maintain mixed eucalypt and acacia woodlands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 25 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 25 Issue 3: Manage eucalypt forests where understorey fuels are not usually continuous • • Discussion understoreys. pans andmallee forests onloose sand. These communities have very sparse This fire vegetation group contains communities such as poplar box on clay are not usually continuous Issue 3:Manage eucalypt forests where understorey fuels QPWS, Bulloo River (1995). following afloodevent. Although theunderstory is usually sparse, this poplar box flat has a cover of grass

snake Hemiaspis damelii, recorded inCurrawinya National Park. wildfire. This will also helpprotect species such as theendangered grey communities will assist inmitigating theimpact of too-frequent orsevere established mosaic of burnt andareas inthesurrounding fire-adapted These communities may only burn during wildfires indry conditions. An fire to duringcarry planned burns is limited. sparse andslow growing nature of theunderstorey vegetation, theability of clearing, grazing andaltered fire regimes is unknown. Due to the extremely The condition of theunderstorey inthese communities priorto historical 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 26 Brett Roberts,QPWS, Idalia National Park (2011). Yapunyah inMurphy’s Gorge, with sparse fuel. (2006). Currawinya National Park Robert Ashdown, QPWS, community. A low fuel Yapunyah 6/05/13 3:57 PM

26 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 3: Manage eucalypt forests where understorey fuels are not usually continuous DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 27 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 27 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses guidelines. Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 4),regarding information onfire management fires resulting inthefragmentation and overall decline of eucalypt communities. by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging high-severity community. Buffel grass Cenchrus ciliarisinparticular poses asignificant threat after which they have theability to significantly invade andalter the vegetation severity. Invasive grasses may bepromoted by disturbances (such as fire), established andwide-spread, these grasses can dramatically increase fire It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses. When Issue 4:Manage invasive grasses 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 28 Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 5),for fire management guidelines. and shading. woody thickening; reducing thehealth of theground layer through competition Overabundance of acacias, eucalypts orothertrees orshrubs may lead to Issue 5:Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings 6/05/13 3:57 PM

28 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 29

29 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands more slowly), reducing diversity andincreasing therisk of severe fire. swards, displacing native grass species (native grasses require fire but respond frequency andintensity of fires. Post fire these invasive grasses can formdense grasslands significantly increases available fuel loads andin-turn thepotential communities. The occurrence of invasive grasses such as buffel grass within spread of exotic species into grasslands poses asignificant threat to these insufficient severity to scorch seedlings/saplings) or as a result of grazing. The infrequently orrepeatedly applied too early intheseason (creating fires of saplings leading to woody thickening occurs where fire has beenlong absent, preventing theirinvasion by trees andshrubs. Overabundant seedlings/ The main fire management issue is retaining openareas of grasslands by Fire management issues endangered under theQueensland Vegetation Management Act 1999. Dichanthium spp.,bluegrass andBothriochloa spp. The Bluegrass community is Triodia spp., kangaroo Astrebla grass grass Mitchell spp., Themeda spp., communities of theMulga Lands bioregion are varied andinclude spinifex silver-leafed ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia may also bepresent). Grassland as poplar box Eucalyptus populnea, inland bloodwood Corymbia terminalis and grass (however, legumes andotherherbs andscattered shrubs andtrees such generally grow to onemetre andare characterised by adominant species of rainfall, geology/soil typeandtopography. Grasslands or‘downs’ vegetation and theircomposition varies greatly depending uponclimatic zones, annual and undulating hills throughout thebioregion. These communities are diverse grasslands of theMulga Lands bioregion occur onfloodplains, flats, plains Grasslands are openandtreeless orcontain scattered trees orshrubs. The Chapter 2:Grasslands 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: 515 ha; Narkoola National Park (Recovery), 2ha. Examples of this Binya FVG: National Park, 692ha; Culgoa Floodplain National Park, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 717687ha, 4percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings. Manage invasive grasses. Maintain othertussock grass communities. Maintain spinifex grasslands. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 30 • Key indicators of healthy Spinifex grasslands: Awareness of theenvironment found within theinterspaces between spinifex clumps. bloodwoods). Forbs, legumes, tussock grasses andsand patches may also be (e.g. silver-leafed ironbark, Queensland peppermint Eucalyptus hummocks with somescattered isolated shrubs (e.g. Acacia spp.) andtrees This vegetation group is characterised by thepresence of spinifex Triodia spp. Use regular low-severity fires to maintain spinifex grasslands. Issue 1:Maintain spinifex grasslands Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, Nairana National Park (2006). legumes andgrasses may befound within theinterspaces, particularly aftergood rainfall. Bloodwood woodland with anunderstorey of spinifex. While generally bare, forbs, • •

may becommon. Scattered eucalypts, acacia andamix of shrubs including Eremophila spp., may bepresent, particularly after good seasonal rains. Other native perennial grasses including wiregrasses Astrida spp. andforbs collapsing inthecentre. hummocks have littlegrey ornodry matter present andthey are not spp.—which grow as hummocks andcan vary greatly indiameter. The The ground layer is characterised by thepresence of spinifex grass Triodia exserta and 6/05/13 3:57 PM

30 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 31 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 31 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands • • • • The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain spinifex grasslands: Stephen Peck, QPWS, Alton National Park (2009). Spinifex is being shaded out by developing cypress pinewoodland.

It is difficult to walk through grasses (entwined grasses). become visible amongst thespinifex, particularly afteragood wet season. or Eremophila spp. may have become common andseedlings are starting to Doolan Acacia salicina, gidgee Acacia cambagei, cypress pineCallitris spp. Spinifex hummocks are contiguous andable to carry even low-intensity fire. growth, looks grey andold). collapse inthecentre. Long unburnt spinifex is moribund (i.e. has nofresh The spinifex hummocks have expanded indiameter andare starting to 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 32 • • • Discussion

some species such as Eremophila spp. sufficient fuel accumulation) can assist in controlling overabundance of Two fires inquick succession in spinifex grasslands (if rainfall promotes competitive advantage to weeds andwoody species. often kill thespinifex hummock orslow seedling establishment andgive a post-fire spinifex seedling establishment. Burning without soil moisture will post fire recovery time. Soil moisture avoids this andalso promotes rapid the death of sub-soil grass bases/roots (Wright andClarke 2008)andslow Fires which are too severe andoccur without sufficient soil moisture result in reducing thecontinuity of fuels required for fire management. their diversity (thecattle prefer soft forbs andspinifex seedheads) andby Grazing can impact onthehealth of spinifex communities by reducing (2009). Alton National Park Stephen Peck, QPWS, many trees. burn which has killed after ahigh-intensity Spinifex recovering Park (1993). QPWS, WelfordNational backing fire. to generate along Strip burning spinifex 6/05/13 3:57 PM

32 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 33 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 33 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands Assessing outcomes desired rainfall levels andresulting growth are observed. Therefore planned burns inthis community may beamediumpriority until the this community is reliant uponseasonal rainfall andgrowth post rainfall. Maintaining healthy spinifex grasslands is averyhighpriority, however burning What is thepriority for this issue? after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals fire. remain after bases grass > 95%of Very high Measurable Measurable Medium objectives Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem structure, usually within wildfire mitigation zones. Planned burn required to mitigate hazard orsimplify vegetation months afterfire. of grasses that recover oneto three fire intensity) and estimate cover the variability of landform and likely or more sites (taking into account Before andafterfire, select three How to beassessed Priority assessment promoted. Or, exotic grasses < 90%recover. Not Achieved: 90–95 %recover. Partially Achieved: > 95%recover. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 34 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned observation points. Satellite imagery can beused over broad areas. problem insomeareas. Use simple monitoring techniques such as establishing of native perennial grasses. Monitor woody thickening as it can become a Within spinifex grasslands, it is important to maintain themix anddiversity ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time infrastructure. resources and cultural natural/ wildfire on impacts of prevented burning has planned Proactive the tip. scorched to height are < 1metre in seedlings saplings/ of woody > 75% infrastructure. natural/cultural resources and prevented impacts of wildfire on Proactive planned burning has of saplings/seedlings scorched. severity) andestimate thepercentage variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor impact. has asignificant Not Achieved: Wildfire wildfire. prevents impacts of area of planned burns Achieved: Annual Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. 6/05/13 3:57 PM

34 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 35 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 35 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands Fire severity: Patchy What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate severity Patchy class Low Fire (M) (P) (L)

intensity 50–100 (kWm 100– 1500 < 50 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 to low to )

Average 0.3–0.5 0.5–1.5 height flame < 0.3 (occasionally moderate) (m)

Complete removed. standing biomass biomass Average height scorch scorch ≤ 1.5 ≤ 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) fuels. fuels (litter) andnear surface Does not remove all thesurface High percentage of patchiness. have burnt. Stubble still evident. surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness. Most of the blackened remnants. fuels burnt. Stubble burnt to All surface andnear surface (loss of biomass) Description 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 36 Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Welford National Park (2010). An unsuccessful spinifex burn that failed to carry. QPWS, Welford National Park (1993). A successful spinifex burn that carried across most spinifex clumps. 6/05/13 3:57 PM

36 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 37 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 37 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Other issues • • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • •

patchiness assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire moisture to assist inleaving sufficient areas unburnt. provide animal refuges. Use appropriate tactics andburn with good soil in theseason, someinternal patchiness is desirable to create diversity and While it is important that thefire cover be sufficient to prevent wildfire later Across thelandscape a mosaic approach is ideal for maintaining diversity. 15 years. st-fire response frame). of across thelandscape Dependent uponthegrowth achieved post wet season. Apply Fire frequency taken to minimise impacts. settlements androads should beconsidered inburn planning andsteps Grassland fires can produce alot of smoke. Smoke impacts onrural in recovering quickly. are starting to become overabundant. Highsoil moisture will assist grasses A moderate severity fire may be required when targeting woody species that seasons it may benecessary to reduce orrestrict planned burns. seasons it may befavourable to burn more than 20percent andin very poor than 20percent of thegrassland within thesame year. Inparticularly good Within themanagement area it is generally recommended not to burn more

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p lanned burns 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 38 species acompetitive advantage within thelandscape. seedling establishment orkill thespinifex hummock giving weeds andwoody establishment. Burning without soil moisture will often slow down spinifex promoting grasses. Soil moisture also promotes rapid post-fire spinifex seedling bases. Timing burns to coincide with follow-up rain will assist further in is agood strategy to encourage theregeneration of grasses andretain their Burning with good soil moisture, hightemperatures andbefore storm rainfall Soil moisture: Goodsoil moisture is critical whenburning spinifex grasslands. help thefire ingrasslands.carry Wind speed: Beaufort 1–2,or<10km/hr. Often somewind will berequired to become vulnerable to theencroachment of weeds. winter which may result inpatches of bare ground for longer periods, which Temperature: Be aware that grass growth andrecovery post fire is slower in DI (KBDI):<100 GFDI: <7 • • Season: be avoided. to andfollowing burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes can When planning aburn, it is important to beaware of weather predictions prior What weather conditions should Iconsider?

landscape. primary factors indetermining how effectively aburn will carry across this complete curing to carry afire. Hummock spacing, humidity and wind are the Spinifex is highly volatile (highresin content) anddoes not rely upon available as woody species are more likely to bekilled by fire when young. species. Implement fire to address this issue as soon as sufficient fuels are remain openandto avoid theencroachment andestablishment of woody rainfall. It is important to regularly monitor spinifex grasslands to ensure they Wet season to early season. dry Concentrate effortsafter years of good 6/05/13 3:57 PM

38 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 39 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 39 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands In areas of discontinuous spinifex hummocks during low wind conditions it may be Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Idalia National Park (2006). An approaching storm can provide theopportunity for storm burning. QPWS, Welford National Park (1993). difficult to get thedesired burn coverage. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 40 • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

line (e.g. firelines). grasses (Williams 2008).Contain burns that are unbounded by aconstructed to promote germination andtherecruitment of native legumes andsome severity fires and storm burning at the start of the wet season can be useful if thelikelihood of rain inthedays post burn is high.Occasional higher- moisture indicators are visible surface water orflowing creeks. It is ideal is good soil moisture throughout thesite including drainage lines. Goodsoil from wet season toseason middry (following sufficient rain). Ensure there Storm burning. Whenpossible aimto conduct someplanned burns late with thewind) may helpaddress theissue of woody species encroachment. Creating arunning fire (through closely spaced spot ignitionorline from thenon-target community. lighting patterns along themargin to promote abacking away burns fire that sensitive communities can occur adjacent to grasslands. Use appropriate Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities. Insomecases, fire- higher-severity fire ignited inside the burn area. intensity backing fire into the burn area or create a containment edge for a Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can create alow- weather conditions, topography andfuel loads. of thespots should regularly vary throughout theburn dueto changes in placed apartwill further result inalower-intensity fire. Note that the spacing (i.e. as spots merge they create high-intensity junction zones). Spots closer together will result inalineof fire that is of greater intensity particularly where there is anaccumulation of volatile fuels. Spots placed Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire

6/05/13 3:57 PM

40 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 41 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 41 Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities • • • Key indicators of healthy tussock grass communities Awareness of theenvironment interspaces between tussock clumps. bloodwoods. Forbs, legumes, and grasses may also befound within the Eucalyptus melanophloia, Queensland peppermint Eucalyptus exserta scattered isolated shrubs (e.g. wattles) andtrees such as silver-leaved ironbark Dichanthium spp.bluegrass and/orMitchell grass Astrebla spp. with some This vegetation group is characterised by acontinuous cover of dense Use regular low-severity mosaic burns to maintain tussock grass communities. Issue 2:Maintain othertussock grass communities Mark Handley, QPWS, Binya National Park (2011). interspersed with occasional forbs andlegumes. Healthy Mitchell grass tussock communities have a continuous layer of grasses

acacia andmelaleuca indrainage lines. Scattered low trees andshrubs may occur including eucalypts, bloodwoods, legumes (particularly aftergood seasonal rains). Often there is a very diverse mix of otherspecies of grasses, forbs and Dichanthium spp. and/orMitchell grass Astrebla spp. The ground layer is characterised by acontinuous stand of bluegrass and 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 42 Don Butler, Queensland Herbarium, Mantuan Downs, Tambo (1999). Healthy Mitchell grassland. Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, Albinia National Park (2010). Healthy bluegrass grasslands with adiverse mix of native grasses. 6/05/13 3:57 PM

42 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 43 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 43 Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities restore this grassland. grazing pressure for awhile will increase fuel loads andallow afire to andhelp carry • • • • communities: The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain tussock grass John Neldner, Queensland Herbarium, southof Adavale (1982). Mountain wanderrie grass

it is difficult to walk through grasses (entwined grasses) mulga orotherwoody seedlings appear above thegrass layer good seasonal rainfall the diversity andabundance of herbs andforbs has declined, even following some dead material intussock Eriachne spp., showing signs of heavy grazing. Removal of 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 44 desert bloodwood Corymbia terminalis. Usually only carry fire aftera good wet season. Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd (2008). Themedagrass triandra. mostly decomposes andwill not accumulate as much as othergrasses such as kangaroo Mitchell grasslands tend to beself-mulching. While somedead material will bepresent it John Neldner, Queensland Herbarium, west of Charleville (1982). Open grassy tussocks of mountain wanderrie grass Eriachne spp., including emergent 6/05/13 3:57 PM

44 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 45 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 45 Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities What is thepriority for this issue? • • • Discussion and afterfire, and by using counts where relevant. results. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before locations, walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage the three locations that will begood indicators for the whole burn area. At these understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes

Very high Medium Priority conservation of grasslands (Myers et 2004). al. fragmentation has also had asignificant impact on use of fire andtherefore the diversity andquality of native grasses. Surrounding land use and large increases inmacropod numbers following good seasons, can reduce corners of cropped paddocks. Heavy grazing, compounded by occasional native grassland communities to protected areas, roadside verges andthe Current land management practises have largely confined undisturbed (Scanlon 1980). Burning also stimulates seedproduction of Mitchell grass Astrebla spp. Burning encourages newgrowth even if alow rainfall season follows. advantage inthelandscape. take longer to recover, giving weeds andwoody species acompetitive result indamage to thegrass bases oftenkilling thetussock. These grasses Fires that are too intense or fires lit without sufficient soil moisture can High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation Priority assessment 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 46 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof the QPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned year the same burn) within or planned (by wildfire area burnt management in a conditions) for seasonal appropriate as (adjust grasslands < 60%of the tip. scorched to height are < 1min seedlings saplings/ of woody > 75% fire. remain after bases grass > 95%of Measurable Measurable objectives ground burnt within visual field. burn area estimating thepercentage of 300 ormore metres through planned ecosystems within burn area), walk of the variability of landform and In three locations (that take account b. a. Choose oneof these options: of saplings/ seedlings scorched. severity), andestimate thepercentage variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor months afterfire. of grasses that recover oneto three fire intensity) and estimate cover the variability of landform andlikely or more sites (taking into account Before andafterfire, select three

of area burnt. thereby determine thepercentage with GPS, plot onParkInfo and Map theboundaries of burnt areas air. more vantage points,orfrom the of vegetation burnt –from oneor Visual estimation of percentage How to beassessed > 60%burnt. Not Achieved: < 60%burnt. Achieved: Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. promoted. exotic grasses were Or < 90%recover Not Achieved: 90–95 %recover. Partially Achieved: > 95%recover. Achieved: How to bereported

(in fire report) 6/05/13 3:57 PM

46 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 47 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 47 Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters woodland ecotones. satellite oraerial images and/orestablish observation points at grassland/ woody thickening ingrasslands can bedoneby comparing recent andhistoric woody thickening inareas where it can potentially become anissue. Monitoring perennial grasses which can decline intheabsence of fire. Consider monitoring Within tussock grass communities is important to monitor thediversity of native ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. • Fire severity Moderate

severity Patchy Patchy low to (in theground stratum). helps to ensure emerging overabundant saplings/seedlings are kept low class Low Fire (M) (P) (L)

intensity 50–100 (kWm 100– 1500 < 50 (during thefire) Fire , occasionally moderate. Anoccasional moderate severity fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.3–0.5 0.5–1.5 height flame < 0.3 (m)

Complete removed. standing biomass biomass Average height scorch scorch ≤ 1.5 ≤ 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) fuels. fuels (litter) andnear surface Does not remove all thesurface High percentage of patchiness. have burnt. Stubble still evident. surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness. Most of the blackened remnants. fuels burnt. Stubble burnt to All surface andnear surface (loss of biomass) Description 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 48 Other issues Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • • • •

patchiness assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire saic planned burns across thelandscape to themaximum timeframe). For bluegrass to create varying stages of Apply minimise smoke impacts onurban settlements androads. Grassland fires can produce alot of smoke. When planning burns aim to sufficient soil moisture to favour grass regeneration. that are starting to become overabundant. Priorto burning, ensure there is A moderate-severity fire may be required when targeting woody species burning. poor seasons it may benecessary to reduce orrestrict theamount of planned good seasons it may bebeneficial to burn more than 30per cent andin very than 30percent of tussock community within thesame year. Inparticularly Within themanagement area it is generally recommended not to burn more can assist increating internal patchiness. Despite theabove, appropriate tactics andburning with good soil moisture differentin years). only bepossible if planned at alandscape level (by targeting different areas especially thecase as aresult of wildfires. In many instances amosaic will entire planned burn area can burn with nointernal patchiness, andthis is Due to thecontiguous nature of fuel associated with somegrassland the diversity. or as favourable conditions permit)andsomeat longer intervals to aid some Mitchell grassland areas atintervals shorter (e.g. less than five years years, dependent upongrowth post wet season. To create diversity, burn broad-frequency frequency Fire frequency

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48 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 49 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 49 Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities practicable. leading upto andfollowing thefire. Align burns with expected rain events when of local weather conditions andmonitor theweather forecast inthedays the fire to extinguish overnight. It is important to have a good understanding grasses. Heavy dewis favoured whenburning grassland, as this will oftencause Timing burns to coincide with follow-up rain will assist further inpromoting strategy to assist intheregeneration of grasses andretention of grass bases. with good soil moisture, hightemperatures andreliable rainfall is agood Soil moisture: Goodsoil moisture is critical whenburning grasslands. Burning help thefire ingrasslands.carry Wind speed: Beaufort 2–3,or<20km/hr. Often somewind will berequired to opportunity for weed encroachment. growth may result inpatches of bare ground for longer periods andprovide the Temperature: Grass growth andrecovery post fire is slower in winter. This slower DI (KBDI):<100 GFDI: <9 • • • Season: so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided. It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider?

required to achieve this. is dependent upontheobjectives of theburn andthecuring percentage Ensure grasses are sufficiently cured—enough to afire.carry Often this later season inthedry (Crowley 2003). A mosaic of early season dry fires will limit the chance of extensive wildfires regeneration. planning burns during thespring ensure grasses have seeded,to promote soil moisture, during early storm season oraftergood spring rains. If Plan burns during late wet andearly season dry whenthere is good 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 50 • • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • •

moisture exists throughout thesite (including drainage lines). wet season toseason middry (following sufficient rain). Ensure good soil Storm burning. When possible aimto conduct planned burns from late with thewind) may helpaddress theissue of woody species encroachment. Creating arunning fire (through closely spaced spot ignitionorline from thenon-target community. lighting patterns along themargin to promote abacking away burns fire that riparian communities can occur adjacent to grasslands. Use appropriate Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities. Insomecases, to changes inweather conditions, topography and fuel loads. unburnt patches. The spacing of thespots may vary throughout theburn due will result inalower-intensity fire andgreatly varied mosaic of burnt and create hot junction zones) while spots apart(orasingle further spot ignition) closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots merge they a range of methods including driptorches, matches andincendiaries. Spots the desired mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas. This can beachieved using Spot ignitionis oftenused to alter thedesired intensity of afire and create combination of both. prevailing wind ontheday this may require eitherspot orstrip lighting ora promote alow-intensity backing fire. Depending onavailable fuels andthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge to contain thefire and Ltd (2004). Management SciencePty PaulWilliams, Vegetation the fire will carry. be required to ensure Some wind will often grasslands. mosaic inMitchell patchy a create to metres can beuseful every 50to 100 matches spaced Spot lighting using 6/05/13 3:57 PM

50 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain other tussock grass communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 51 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 51 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses of grasslands. of fires which gradually results inthefragmentation and overall decline by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging highseverity community. Buffel grass Cenchrus ciliarisinparticular poses asignificant threat after which they have theability to significantly invade andalter the vegetation severity. Invasive grasses may bepromoted by disturbances (such as fire), established andwide-spread, these grasses can dramatically increase fire It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses. When Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 4),regarding thefire management of invasive grasses. Issue 3:Manage invasive grasses 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 52 Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 5),for fire management guidelines. the ground layer through competition andshading. or othershrubs andtrees may lead to woody thickening; reducing thehealth of Overabundance of acacias, Eremophila spp., cypress pineCallitris glaucophylla Issue 4:Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings 6/05/13 3:57 PM

52 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 4: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 53

53 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities these communities. over timefrom analready nutrient-poor system. Limit fire encroachment into whipstick regeneration. Too frequent fire may result inanet loss of nutrients will slow orprevent regeneration. High-severity fires may kill trees and lead to Melaleucas are fire-adapted however fires that are toointense or frequent during seasonal flooding anddrought events. water) andif they out,fire dry should beavoided. Wetlands are critical habitat Wetland communities donot usually burn (dueto lack of fuel orthepresence of Fire regimes for melaleuca andwetland ecosystems requireresearch. further Fire management issues lower slopes andedges of dunes orfringing clay pans. Bloodwood Corymbia terminalis also occurs inland oncemented aprons onthe and mulga Acacia aneura. densispicata shrubland with isolated stands of whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca Melaleuca communities consist of sandhill honey myrtleMelaleuca lines andclay pans orinbillabongs of semi-permanent orpermanent water. grasses andare found inand around ephemeral lakes, mound springs, drainage tangled lignumMuehlenbeckia florulenta, samphireHalosarcia spp. andshort Wetlands andsprings are oftendominated by sedges (e.g. Eleocharis pallens), Chapter 3: Wetland andmelaleuca communities 2. 1. Issues: 4 954ha. Examples of this Currawinya FVG: National Park, 15432ha; Lake Bindegolly National Park, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 131571ha, 1percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Avoid fire in wetland communities. Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 54 • • Key indicators of ahealthy melaleuca community: Awareness of theenvironment Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. encroachment into melaleuca communities. Maintain amosaic within surrounding fire-adapted communities to limit fire communities Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca Chris Pennay, Queensland Herbarium, St George Racecourse (2010). Melaleucas andeucalypts fringe this wetland. • •

Weed species are uncommon. overabundant. These should besufficient to eventually replace the canopy, but not Seedlings or young melaleuca trees of varying sizes exist intheunderstorey. bloodwood andasparse ground layer of forbs. Shrublands are interspaced with whitewood, mulga and/orinland areas indrainage lines orfringing wetlands orstreams. A canopy dominated by melaleuca tree orshrubspecies usually innarrow 6/05/13 3:57 PM

54 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 55 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities 55 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities communities during times of stress. • • • • Discussion Jenny Handley, QPWS, Currawinya National Park (2011). Melaleuca densispicata

ground) will aidintheregeneration of melaleuca seedlings. When they doburnt, highsoil moisture (orthepresence of water onthe sufficient seed stock for recruitment). on these areas until they have matured andseededat least twice (to ensure fires will be unlikely. Care should be taken to ensure fire does not impact Due to thedense nature of melaleuca shrublands, whenthey doburn, patchy the surrounding areas (refer to Chapter 8(Issue 3). limit encroachment of unplanned fire through appropriate management of than surrounding areas. Donot target these communities for burning, and While fire plays a role inthese communities, they have longer fire intervals Melaleuca ecosystems oftenoccur inpatches oralong natural drainage lines. drought dieback. Avoid any fires encroaching onthese 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 56 impacting wetland andspring communities. unburnt patches inthesurrounding landscape to limit late-season wildfires Avoid fire inthese areas. The main strategy is to maintain amosaic of burnt and Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 2:Avoid fire in wetland communities Karen Smith, QPWS, Currawinya National Park (1995). be burnt. Vegetation along major drainage lines into wetlands form critical habitat andshould not 6/05/13 3:57 PM

56 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 57 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities 57 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities • • • • Discussion • •

landscape using moisture to limit fire encroachment. Wetlands are generally managed inassociation with thesurrounding unplanned fire onnon-target andfire-sensitive communities. areas with mosaic burning is oneof thebest ways to reduce impacts of groups. Proactive broad-scale management of surrounding fire-adapted it has thepotential to damage non-target andfire-sensitive fire vegetation Because wildfire oftenoccurs orotherwiseunder dry unsuitable conditions, communities can bedevastating. and fauna including endemic snails andotherinvertebrates. Fires inthese artesium, samphire Halosarcia spp. andspring grass Sporobolus pamelae Eragrostis fenshamii, pennywort Hydrocotyle Myriophyllum milfoil spp., for rare flora including salt pipewortEriocaulon carsonii, native lovegrass Mound springs are anendangered ecosystem (6.3.23)andare habitat the Mulga Lands bioregion. inundated andare generally found inlow areas of thelandscape throughout other ground layer species scattered. They may be permanently orseasonally with aground layer dominated by oneortwo species of sedges, rushes, with Wetland communities are generally treeless orcontain only scattered trees surface stability andtheinfiltration of water. recover. The reduction orloss of surface cover has implications for soil plants around lake margins—which subsequently require four years to Fire events reduce thesurface cover of algae, lichens andothernon-vascular Wetlands andswamps occupying narrow hydrological ecotones. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 58 Chris Pennay, Queensland Herbarium, Horseshoe Lagoon (2009). The fire can impact uponswamp and wetland species. Be aware that swamps andlagoons that are toomay dry result in a large area being burnt. Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Currawinya National Park (2006). from these areas. Samphire andotherwetland edge plants dry-out once water recedes. Exclude burning 6/05/13 3:57 PM

58 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 59 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Wetland and melaleuca communities 59 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca communities Mound springs viewed from theair, showing lack of surrounding vegetation. Brett Roberts,QPWS, Idalia National Park (2011). Protection from fire is equally as important. A mound spring with anexclusion fence used to protect this critical habitat from grazing. Mark Handley, QPWS, Currawinya National Park (2008). 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 60 numbers of regenerating trees with few mature trees. containing mature and young trees oras adense (‘locked’) stand of very large They may occur as openforest with associated eucalypts, as fragmented clumps upon landscape features andthecommunity’s exposure to fire andgrazing. of theMulga Lands bioregion. The structure of cypress stands vary depending glaucophylla is acommon species andis present throughout theeastern edge plains andundulating country with deepsands. White cypress pineCallitris number of landforms within theMulga Lands bioregion, predominately on Cypress andallocasuarina (including casuarina) communities occur onalimited communities Chapter 4:Cypress pineandallocasuarina fires of agreater frequency and/orseverity. greatly increase fire severity anddraw fire into these communities resulting in It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses. These can Mulga Lands. vegetation community is at thewestern limits of its geographical range inthe eaters, andMajor Mitchell cockatoos. White cypress pine Callitris glaucophylla diversity, andprovide refuge for species such as the vulnerable painted honey Open cypress andallocasuarina communities support high floristic and faunal silverculturepreserve resources (refer to Issue 2). exclusion. However, where themanagement objective is to exclude fire to areas are not highquality production forests andmay not require total fire Within theMulga Lands, there are small areas of production forests. These impacts. of immature ‘locked’ stands, andhas left these species vulnerable to wildfire open stands (refer to Issue 1). The absence of fire has promoted the formation plays arole inmaintaining otherelements of thecommunity, especially inmore Although cypress pineandallocasuarina are fire-sensitive, low-severity fire and/or allocasaurina communities with fire. exclusion, fuel load management orthemaintenance of amore opencypress Depending uponmanagement objectives, fire management will include fire Fire management issues 6/05/13 3:57 PM 60 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 61

61 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: Environmental Purposes Reserve,12ha. Albany State Forest, 218ha; Narkoola National Park (Recovery), 85ha; Wycombe 1 150ha; Narkoola National Park, 991ha; Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 392ha; Examples of this FVG: Thrushton National Park, 2174ha; Powrunna State Forest, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 78127ha, <1percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings. Manage invasive grasses. White cypress pineproduction forests. Maintain opencypress pineorallocasuarina forests. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 62 • • • • • • • • Indicators of healthy opencypress pineorallocasuarina forests: Awareness of theenvironment allocasuarina forests. Use low to moderate intensity planned burns to maintain opencypress pineor Issue 1:Maintain opencypress pineorallocasuarina forests

species present (enoughto eventually replace thecanopy). shrubs, such as Acacia spp. andwilga Geijera spp. with some young canopy The midandlower stratums are oftensparse with amix of smaller trees and stand of narrow immature cypress ordense regrowth of allocasuarina. through anumberof germination events but should not occur as a‘locked’ Mature cypress orallocasuarina trees oftenoccur indistinct age classes Overall it is easy to seeandwalk through. Logs andbranches are scattered. Leaf litter may bethick andcompact, discontinuous orsparse. Themeda grass triandra andoccasionally askangaroo such grasses forbs. The ground layer can vary from sparse to dense andis oftendominated by Casuarina cristata oftenwith caper-bush Capparis spp. inthemid-stratum. belah Casuarina, flameshe-oak pauper Allocasuarina inophloiaorbelah Some allocasuarina/casuarina forests have acanopy dominated by western inophloia orMoreton Bay ash Corymbia tessellaris. coolabah apple Angophora melanoxylon, flame-she oak Allocasuarina Open cypress pineforests may occur inpure stands orbeassociated with 6/05/13 3:57 PM

62 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 63 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 63 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests Healthy openallocasuarina forest with wilga • • • • • • • forests: Indicators that fire is required to maintain opencypress pineor allocasuarina Tony Bean, Queensland Herbarium (2001).

(e.g. fallen trees andbranches). litter andthere are some suspended fuels andanabundance of heavy fuels The ground-layer is starting to accumulate ablanket of cypress pineleaf accumulation of dead material andgrasses have collapsed. Grasses are becoming sparse orclumps are poorly formed. There is an Diversity has declined andtheground layer is becoming sparse. Ground layer plants are beginning to show impacts from shading. and out-compete recruiting juvenile trees of otherspecies. Cypress orallocasuarina are beginning to shade-out understorey diversity three metres high. There is anabundance of single-age class cypress orallocasuarina—one to stands of young trees usually of aheight between oneto three metres. Cypress orallocasuarina is starting to dominate forming dense, ‘locked’ Geijera parviflora understory. 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 64 John Neldner, Queensland Herbarium, south-east of Cunnamulla (1982). Some cypress communities will not carry afire and are not targeted for planned burning. Mark Cant, QPWS, Barakula State Forest (2010). the understorey. This site is still recoverable with fire. Young cypress pines are beginning to form alocked stand andwill gradually shade out 6/05/13 3:57 PM

64 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 65 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 65 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests • • • • Discussion • •

neighbouring areas (Taylor and Swift 2003). burns can cause significant ecological impacts within the community andin the locked stands will burn with a very highto extreme severity. These generally impedefire spread. Despite this, under severe weather conditions, impenetrable blanket of pineleaf litter andact as a‘wind break’ that will Dense ‘locked’ cypress stands will naturally exclude fire as they create athick bark (use wind to push flames through inorder to avoid this). time at thebase of thetree, evident by complete charring or‘collaring’ of the Cypress is particularly vulnerable to fire where there has beenhigh residence around thecommunity to mitigate against theimpacts of wildfire. Protection of opencypress pineforests relies onlow-severity fire inand trees. the cypress andallocasuarina forests, reducing theoverabundance of young not (Price andBowman 1994).Fire can beused to maintain thehealth of trees will survivelow-severity fires however young trees andseedlings will critical to avoid theforming of ‘locked’ stands. Mature andintermediate Appropriate fire management within cypress andallocasuarina forests is and faunal diversity. priority to bemaintained inahealthy condition to support its highfloristic at thewestern limits of themulga lands bioregion should beconsidered a The white cypress pineCallitris glaucophylla vegetation community found protection from fire is not necessarily a requirement. bioregion are classed as non-commercial for harvesting, therefore total 2003). The cypress communities on State forests within theMulga Lands areas subject to intensive silvicultural (forest production) (Taylor and Swift Historically, fire was excluded incypress production areas, particularly within 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 66 after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Medium Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment 6/05/13 3:57 PM

66 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 67 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 67 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests Select at least two of thefollowing as most appropriate for thesite: patches. of burnt mosaic spatial 40–60 % Burn are killed. cypress <3m overabundant > 75%of Measurable Measurable objectives • • • Choose oneof these options: overabundant saplings scorched. intensity), estimate thepercentage of variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor

visual field. percentage of ground burnt within planned burn area estimating walk 300ormore metres through ecosystems within burn area), of the variability of landform and In three locations (that take account burnt. determine thepercentage of area with GPS, plot onGIS andthereby Map theboundaries of burnt areas vantage points,orfrom theair. vegetation burnt –from oneormore Visual estimation of percentage of How to beassessed burnt or>80%burnt. Not Achieved: <30% and 60–80%burnt. between 30–40% Partially Achieved: 40–60 %burnt. Achieved: Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: scorched to thetip. saplings <3mare Achieved: >75%of How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 68 System, orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time retained. ≥ 10cm) a diameter logs (with > 95%fallen retained. height) breast (diameter 10 cm DBH stems of trees with > 95%of each chosen location. determine thepercentage retained in representative sample of thearea) and length must beadequate to provide a line transects (e.g.100 mlong but of fallen logs crossed by oneormore or very soonafter)count thenumber Before andaftertheburn (immediately percentage retained afterfire. of mature trees. Determine the fire intensity) and estimate number the variability of landform andlikely or more transects (taking into account Select oneormore sites orwalk one < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: 6/05/13 3:57 PM

68 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 69 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 69 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity likelihood of ‘locked’ stands forming. of young cypress pines orallocasuarina are managed andto reduce the In general low six to the maximum timeframe). Consider abroad fire interval range of between to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through to Apply mosaic planned burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies patchiness andadjusted for wildfire risk anddrought cycles. assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire Fire frequency should primarily bedetermined through on-ground class Low Fire (M) (L)

ten years. intensity 50–200 (kWm < 50 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity but vary with occasionally moderate to ensure thedensity -1 )

Average 0.3–1.0 height flame < 0.3 (m)

Average 1.5–5.0 height scorch scorch < 1.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) stem orbark damage. cypress crowns. Nosigns of communities. Undamaged into cypress dominated with minimal encroachment High percentage of patchiness charred orweeping. 25 %of stem circumference 50 %of crown affected. Up to Moderate scorch with up to the surface fuels have burnt. Some patchiness, most of (loss of biomass) Description 6/05/13 3:57 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 70 Other considerations • • • Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Mark Cant, QPWS, Wondul National Park (2008). saplings which will ensure thestructure remains open. retained leaf litter andfallen logs and also scorched somecypress andallocasuarina Post low-severity, mosaic burn inacypress forest. The fire has created a good mosaic, • •

impact of wildfires oncypress orallocasuarina forests. under mild conditions throughout the year will assist inlimiting thepotential Broad-scale management of surrounding areas with numerous small fires upon climatic conditions, fuel availability andgrazing issues. The fire frequency applied inthis community will besomewhat dependant fuel loads inthearea. implement successful planned burns andresult intheaccumulation of high dominance (at theexpense of otherspecies), adecline inthecapacity to Extended fire-free intervals will ultimately lead to cypress orallocasuarina allocasuarina. diversity of cypress pineof varying ages. Asimilar approach can beused for reduce thenumberof young trees inthestand andassist inmaintaining a of less than six to eight years may benecessary. This frequency will of fire orasevere fire resulting in a flush of young trees) a fire frequency identified as being at risk of becoming a‘locked’ stand (eitherthrough lack Cypress pinereaches reproductive maturity at six years. If asite has been target community. A mosaic is achieved with generally 40–60percent of area burnt within the 6/05/13 3:58 PM

70 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 71 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 71 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests Examples of low severity fires within cypress pine forests. Stephen Peck, QPWS, Alton National Park (2009). enough scorch to kill some young cypress pines while others have survived. Post moderate severity fire inopencypress pine forest. Note the severity has resulted in Stephen Berlin, DAFF. 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 72 unburnt patches. hollow bearing trees, fallen logs andpromote agood mosaic of burnt and Soil moisture: Goodmoisture conditions will protect thebases of grasses, fire coverage where fuels are sparse. impact immature cypress dueto increased residence time.It may also reduce cypress pineforest can act as wind breaks andslow rate of spread. This can the bass of trees (which may cause collaring of thebark andtree death). Dense necessary to helpfire throughcarry thearea andprevent residence timearound Wind speed: Beaufort scale oneto four ( < 20km/hr). Some wind may be DI (KBDI):<100,upto 120inmild conditions FFDI: <12 or burning during aperiodof increasing fire danger. Season: Throughout the year whengood soil moisture exists. Avoid periods dry can beavoided. as partof theplanning andsothat undesirable conditions andweather changes It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider? Stephen Berlin, DAFF (2001). shown here. Widely spaced spots inmild conditions will promote alow-severity fire such as that A spot fire from anincendiary incypress pine forest approx 10minutes afterignition. 6/05/13 3:58 PM

72 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 73 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 73 Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn, tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

overabundant saplings. achieve burns later inthe season that are severe enoughto helpaddress lines (e.g. fire-lines). Progressive burning will make it much easier to (Williams 2008)andalso contain burns that are unbounded by constructed to promote germination andrecruitment of native legumes andgrasses severity fires and storm burning at the start of the wet season can be useful the wet season with progressive lighting into thedry. Occasional higher- various times) are lit infire-adapted communities as soon as possible after of wildfire extent andseverity, etc). Fires (of varying extents, severity andat the burn proposal (e.g. fuel load management, weed invasion, thereduction appropriate seasonal conditions) can assist inachieving theobjectives in of different seasonal conditions. Burning throughout the year (during the the objectives of theplanned burn. Progressive burning takes advantage later date under conditions that will achieve thedesired severity andfulfil Planned burns can thenbeimplemented inthecypress pineforest at a communities (e.g. eucalypt forests andwoodlands) during mild conditions. Progressive burning: Implement planned burns insurrounding fire-adapted as smoke andheat will impact honey production. apiary sites. Consideration should begiven to apiarists whenplanning burns and create abundant smoke. Be aware that smoke may also impact onactive layer. Fires incypress pinelitter will oftensmoulder for long periods of time low-severity planned burns will only remove approximately 10mmof thetop Smoke issues. Cypress pinelitter retains ahighlevel of moisture andoften limiting later planned burn efforts. planned burn where there is adeficiency of ground fuel may exhaust fuels an accumulation of elevated fuels andlack of ground fuels. Attempting a levels it is common incypress forests to have someareas where there is a planned burn. Although anarea may appear to have appropriate fuel cypress pineforests andneed to beassessed carefully before implementing Be aware that loads fuel (particularly ground fuels) can vary greatly within

6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 74 • • •

impact uponthecommunity. may result inarunning fire of agreater severity than desired andpotentially of prevailing andpredicted weather conditions ontheday of theburn as it the bark andkill thetree). When using this tactic it is important to beaware and limits residence timearound thebase of cypress pines (which can collar carries across theleaf litter (which is oftenheavily compacted inthese areas) the wind) is oftenfavoured within cypress pineareas. This ensures thefire A running fire (using closely spaced spot ignitionorstrip/line ignitionwith the burn dueto changes inweather conditions, topography andfuel loads. lower-intensity fire. The spacing of the spots will regularly throughoutvary merge they create hot junction zones). Spots apartwill further result ina Spots closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots particularly where there is anaccumulation of elevated or volatile fuels. Spot lighting can beused effectively to alter thedesired intensity of afire containment edge for ahigher-severity fire ignited inside the burn area. way to create alow intensity backing fire into the burn area or to create a Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can beauseful 6/05/13 3:58 PM

74 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 1: Maintain open cypress pine or allocasuarina forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 75 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 75 Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests • • • • • • required: Indicators of awhite cypress pineforest where fire exclusion might be Awareness of theenvironment Use fire in adjoining areas to protect white cypress pineproduction forests. Issue 2: White cypress pineproduction forests Stephen Berlin, DAFF (2007). between trees. cypress and onaverage agood spacing forest. There is afull healthy crown of A highquality cypress pineproduction

The site lacks orhas sparse understorey plants. the ground. Logs andlimbs andabuild-up of coarse orheavy fuels are present on There are oftennosigns of fire history at the site (e.g. charring of trees). More than 75percent of thecanopy is dominated by cypress pine. pine litter. The leaf litter is predominately made upof thick andcompacted cypress Fisheries andForestry (DAFF) as aProduction Forest. The area is zoned by the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Stephen Berlin, DAFF (2006). between trees. of young cypress andreduced spacing Note themixed canopy, greater number An average cypress pineproduction forest. 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 76 Stephen Berlin, DAFF (2004). Compacted leaf litter andheavy fuels build-up can befound insomeproduction forests. Stephen Berlin, DAFF (2006). trees. There are some understorey plants but these are sparse. An opencypress production forest. There is noevidence of charring on young cypress 6/05/13 3:58 PM

76 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 77 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 77 Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? • • Discussion Select at least two of the following as most appropriate for thesite: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals tonnes/ha. <5 to load Reduce fuel Or low. hazard to fuel overall Reduce

Very high Measurable Measurable objectives Priority base of thetree andcomplete charring or‘collaring’ of thebark. is particularly vulnerable where there has beenflame residence timeat the Cypress is oftenkilled by fire and regenerates from canopy stored seed.It lower economic quality, orotherfire-adapted communities. at reducing fuel loads. The adjacent areas could becypress pineforests of moderate severity planned burns undertaken insuitable conditions, aimed managing surrounding areas with mosaic burning, andimplementing low to The protection of cypress pineproduction forests relies onappropriately structure, usually within wildfire mitigation zones. Planned burn required to mitigate hazard orsimplify vegetation locations. the remaining fuel inat least three assess visually to Go, to isReady Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your Step 5of theQPWS Planned Burn Or 2010b). Hazard Assessment Guide(Hines et al. After theburn: use theOverall Fuel How to beassessed Priority assessment five tonnes/ha. load is greater than reduced to low Or fuel hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel than five tonnes/ha. been reduced to less low Or fuel load has has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 78 System, orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned area. across the a wildfire of passage promote of fuel to no corridors there are such that sufficiently Fuel reduced scorched. is area production cypress pine the white < 5%of of thearea to theother. corridors that extend from oneside whether there are oraren’t unburnt assessed sufficiently to determine After theburn: Boundaries of burn the percentage of area is scorched. margin inthree locations) andestimate (e.g. a100mlong sectionof the site orrepresentative sections After theburn: Walk through the Or more vantage points,orfrom theair. percentage of area burn –from oneor After theburn: Visual estimation of area. extend across the Unburnt corridors Not Achieved: effectively prevented. wildfire may not be that thepassage of such small is very unburnt patches the ‘gap’ between but insomeplaces of thearea to another extend from oneside No unburnt corridors Partially Achieved: substantially slowed. will beprevented or Passage of wildfire the area to another. from oneside of corridors extend Achieved: Nounburnt of area is scorched. Not Achieved: >15% scorched. 5–15 %of thearea is Partially Achieved: area is scorched. five per cent of the Achieved: than Less 6/05/13 3:58 PM

78 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 79 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 79 Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for discussion) Other considerations Landscape Mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time • • • • • •

on thecypress community’s edge. moderate. Ideally aimfor afire that will self-extinguish late afternoon and/or In adjoining fire-adapted communities: In general low relights orspot over’s into adjoining areas. aware that smouldering may not beimmediately apparent but can cause that if fire carries into piles they will generally smoulder for long periods. Be be pushed uppiles of debris from heavy plant such as dozers. Be aware Following fire-line maintenance incypress production areas, there will often fire spread andprovide access. Fire-line maintenance is a key strategy. Production areas are defined by constructed fire-lines that assist to restrict assist inmitigating impacts of wildfires oncypress pineproduction forests. combination with recommended tactics (seebelow) throughout the year will Broad-scale use of fire in surrounding country under mild conditions in year cycle to create aseries of buffer blocks and variation of fuel loads. One optionis to use rotational burning of somesurrounding areas inaneight and limit theimpacts of re-ignition within theburn area. the impacts of unplanned fire on thearea, create a buffer of low fuel loads cypress pineproduction forests (e.g. 70–80percent) is required to mitigate A greater than usual coverage of fire inthe target community surrounding required to reduce fuel loads. Aim to burn thesurrounding areas everyseven to 10 years or as oftenas but occasionally occasionally but 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 80 Temperature: 19to 23˚C,ideally 21˚C at 12:00amto 1:00pm Relative humidity:30–40percent at 11:00amand15–20percent at 3:00pm Cloud: Nil.Nocloud cover is of critical importance (Taylor and Swift 2003) Wind direction: Noeasterly component base of cypress pines (residence timecan cause collaring andtree death). ensure thefire will throughcarry anarea andavoid flame residence time at the Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–3,(ideally 10km/hr). Some wind is required to DI (KBDI):80–120 FFDI: <12 severity is limited. are cooler during this periodand thepotential for fire to exceed thedesired (burns continue through to August inexceptional circumstances). Conditions burning incypress pineforests commences inApril/May andextends to July Season: Traditionally, inthesouthof theBrigalow Belt bioregion, fuel reduction production forests have beenidentified(Taylor and Swift 2003) as perbelow: Optimal conditions for fuel reduction planned burns adjacent to cypress burn planning. undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto helpwith It is important to beaware of conditions priorto andfollowing burns sothat What weather conditions should Iconsider? 6/05/13 3:58 PM

80 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 81 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 81 Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of the burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (for example, dueto topographical variation). Also, during Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

crews are well aware of this priorto ignition. incendiary drop path onto amap oraerial photograph andensure lighting useful to gain anunderstanding of terrain) andit is good practice to plot the aerial photographs is recommended (stereoscopic images are particularly also berequired within thearea to achieve thedesired fire coverage. Use of Followingefforts. thesecuring of an edge, follow upground ignitionmay lit by ground crews may impair the vision of thepilot andhamper lighting of theplane andthespacing of theaerial incendiaries as smoke from fires that this tactic requires agood understanding of the flight path or‘runs’ ground ignitionto secure anedge around thearea being burnt.Be aware In someinstances aerial ignitionmay beimplemented inconjunction with conditions. knowledge allows thefire manager to adjust tactics to suit theprevailing visual information onlocal weather conditions (e.g. wind directions). This planned burn area can helpto clearly thearea identify andprovide some Lighting smoke beacons (via aerial ignition)ontheperimeter of the severity fire andlimit the chance of hot junction zones occurring. a fire. Spots are spaced approximately 100metres apart to promote alower- production areas) andcan beused to effectively alter thedesired intensity of allows for theefficient coverage of large, flat areas (ideal forcypress pine Aerial ignition.Gridding using aerial incendiaries from afixed-wing aircraft result andimpact uponthecypress pinecommunity. adequately considered, arunning fire of greater severity than desired may on theday of theburn andany existing containment issues. If these are not it is important to beaware of theprevailing andpredicted weather conditions residence timearound thebases of thecypress pines. When using this tactic wind) is oftenfavoured within cypress pineproduction areas to limit flame A running fire (closely-spaced spot ignitionor strip/line ignition with the

6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 82 Stephen Berlin, DAFF (2009). the spacing between spots. Aerial ignitionusing afixed wing aircraft inacypress pine forest. Smoke plumes indicate 6/05/13 3:58 PM

82 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 2: White cypress pine production forests DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 83 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities 83 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses of dense ‘locked’ stands. cypress pineandallocasuarina open-forests andwoodlands andtheformation fires which results inthe fragmentation and overall decline inthe extent of by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging high-severity community. Buffel grass Cenchrus ciliarisinparticular poses asignificant threat after which they have theability to significantly invade andalter the vegetation severity. Invasive grasses may bepromoted by disturbances (such as fire), established andwide-spread, these grasses can dramatically increase fire It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses. When Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 4)regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 3:Manage invasive grasses 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 84 Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 5),for fire management guidelines. health of theground layer through competition andshading. Overabundance of cypress pines may lead to woody thickening— reducing the Issue 4:Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings 6/05/13 3:58 PM

84 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Cypress pine and allocasuarina communities Issue 4: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 85

85 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Mulga dominated communities seasons thefuel load inthese ecosystems is rarely enoughto carry fire. Mulga is fire sensitive and may be killed by hire-severity fire, althoughinnormal community—these grasses increase theseverity andencroachment of fire. have become established along themargin of, orhave penetrated into the mulga communities. This is of particular importance where invasive grasses the frequency, intensity andextent of unplanned fires that impact upon managed to create alandscape mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas that mitigate (e.g. planned burns) —instead, surrounding fire-adapted communities are In most instances, fire is not applied directly to mulga communities Fire management issues alluvial soils orsoils produced from more fertileparent material (DNRM2002). bioregion are covered separately (refer to Chapter 6). These generally occur on cambagei andotheracacia dominated communities scattered across the eastern of parts) thebioregion. Brigalow Acacia harpophylla, gidgeeAcacia and othereucalypts co-dominate themulga canopy inthehigherrainfall (more Soils are generally very infertile sandy Poplar earths. box Eucalyptus populnea a range of mulga Acacia aneura shrubland andwoodland plant communities. vegetation group occurs onflat to undulating plains andlow ranges supporting Wales, mulga communities characterise theMulga Lands bioregion. This fire Stretching from Jundah insouth-west Queensland into north-west New South Chapter 5:Mulga dominated communities 2. 1. Issues: (Recovery), 830 ha; Tregole National Park, 713ha. Binya National Park, 5866ha; Powrunna State Forest, 1521ha; Narkoola National Park 8 250ha; Lake Bindegolly National Park, 7801ha; Mariala National Park, 7764ha; National Park, 9471ha; Hell Hole Gorge National Park, 8594ha; Narkoola National Park, Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 18122ha; Welford National Park, 10197ha; Thrushton Examples of this Currawinya FVG: National Park, 96567ha; Idalia National Park, 57479ha; 1 for complete list. Extent within bioregion:

Manage invasive grasses. Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities. 7 219145ha, 39percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 86 damaging unplanned fires encroaching into mulga dominated communities. fire-adapted communities to limit thefrequency andpotential impacts of Maintain a varied landscape mosaic of burnt andunburnt patches inadjacent Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities Teresa Eyre, of DSITIA, north Wyandra (2008). A mulga community with aheavy body of grass following anextensive wet season. 6/05/13 3:58 PM

86 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Mulga dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 87 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Mulga dominated communities 87 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities • • • Discussion • • • •

causing contraction of these communities. of invasive grasses have resulted infires of greater frequency andseverity land use (e.g. clearing, grazing andtheuse of pastoral fire) andthe spread (Hodgkinson 2002)orduring extensive landscape wildfires. Changes in (resulting insubstantial grass growth creating sufficient fuel to fire)carry grasslands). Ingeneral fires have occurred following prolonged rainfall at between 10to 50 years (this differs where mulga is associated with Historically fire within most mulga communities was infrequent, estimated is very occasional andfollows highrainfall years (refer to Chapter 6). (or significantly top-killed). Fire plays no role intheir germination which cambagei andburra Acacia ensifolia are long-lived andfire-killed Other acacias such as brigalow boree Acacia tephrina, gidgeeAcacia fire does play a role inthepersistence of this community inthe landscape. wildfire impacts by burning surrounding areas, theoccasional high-severity need fire to promote germination. Although it is recommended to mitigate in order for thespecies to persist locally. These species are hard-seeded and catenulata, are reliant uponregeneration from a viable seedbank post-fire Fire-killed acacias such as mulga, Acacia petraea andbendeeAcacia grasses. grass). Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 4)regarding fire management of invasive is important to be aware of thepresence of invasive grass species (e.g. buffel When conducting planned burns inareas adjacent to mulga communities it fire will carry. and pads will break upthecontinuity of fuels affecting theextent to which fuels (e.g. grasses) required for planned burns. Goat, pigandhorse paths 2004). Grazing can contribute to ground layer sparseness andremoval of some areas has resulted inadense layer of trees andshrubs (Myers et al. with agrassy understorey can result intheloss of perennial grasses andin Overgrazing by domestic, feral andnative animals inmulga communities and mature system to re-establish over time. appears healthy, implementing this guidelineshould allow amore varied canopy species of various ages. As long as thestructure of theunderstorey trees), overstocked (with whipstick mulga) ornot contain sufficient recruiting the canopy may beunderstocked (have fewer larger trees including habitat from previous land management (e.g. clearing andgrazing). Inthese systems Newly gazetted estates contain disturbed systems that may berecovering replenishment (DERM2002)priorto being exposed to fire again. mulga sufficient time for regrowth, recovery, maturation andseed bank to fire management in surrounding areas will be required to allow the Following afire that has affected amulga community, aproactive approach 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 88 Mark Handley, QPWS, Lake Bindegolly National Park (2008). Mulga showing drought stress andlow surface fuels. Teresa Eyre, DSITIA, Adavale Road (2006). A pure mulga stand with asparse ground fuel layer. 6/05/13 3:58 PM

88 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Mulga dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 89 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Mulga dominated communities 89 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into mulga communities Long undisturbed mulga that could benefit from afire to promote revitalization. James Haig,QPWS, Idalia National Park (2011). appears healthy, exclusion of fire should bethe main objective. A mixed mulga stand with a dried-off body of grass that could carry afire. As the stand QPWS, Mariala National Park (2008). 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 90 dominated communities. fires which gradually results inthefragmentation and overall decline of mulga by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging high-severity community. Buffel grass Cenchrus ciliarisinparticular poses asignificant threat after which they have theability to significantly invade andalter the vegetation severity. Invasive grasses may bepromoted by disturbances (such as fire), established andwide-spread, these grasses can dramatically increase fire It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses. When Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 4)regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 2:Manage invasive grasses 6/05/13 3:58 PM

90 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Mulga dominated communities Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 91

91 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities encroachment. for more information). Ineithercase, themanagement aimis to limit fire planned. Inotheracacia communities, fire plays no role (refer to discussion germination, but this usually occurs through wildfire anddoes not need to be Occasional fire plays a role insomeacacia communities to stimulate community—as these grasses increase theseverity and encroachment of fire. established along themargin of, orhave beenable to penetrate into the This is of particular importance where invasive grasses have become intensity andextent of unplanned fires that impact uponacacia communities. landscape mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas that mitigate thefrequency, Instead, surrounding fire-adapted communities are managed to create a In most instances, fire is not applied directly to acacia dominated communities. Fire management issues Refer to Chapter 5for mulga-dominated communities. include someshrubs, grasses andforbs (Hodgkinson 2002). in association with eucalypts orcasuarinas. The understorey varies andmay Typically these communities are dominated by acacia eitheras pure stands or Chapter 6:Acacia dominated communities 2. 1. Issues: Powrunna State Forest, 22 ha; Wycombe Environmental Purposes Reserve,1ha. Park, 231ha; Narkoola National Park (Recovery), 189ha; Binya National Park, 85ha; National Park, 3514ha; Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 2020ha; Thrushton National Currawinya National Park, 10132ha; Mariala National Park, 6273ha; Hell Hole Gorge Examples of this Idalia FVG: National Park, 73110ha; Welford National Park, 40960ha; 1 for complete list. Extent within bioregion:

Manage invasive grasses. Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities. 3 071141ha, 17percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 92 damaging unplanned fires encroaching into acacia dominated communities. fire-adapted communities to limit thefrequency andpotential impacts of Maintain a varied landscape mosaic of burnt andunburnt patches inadjacent Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities form dense clumps. which will ofteninitially from abundant seedlings can regenerate post-fire killed by fire, lancewood community. Although A lancewood dominated (2003). Blackwood National Park Management Science PtyLtd, PaulWilliams, Vegetation (2007). Moorinya National Park Science PtyLtd, Vegetation Management Paul Williams, for its regeneration. does not needfire severity fires and all but thelowest by iskilled species community. This A gidgee dominated 6/05/13 3:58 PM

92 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 93 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities 93 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities • • • • Discussion • •

trickle into these areas is useful to reduce fuel andmitigate impacts. wildfires. Patchy to low severity burns in surrounding areas that, onoccasion, accumulation of fuels that promote high-severity, extensive single event Fire exclusion inacacia/eucalypt mixed openforest may result inan to fire andin particular thepresence of invasive species (e.g. buffel grass). it is important to beaware of thedominant acacia species, theirresponse When conducting planned burns inareas adjacent to acacia communities, replenishment (DERM2002)priorto being exposed to fire again. acacia sufficient time for regrowth, recovery, maturation andseed bank to fire management in surrounding areas will be required to allow the Following afire that has affected anacacia community, aproactive approach frequency andseverity causing undesirable impacts. fire) andthe spread of invasive grasses have resulted infires of greater wildfires. Changes in land use (e.g. clearing, grazing andthe use of pastoral fuel to carry fire) (Hodgkinson 2002) combined with extensive landscape prolonged rainfall (resulting insubstantial grass growth creating sufficient associated with grasslands). Ingeneral, fires have occurred following estimated at between 10to 50 years (this differs where acacias are Historically, fire within most of these acacia communities was infrequent, necessary. to keep fire out of these areas by managing fire in surrounding areas if areas are mapped as ‘Acacia communities (exclude fire)’ andit is important which is very occasional andgenerally follows highrainfall years. These fire-killed (or significantly top-killed). Fire plays no role intheir germination stenophylla andmulga Acacia aneura are long lived, have soft seeds andare Acacia brachystachya, bastard mulga Acacia stowardii, river coobaAcacia false gidgee Acacia, boree ammophila Acacia tephrina, umbrella mulga Acacias such as brigalow Acacia. harpophylla, gidgeeAcacia cambagei, are mapped as ‘Acacia communities (limit fire)’. in thepersistence of this community inthelandscape. These communities impacts by burning surrounding areas theoccasional wildfire does play a role to promote germination. Although it is recommended to mitigate wildfire persist locally. These species are hard-seeded andneedfire and good rain regeneration from a viable seedbank post-fire inorder for the species to wattle Acacia victoriaeanddesertwitchetty Acacia stowardii are reliant upon bendee Acacia catenulata andbowyakka Acacia microsperma, bramble Other fire-killed acacias, such as lancewood Acacia shirleyi, Acacia petraea, 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 94 Quilpie (1982). Herbarium, southof John Neldner, Queensland germinate post-fire. coated seeds will however thehard impacted by fire would beseverely a community that Acacia petraea is Lancewood Park (1998). QPWS, Idalia National by afire. severely impacted This would be acacia community. Regrowth inan Herbarium (1982). John Neldner, Queensland survive afire. seeds that rarely by fire and has soft be severely impacted community that would Cambagei isa Gidgee Acacia 6/05/13 3:58 PM

94 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 95 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities 95 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities Timing burns whenlandscape features (such as melonholes retaining water) can assist Chris Crafter, QPWS, Boodjamulla National Park (2006). can assist inlimiting theextent andimpact of wildfires onthese communities. has been100 percent canopy scorch in most areas. Planned burns insurrounding areas A patch of lancewood that has beenaffected by a high-severity wildfire. Note that there Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, Nairana National Park (2006). in achieving amosaic andlimit fire encroachment into non-target communities. 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 96 Brett Roberts,QPWS, Idalia National Park (2011). This brigalow regrowth would beeasily destroyed by ahot fire. QPWS, Idalia National Park (1998). Brigalow regrowth with low ground-fuel load. 6/05/13 3:58 PM

96 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 97 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Acacia dominated communities 97 Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses communities. fires which gradually results inthefragmentation and overall decline of eucalypt by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging high-severity community. Buffel grass Cenchrus ciliarisinparticular poses asignificant threat after which they have theability to significantly invade andalter the vegetation severity. Invasive grasses may bepromoted by disturbances (such as fire), established andwide-spread, these grasses can dramatically increase fire It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses. When Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 4),regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 2:Manage invasive grasses Bernice Sigley, QPWS, Marengo Conservation Park (2011). canopy opened. concern if thecommunity is more openandgrassy, has been disturbed and/orthe threat (where they occur inadjoining areas) to brigalow communities. This is of particular Buffel grass encroachment into brigalow. Invasive grasses pose thegreatest potential 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 98 or collapse of affected plants. riparian trees andshrubs will intensify fires andpotentially result inthedeath the fire risk to these communities. Flooddebris deposited at the base of grasses, which pose asignificant threat by altering the fuel loads andincreasing to weed invasion, inparticular noogoora burr Xanthium pungens andinvasive such as burning away from theiredges. Many of these communities are subject fire encroachment by burning under suitable conditions and/or using tactics intentionally burn them. When burning adjacent fire-adapted communities, limit Most of thespecies inthese communities are fire sensitive— donot Fire management issues as well as saltpan scald areas. This fire vegetation group includes riverine wetlands, eucalypt fringing forests communities Chapter 7:Riparian, fringing andsaltpan 1. Issue: (Recovery), 15ha. National Park, 1574ha; Hell Hole Gorge National Park, 1053ha; Narkoola National Park Park, 7748ha; Binya National Park, 6801ha; Idalia National Park, 3431ha; Welford Examples of this Currawinya FVG: National Park, 21691ha; Culgoa Floodplain National 1 for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 1 960 477 ha, 11 per cent;

Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities. Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 6/05/13 3:58 PM 98 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 7—Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 99 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 7—Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities 99 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities communities, care should betaken to avoid any fire floodplains withAtriplex spp. The forb Atriplex spp. is fire-sensitive. When burning adjacent fire-adapted the debris has broken down. excluded from recent flooddebris deposition areas at least until the majority of in fire-scar development ortheloss of these critical habitat trees. Fire should be deposited around riparian trees may ultimately produce hot base-fires, resulting wildfire (particularly theloss of habitat trees inthese communities). Flooddebris loads andinvasions of noogoora burr Xanthium pungens andmitigate impacts of fringing river red gumEucalyptus camaldulensis may beuseful to reduce fuel seasondry (e.g. March to April) that onsomeoccasions trickle into eucalypt- Patchy to low-severity burns insurrounding areas late inthewet season to early habitat trees. promote structurally complex ground andmid-strata layers andretain mature at least minimise thefrequency andintensity of fire inthese communities to sensitive species and/orhabitat trees. It is highly desirable to exclude fire or Many riparian andfringing communities contain of ahighproportion fire- Refer to Chapter 8(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. saltpan communities Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 100 Creek (2009). QueenslandHerbarium, Yuleba BELOW: Chris Pennay, Herbarium, Yuleba Creek (2010). LEFT: Chris Pennay, Queensland gum woodlands. occur inbox andriver red may out dry seasonally that Depressions andcreeks 6/05/13 3:58 PM 100 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 7—Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 101 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 7—Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities 101 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Currawinya National Park (2006). A clay-pan with sparse vegetation will not carry afire. Thrushton National Park (2006). Robert Ashdown, QPWS, be fire-sensitive. fringing ecology andmay have developed theirown Man-made bore-drains 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 102 Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Idalia National Park (2006). This driedout pondandit’s surrounding vegetation will generally not carry afire. James Haig,QPWS, Bulloo River, Idalia National Park (2011). vulnerable to fires. Flooding events can result indebris build-up at thebase of trees. This makes them 6/05/13 3:58 PM 102 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 7—Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 103 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 7—Riparian, fringing and saltpan communities 103 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, fringing and saltpan communities Red Gums with fresh sedge growth provide habitat for many species. Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium, Warrego River (2002). in from surrounding fire-adapted communities to limit wildfire encroachment. seasonal rainfall, adense cover of grasses may develop. Allow occasional fires to trickle River red gumorcoolabah Eucalyptus coolabah dominate riparian areas. Following good Brett Roberts,QPWS, Bulloo River, Idalia National Park (2011). 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 104 2. 1. Issues: Fire management issues vegetation group chapter. gathered inthis chapter andcross-referenced where relevant ineach fire Rather than repeating these issues for each fire vegetation group, they are management approach is similar irrespective of thefire vegetation group. In theMulga Lands bioregion there are someissues where thefire Chapter 8:Common issues 5. 4. 3.

Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings. Manage invasive grasses. Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups. Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites. Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns. 6/05/13 3:58 PM 104

Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 105 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 105 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns Or (Not all of these indicators will apply to every fire vegetation group) Descriptive indicators of where fire management is required • Main indicators of where fire management is required Awareness of theenvironment controllability. spread andintensity of subsequent wildfires; andtherefore improve their (within theecological regime for thecommunity) to mitigate flameheight, planned burning is to simplify the structure andreduce thequantity of fuel burning as oftenas fuel levels allow. Inwildfire mitigation zones theaimof zones should bemaintained ina relatively low fuel hazard state by planned and natural andcultural resources that may bedamaged by fire. Protection vegetation structure andreduced fuel levels around key infrastructure, property Management System, protection zones aimto create areas of simplified In many cases it is important to use fire to reduce fuels. IntheQPWS Fire Issue 1:Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns • • • • • • • • • •

2010b). Note that this is thepreferred assessment method. hazard as pertheOverall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide(Hines et al. elevated fuels andbark hazard) exceeds a low to moderate overall fuel The combined accumulation of all fuels (surface fuels, near-surface fuels, The midorlower stratum is difficult to seethrough or walk through. is present on theground orperched inshrubs andtrees. An accumulation of coarse fuels with a diameter greater than six millimetres sapling foliage. Ribbon bark, leaf litter andfinebranch material is perched inshruband Shrub branches have significant dead material. Ground layer plants orshrubs are smothered by leaf litter insomeareas. There is anaccumulation of continuous surface fuels that will carry afire. ferns. Dead material has accumulated around thebase of grasses, sedges and A highbark hazard is present. firelines within protection zones. Containment hazards (e.g. stumps, logs andstags) are present along fuel load estimation technique). of thesupportingguideline:How to assess if your burn is ready to go, for a elevated fuels andbark hazard) exceeds five tonnes perhectare (see Step 5 The combined accumulation of all fuels (surface fuels, near-surface fuels, 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 106 Demonstration of thedifference betweenload fuel how thefuel is arranged norits state orstructure” (Hines et 2010a). al. expressed as tonnes perhectare. Aquantification of fuel load does not describe Fuel load weight –“thedry of combustible materials perarea, usually suppression if fuel should beignited” (Wilson 1992). as quantity, arrangement, current orpotential flammability andthedifficulty of Fuel hazard –the“condition of thefuel taking into consideration such factors fuel arrangement. pages of newspaper) but adifferent have thesame load fuel • • • Discussion Troy Spinks, QPWS (2010). Photo 1a:

Photos 1aand1b)can bedefined as: interchangeably. While they are related, they dodiffer significantly (refer to The terms fuel load andfuel hazard are widely used to describe fuels, often How to Assess if Your Burn is Ready to Go. To estimate fuel load, refer to Step 5of theQPWS Planned Burn Guidelines: 2010b). woodlands) use theOverall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide(Hines et al. To estimate fuel hazard (recommended for use inopenforests and The two samples above (eighteen Troy Spinks, QPWS (2010). fuel hazard. contributes to thedifference in Photo 1b: The fuel arrangement andfuel hazard. 6/05/13 3:58 PM 106 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 107 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 107 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns • • • • • •

planned burn operations procedural guide. Refer to theQPWS Goodneighbourpolicy external andNotifying parties of way to achieve theobjectives of protection andwildfire mitigation zones. levels. Cooperative fuel reduction burns with neighbours are oftentheonly boundaries as they are oftenininaccessible areas andhave continuous fuel due to thelocation of park boundaries (firelines may not exist along park It is not always possible to contain planned burns within theprotected area produce high-severity fire during wildfire conditions (e.g. heath). possible avoid fire vegetation groups containing species that naturally vegetation groups that support asimplified vegetation fuel structure. Where When establishing protection zones orwildfire mitigation zones favour fire objectives below). group inaddition to afuel reduction objective (refer to fuel reduction Ensure theuse of appropriate conservation objectives for thefire vegetation In wildfire mitigation zones it is essential to maintain ecosystem health. competitive advantage over woody species. and low-severity burns that retain thebases of grasses will give thema structure suitable for wildfire management andmitigation. Moist conditions Fire management that favours grasses will assist inachieving anopen suspended andelevated fuel andoverabundant saplings andseedlings. zones andwildfire mitigation zones, which means addressing issues such as It is important to maintain asimplified vegetation fuel structure inprotection distributed. have significant effects onthequantity of smoke generated andhow it is temperature inversion andwind speed anddirection all of which can lines). Planning needs to consider factors such as fuel type,fuel hazard, operations (e.g. agriculture, major airports, roads andhigh voltage power where burns are undertaken close to residential areas orcommercial Planned burning oftencreates asmoke management issue particularly 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 108 after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Very high Highest Priority structure, usually within wildfire mitigation zones. Planned burn required to mitigate hazard orsimplify vegetation within protection zones. Planned burn required to protect life and/orproperty, usually Priority assessment 6/05/13 3:58 PM 108 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 109 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 109 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns tonnes/ha. <5 to load Reduce fuel Or or moderate. hazard to low fuel overall Reduce Measurable Measurable objectives locations. the remaining fuel inat least three assess visually to Go, to isReady Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your Step 5of theQPWS Planned Burn Or Assessment Guide(Hines et 2010b) al. Post fire: use theOverall Fuel Hazard

How to beassessed is >5tonnes/ha. moderate Or fuel load reduced to low or hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel <5 tonnes/ha. been reduced to Or fuel load has low ormoderate has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 110 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof the QPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable refer to thecompendium of planned zone). mitigation (for wildfire 60–80 % zone) (for protection 90–100 % Burn c. b. a. Choose oneof these options:

ground burnt within visual field. area estimating thepercentage of metres through planned burn burn area), walk 300ormore landform andecosystems within account of the variability of In three locations (that take of area burnt. thereby determine thepercentage with GPS, plot onParkInfo and Map theboundaries of burnt areas air. more vantage points,orfrom the of vegetation burnt –from oneor Visual estimation of percentage sufficiently limited). wildfire would not be of any subsequent and rate of spread area (theextent extend across the of unburnt corridors burnt. Highproportion Not Achieved: <50% 50–60 %burnt. Partially Achieved: burnt. Achieved: 60–80% zone Wildfire mitigation sufficiently limited). wildfire would not be of any subsequent and rate of spread area (theextent extend across the of unburnt corridors burnt. Highproportion Not Achieved: <80% would still belimited. subsequent wildfire of spread of any the extent andrate 80–90 %burnt, Partially Achieved: > 90%burnt. Achieved: Protection zone 6/05/13 3:58 PM 110 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 111 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 111 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) of fuel, good soil moisture is desirable to: Soil moisture: While theaimof hazard reduction burning is to reduce theamount Wind speed: <15km/hr DI (KBDI):<120 FFDI: <12 • • • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • • • Season: January–August avoided. and following burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes can be When planning aburn it is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto What weather conditions should Iconsider? • •

but generally towards thelower endof that range. undertaken within thefire frequency recommended for thefire vegetation group Wildfire mitigation zones: Planned burns within wildfire mitigation zones are relatively low fuel hazard. carried out as soonas possible afterthey can carry a fire inorder to maintain a Protection zones: Fuel management planned burns within protection zones are reduce elevated fuels andbark hazard (i.e. allow fire to run uptrunks). that will promote low moderate highseverity. to Following this initial burn, aimto reinstate aregime (e.g. whenfirst establishing aprotection zone) theinitial fire may result ina Low conditions. favour grasses over woody species as woody species will create undesirable fuel reduce thelikelihood of athicket of woody species developing post fire reduce scorch height andlimit leaf drop post fire increasing fire danger when relights are more likely. have nocontainment hazards. For wildfire mitigation zones, avoid periods of Later burning can occur inprotection zones if they are well established and Wildfire Mitigation Zones: 60–80percent burnt Protection Zones: 90percent burnt andoccasionally moderate. Where there is ahighfuel load orelevated fuels severity planned burns. Severity should besufficient to 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 112 • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • •

junction zones fire converges with thepreviously lit backing fire creating higher- intensity lighting thewindward edge as the fire windward (clear) edge. If theplanned burn area is narrow, use caution when create higherintensity, contain thesmoky side first, thenspot light the with caution andbeaware of environmental impacts that may result. To higher intensity may berequired indiscontinuous orelevated fuel.Use While alow intensity backing fire is recommended, arunning fire of a spread. (grasses, leaf litter, twigs etc), while minimising fire severity and rate of residence timeandreduction of available fuels, particularly fine fuels in continuous fuel. This tactic ensures thefire has agreater amount of result inamore complete coverage of anarea anda better consumption A low intensity backing fire is usually slow moving, andwill generally of both. prevailing wind ontheday, use eitherspot orstrip lighting oracombination promote alow intensity backing fire. Depending onavailable fuels andthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge to contain thefire and conditions, topography, fuel loads etc. spots will regularly vary throughout theburn dueto changes inweather between spots will result inalower intensity fire. The spacing of the (as spots merge andcreate hot junction zones) while increased spacing fuels. Spots closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity particularly where there is ahighaccumulation of available and volatile Spot ignitioncan beused effectively to alter thedesired intensity of afire

and thepot ential of fire escaping through a spot-over.

intensity may increase whenthe 6/05/13 3:58 PM 112 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 113 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 113 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites Key indicators of Indigenous cultural heritage sites: • • Awareness of theenvironment preparation will these helpto places, identify items andissues. and Heritage Protection (EHP)European cultural heritage branch during fire strategy (DATSIMA) Indigenous cultural heritage branch andtheDepartment of Environment the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander andMulticultural Affairs will not bespecifically identifiedin text oron maps). Consulting Traditional Owners, to note that somelocations will beculturally sensitive andtherefore theirlocation management. The local fire strategy shouldthese locations identify (it is important sites, items andplaces of Indigenous orEuropean heritage whenplanning fire It is important to have knowledge of thelocation of significant cultural heritage Issue 2:Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites David Cameron, DNRM(2004). their bases. vulnerable to fire if fuel builds uparound shelters. These trees are potentially to make canoes, containers ortemporary Indigenous people scarred trees inorder • • •

bundles, wrapped material orbones inside. Rock shelters, especially if they have rock paintings, stone tools, artefact debris scattered ontheground can indicate thepresence of shell middens. Raised mounds (especially with visible shell debris) orthepresence of shell of acanoe). The presence of trees that have beenscarred orcarved(e.g. ascar intheshape scattered ontheground. Arrangements of stones orraised patterns earth ontheground, orartefacts Engravings ontrees orrock faces.

QPWS, Carnarvon Gorge. radiant heat andsmoke impacts. This rock site art is potentially vulnerable to 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 114 Unspecified location. David Cameron, DNRM, to smoke impacts. material vulnerable may contain cultural asthis such Caves Bribie Island (2005). David Cameron, DNRM, operations. vehicle ormachinery line construction or radiant heat, fire vulnerable from are potentially midden. Middens the presence of a usually indicates a mound structure ground or visible in strewn across the Shell material (2002). Atherton David Cameron, DNRM, significance. have cultural heritage arranged are likely to been purposefully that appear to have Rocks ontheground 6/05/13 3:58 PM 114 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 115 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 115 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites • • • • • • Key indicators of European cultural heritage sites:

The presence of historic fence-lines. Survey andtrigpoints exist. Military artefacts such as old equipment andused ammunition exist. (timber liftingwagon) exist. machinery such as winders (timbertramways) andtimberjinkers Forestry artefacts including marked trees (shield trees), andold corrugated iron orwood) are present. Quarries andold minesites (sometimes deepholes covered with bottle dumps, old machinery andiron debris. stumps, old fence posts, old stock yards, tombstones, wells, graves, The existence of building remains, corrugated iron shacks, wooden house Dogwood CreekDogwood (2005). David Cameron, DNRM, base of thetree. built up around the has fuel if especially vulnerable to fire These may be and paint ontrees. left marks, plaques, European explorers Sometimes early (2011). Idalia National Park Brett Roberts,QPWS, vulnerable assets. burn to protect fire- means priorto a of fuel via mechanical may require removal Some cultural sites 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 116 prior to implementing theburn. fuel reduction (e.g. raking) is required tactics, chipped lines ormechanical particular mild weather conditions, When planning burns, consider if burning ormechanical fuel reduction. wildfire through appropriate planned fire, andneed to beprotected from areas, these are often vulnerable to Because of theirlocation inforested from huts andfire towers). campsite remains (andotherruins this timberwinch, springboard trees, timber getting equipment such as site), road signs (andothersigns), shield trees (this onemarks anapiary significance including from the top left: items that are now of cultural heritage getting operations left anumberof In bushland areas, forestry andtimber David Cameron, DNRM, various locations. 6/05/13 3:58 PM 116 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 117 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 117 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites • • • Discussion • • • • •

heritage place (e.g. fences orgravestones). the place that does not contain objects orareas related to thecultural management of aheritage place involve burning only thearea surrounding places onNPRSRestate (DERM2010a,2010b)which recommends fire Be aware of QPWS policy andprocedures Management of cultural heritage units. people are, refer to theDATSIMA and/orEHPcultural heritage coordination societies andcultural heritage If experts. you are unsure whotheappropriate people may include Traditional Owners, indigenous rangers, historical there is aduty of care to ensure appropriate people are involved. Appropriate When planning burns inandadjacent to sensitive cultural heritage places Cultural Heritage Act 2003(Queensland Government 2004). sites). Also refer to theDuty of Care Guidelines provided intheAboriginal coordination units of DATSIMA (for Indigenous sites) orEHP(for European the location orartefacts have consult beenreported, thecultural heritage in place andtreat thelocation with respect. If you are not sure whether Do notdisturb any cultural heritage site orartefact.Leave all materials shelters) use wind to direct smoke away from thesite. For sites that may beimpacted by smoke (e.g. rock paintings androck broader-scale planned burns. burnt edge by backing fire away from these locations. Use this tactic prior to For larger culturally significant sites it may benecessary to create asecure completely undisturbed. of these. If it is not necessary to reduce fuel it is preferable to leave thesite levels thoughmanual, mechanical, orherbicide means oracombination To manage impacts from flameand radiant heat, consider reducing fuel damage paintings). the surface of rock sites, art flame can crack or burn items andsmoke can contact with flames, radiant heat andsmoke (e.g. radiant heat can exfoliate The key risks to cultural heritage sites andartefacts from fire are direct and sites. and severity of wildfires giving better protection to cultural heritage artefacts A landscape proactively managed with mosaic burning will limit thespread Large-scale wildfires are known to damage cultural heritage values. 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 118 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned and afterfire, and by using counts where relevant. results. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before locations, walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage the three locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? significance. heritage cultural of item orsite No impact on Very high Measurable Measurable Highest objectives Priority Burns protecting significant cultural heritage sites. values. within protection zones to protect life, property, andconservation Fuel management through the implementation of planned burns photographs before andafterfire. Visual inspection of site oritems taking How to beassessed Priority assessment on site oritem. was significant impact Not Achieved: there Minimal impact. Partially Achieved: item. No impact onsite or Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:58 PM 118 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 119 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 119 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • • • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters

heritage artefacts andsites. hazard, limit thespread andseverity of wildfires andbetter protect cultural A landscape proactively managed with mosaic burning will helpreduce fuel heritage sites anditems. If possible, apatchy fire will give greater overall protection to cultural vegetation group within theplanned burn area. Be guidedby thefire zoning plan and recommendations for the specific fire Low Burn within theparameters recommended for thefire vegetation group. severity fires will be less likely to impact on cultural heritage sites. 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 120 Soil moisture: Ensure good soil moisture exists. or radiant heat coming into contact with sensitive cultural heritage sites. Wind direction: Closely monitor thewind direction to avoid smoke, flameand/ Wind speed: <15km/hr DI (KBDI):<100for areas where there are combustible historic sites FFDI: <11 Season: Favour early season burning andmoist conditions avoided. and following burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes can be When planning aburn it is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto What weather conditions should Iconsider? Mark Parsons, QPWS, Fishers Creek (2010). Smoke directed away from rock site art during aplanned burn. 6/05/13 3:58 PM 120 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 121 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 121 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites • • • tactics. objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of suggested planned burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the location (e.g. dueto changes intopography, weather and vegetation). During the Tactics will besite-specific anda range of burn tactics may beneededat the same What burn tactics should Iconsider? Mark Cant, QPWS (2002). railroad bridge. Manual removal and burning of flooddebris from around the posts of ahistorical •

ensure fire severity and rate of spread are kept to aminimum. A low-severity backing fire. Aslow-moving, low-severity backing fire can help fire and will limit the chances of ahigh-severity junction zone developing. heritage sites as it will promote aslow-moving andmanageable low-severity to asite of interest. Widely-spaced spot ignitionis preferred around cultural particularly where there is anaccumulation of available and volatile fuels next Spot ignitioncan beused to effectively alter thedesired intensity of afire is preferable to leave thesite completely undisturbed. the potential impacts. If it is not necessary to manually reduce thefuel level it hoe line),trimming orleaf blowing thesurface fuels away from thesite to limit fuel may berequired. This may include theraking, clearing (e.g. creating arake- cultural significance (e.g. scar trees and rock art sites), manual reduction of Manual fuel management. Priorto undertaking planned burns near sites of self-extinguish at thechipped orwet line. or wet linearound thesite sotheresulting backing fire can be extinguished or active fireline andsmoke away from the cultural heritage site. Use a chipped Depending ontheconditions, spot light thewindward (clear) edge to direct the 6/05/13 3:58 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 122 • Indicators of fire encroachment risk: Awareness of theenvironment communities should beused to protect them. If suitable conditions are not available tactics such as burning away from these sometimes self-protecting if fire is used under appropriately mild conditions. some cypress, riparian andacacia communities. These communities are Non-target fire vegetation groups include wetlands, melaleuca, springs and vegetation groups Issue 3:Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire Stephen Peck, QPWS, Alton National Park (2009). should betaken to minimise impact onthese species. Fire-sensitive species can bescorched by nearby planned burning operations, care • • • •

The non-target community is upslope of running fire. continuous fuel leading upto theiredge. Invasive grasses are invading fire-sensitive communities or creating Wetland area without standing water orwater-logged conditions. from fires in surrounding areas. There is continuous grass within thenon-target community that could ignite corridor. Continuous grass leads upto thenon-target community forming afire

6/05/13 3:58 PM 122 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 123 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 123 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups Dale Richter Queensland Herbarium, 44kmsouth-west of Welford National Park (2012). fire though regular planned burning within surrounding fire-adapted communities. Grassy mulga communities (below) that are not long-unburnt should beprotected from National Park (2010). Ambrose,Martin QPWS, Culgoa required. would therefore be likely noparticular tactics encroachment andit is sufficient to limit fire Standing water is often 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 124 • • • Discussion What is thepriority for this issue? •

Priority important fauna habitat. mid-strata vegetation andretain mature habitat trees—all of which are riparian communities inorder to promote structurally complex ground and exclude fire orat least minimise thefrequency andintensity of fire in many hence anincrease inthepotential fire hazard. It is highly desirable to erosion andlead to greater production of fine fuel (mainly grasses), and vegetation. This inturn may increase therisk of weed invasion andsoil inhibits thedevelopment of structurally complex ground andmid-strata species and/orhabitat trees. Too frequent and/orsevere fire removes or Many riparian communities contain of ahighproportion fire-sensitive this chapter). protect thenon-target fire vegetation group (refer to the tactics at theendof If suitable conditions cannot beachieved specific tactics may be required to slope it is necessary to avoid running fires upslope even inideal conditions. be required. Sometimes where anon-target community occurs at thetop of a communities tend to self-protect andadditional protective tactics may not Under suitable planned burn conditions with good soil moisture, non-target sensitive communities. of thebest ways to reduce impacts of unplanned fire onnon-target andfire- management of surrounding fire-adapted areas with mosaic burning is one target andfire-sensitive fire vegetation groups. Proactive broad-scale (e.g. wetland soils may not bemoist) it has thepotential to damage non- Because wildfire oftenoccurs orotherwiseunder dry unsuitable conditions High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment 6/05/13 3:59 PM 124 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 125 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 125 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring section of theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes edge). well-defined (if there is a into theedge one meter thanfurther penetrates no Fire group. vegetation target fire of non- of margin No scorch Measurable Measurable objectives into theedge. fire has penetrated than 1m further locations) anddetermine whetherthe long sectionof themargin inthree representative sections (e.g. a100m of thenon-target community, or very soonafter):walk themargin After theburn (immediately or Or the air. one ormore vantage points,orfrom soon after): visual assessment from After theburn (immediately or very of margin scorched. locations) andestimate thepercentage long sectionof themargin inthree representative sections (e.g. a100m of thenon-target community or very soonafter):walk themargin After theburn (immediately or Or the air. one ormore vantage points,orfrom percentage of margins scorched from soon after): visual estimation of After theburn (immediatelyor very How to beassessed the edge. than onemeter into penetrates further Not Achieved: Fire the edge. than onemeter into penetrates nofurther Achieved: Fire > 5%scorched. Not Achieved: < 5%scorched. Partially Achieved: Achieved: Noscorch. How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 126 Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • Fire severity vegetation group. The below characteristics apply to fires inareas adjacent to thenon-target fire What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters below. community is upslope from theplanned burn, consider using tactics outlined to closed canopy) is insufficient to limit fire encroachment, orthe fire-sensitive Soil moisture: If fuel moisture orotherconditions (such as micro climates due Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–3,<15km/hr DI (KBDI):Refer to relevant fire vegetation group FDI: Refer to relevant fire vegetation group avoided. and following burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes can be When planning aburn it is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto What weather conditions should Iconsider? • •

on non-target fire vegetation groups andfire-sensitive communities. mosaic burning is oneof thebest ways to reduce impacts of unplanned fire Proactive broad-scale management of surrounding fire-adapted areas using the movement of wildfire into fire-sensitive communities. Aim for thehigherendof therecommended mosaic as this will helpmitigate Consult therecommended mosaic for thefire vegetation group being burnt. scorch of thenon-target areas). (in which case, appropriate tactics andmoisture conditions will helplimit saplings inthearea being burnt ahigher-severity fire may be required good coverage (refer to the mosaic sectionbelow). If there are overabundant the objective of limited fire encroachment. A backing fire will help ensure A low -severity fire in adjacent fire-adapted communities will help achieve 6/05/13 3:59 PM 126 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 127 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 127 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups • • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of suggested tactics. regularly review andadjust tactics as required to achieve theburn objectives. at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During your burn, Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

the edge andgenerally self-extinguish, particularly during winter. during this periodwill assist inpromoting low-severity fires that trickle along communities can beundertaken late intheafternoon. The milder conditions Afternoon ignition—planned burning inareas adjacent to non-target combination of both. prevailing wind ontheday this may require eitherspot orstrip lighting ora promote alow-intensity backing fire. Depending onavailable fuels andthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge to establish thefire and the edge of low lying communities to protect its margins. communities duringconditions dry use alow-intensity perimeter burn from Do not create arunning-fire. When burning inadjacent fire adapted Test burn have safe refuges whenundertaking this typeof burning. conditions that can draw fire away from non-target areas. It is important to edge. When more than onelineof ignitionis used it can create micro wind Use strip ignitionto draw fire away from thenon-target community’s target community. This will promote alow-intensity backing fire that burns away from thenon- appropriate lighting patterns along themargin of thenon-target community. self-extinguish onits boundary orit is upslope of apotential run of fire) use are unsuitable (e.g. thenon-target community is tooto dry ensure fire will travels down theslope towards thenon-target community. If conditions the surrounding topography to create alow-intensity backing fire that target community is present inlow lying areas (e.g. sedgelands), utilise Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities. Where thenon- thesite to ensure non-target communities will not beaffected.

6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 128 (1995). QPWS, Mariala National Park fire encroachment. riparian communities from bodies can protect Semi-permanent water 6/05/13 3:59 PM 128 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 129 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 129 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses • • Key indicators Awareness of theenvironment of thepresence of highbiomass grasses during planned burn operations. grasses bothpromote fire andare promoted by fire. It is important tobe aware fire can be used as amethod for weed control, inmost cases high biomass flow oneffects to native fauna andacycle of damaging high severity fires. While in greater tree death (particularly of acacias) andloss of habitat features creating a much greater area than previously possible (Eyre et 2009). al. This thenresults provides fuel connectivity across thelandscape, allowing fires to spread across increase infuel load which inturn increases flameheight andfire severity and fire regimes within the Mulga Lands bioregion. This is largely due to a significant The spread of invasive grasses has resulted insignificant changes to traditional Issue 4:Manage invasive grasses • • • • Discussion • •

riparian orotherfire-sensitive communities or have become established. Invasive grasses are starting to penetrate theedge of mulga, fringing and Invasive grasses are able to form adense single-species stand. Invasive grasses cause thecontraction of fire sensitive communities andalso a preventive buffer that limits thespread of invasive grasses into these areas. communities that are maintained inahealthy condition will oftenalso act as Healthy eucalypt forests with anative grassy understorey that fringe acacia and prevent theencroachment andestablishment of invasive grasses. The closed canopy of healthy, mature acacia stands will oftensuppress conditions which may promote thegrasses spread. is promoted orkilled). Take into consideration otherfactors such as weather become familiar with thegrasses’ response to fire andits intensity (e.g. if it Prior to undertaking planned burns inareas where highbiomass grasses occur, become well-established. Control is ofteneasier if theirpresence is detected andaddressed before it from existing highbiomass grass infestations) (Melzer andPorter2002). disturbance is ongoing (e.g. roadsides) andareas adjacent to ordownstream especially vigilant indisturbed areas. Be particularly aware of places where Be onthelookout for newly formed stands of invasive grasses andbe Invasive grasses oftenfirst appear along fire-lines and roads. Invasive grasses have alot more biomass and/or dead material. 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 130 • • • • •

spraying and/orgrazing. exclusion of fire may bean aspect of control oftenin combination with management objectives of anarea. For somespecies, theapplication or case by case andwill needto betailored to suit thesite andlong term The most effective control methodfor invasive grasses will oftenbe 2002; Butler andFairfax 2003). spraying with herbicide andin some instances grazing (Melzer andPorter on themargin. Othertechniques which may beeffective include slashing, tactics to burn away from thenon-target community andlimit edge effects fires both within the site andin surrounding areas by using appropriate one of fuel management. This may involve implementing mild or‘cool’ fire sensitive communities) theaimof the land manger oftenbecomes Once anarea has beenimpacted by invasive grasses (inparticular within germination before seedling can mature andset seed(Greig 2008). post spraying) andavailable seedbank stores whentargeting post-fire grass species. Fire may assist inreducing thebiomass of grasses (pre or program whenimplemented inconjunction with herbicide for some In someinstances fire may be useful as ofpart anintegrated weed control them to burn with wildfire. mild conditions with planned fire may bemore desirable than allowing must beconsidered. Insomesituations, burning invasive grasses under However, therisk of wildfire later producing aneven higherseverity fire the likely increase infire severity promotion of and further these grasses. In many cases it is desirable to avoid burning invasive grasses, dueto maintaining fire lines and roads. awareness of weed hygiene issues are paramount whenconstructing and fire breaks (usually due to machinery spreading seeds). Caution and washed down afterexposure. Invasive grasses easily spread along Vehicles, machinery andquad bikes aidtheirspread andshould be Be aware of weed hygiene issues whenmanaging invasive grasses. population of fire sensitive communities. to thegradual decline andfragmentation of theextent and/orloss of a into thecanopy andcausing theloss of mature trees. This contributes increase therisk of wildfires (particularly during dry conditions) carrying 6/05/13 3:59 PM 130 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 131 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 131 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses • • • grass Buffel Specific information for the control of invasive grasses is offered below: • •

grazing fires andfurther over time may eventually wear down the plant. followed by intensive grazing is more likely to stress theplant. Continual season,In thedry buffel grass begins to store reserves for winter. Burning grass will usually germinate enmasse after fire and rain. spraying of theaffected site will needto becontinued for sometimeas buffel clumps andseedlings for herbicide treatment. Be aware that follow-up Fire can reduce thebiomass of buffel grass providing access to theremaining fire may assist in facilitating control methods such as spraying orgrazing. promoted by fire disturbance andfire exclusion is the usual approach. But The use of fire to control buffel grass is oftendebated. Buffel grass is (Butler andFairfax 2003). greatly increasing fuel loads andfuture impacts uponacacia communities metres into theacacia woodland across afront several kilometres long species can penetrate andestablish adense sward upto several hundred Buffel grass is of particular concern to fire-sensitive communities. This where active ongoing control is required. unaffected communities of between 50–100metres of may beanoption spread. Creating abuffer strip between thebuffel infestation andmargin of means adjacent to anarea of buffel grass may beuseful inlimiting its In someinstances, creating abuffer through mechanical orchemical the year (e.g. earlier orlater inthe season). may provide theopportunity to conduct planned burns at differing times of soil moisture andwhenbuffel grass is green andunlikely to carry afire. This consideration should begiven to burning adjacent areas whenthere is good buffel grass tends to remain greener for longer periods of time.Careful The curing rate for buffel grass differs from that of native grasses— 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 132 vegetation community. dense swards within a invade andform fire) is able to rapidly disturbance (such as and following a drought promoted Buffel grass is fire and Ltd, Bald Rock (2005). Management SciencePty PaulWilliams, Vegetation grass. clump mass of buffel flowering head and A close-up of the (2010). Albinia Conservation Park Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, to close. as thecanopy begins out hasshaded grass grass. Note thebuffel to shade out buffel the canopy to recover affective inallowing be may grass buffel areas affected by Exclusion of fire from (2005). Nairana National Park Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, 6/05/13 3:59 PM 132 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 133 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 133 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses • • • • Other invasive grasses

starting point. subject to experimentation. The examples above might beuseful as a grasses intheMulga Lands bioregion are not yet established andwill be Successful fire management techniques for other species of high biomass established. treatment is highly practical. Treat infestations early, before they become Due to its preferred location (predominately road edges) access for herbicide red natal grass particularly where there are bare patches to encroach into. areas difficult. Too-frequent fire or fires dry under conditions will promote comparative curing rates to native grasses can make burning surrounding Rhodes andred natal grasses are common along roadsides anddueto the before seeding). stimulate regrowth before spraying six to eight weeks after(andideally for herbicide to beeffective. Fire can beused to remove dead biomass and 2007). These grasses needto beactively growing (late spring to summer) fertile, enabling newpopulations to arise from asingle plant (CRC Weeds Grasses can produce seedinthefirst growth season andare oftenself- the future. (particularly along roadsides) andare likely to influence fire management in Thatch, grader andcoolatai grasses are becoming more widespread 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 134 Dan Beard, QPWS, Gladstone (2009). adjoining communities. Note theremnant scrub within sheltered gullies. A monoculture of thatch has replaced native pasture andbegun to encroach into National Park (2009). Dan Beard, QPWS, Carnarvon head. Above: Thatch grass seed thatch. indication of theheight of in theforeground gives an pentastylis). Black speargrass habitat for ooline, Cadellia to dry vine thicket (potential Thatch infestation adjacent 6/05/13 3:59 PM 134 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 135 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 135 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses Choose from below as appropriate: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? the burn. the result of increased as hasnot grass invasive of Distribution Measurable Measurable objectives Priority High considered. effects can bemanaged andthepotential for control can be (particularly where it is anewinfestation) sothat theirnegative It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses species. post-burn distribution of theweed photographs. Compare thepre and the invasive grass inthe area ortake conditions): GPS theboundary of suitable germination/ establishment Before andafter theburn (after How to beassessed Priority assessment invaded areas. fuel loads in thenewly weed; will increase in thespread of the Significant advance Not Achieved: controlled). into burn area; easily individuals spread loads (e.g. scattered not increase fuel distribution; will of weed species Minor expansion Partially Achieved: the weed. in thedistribution of Achieved: Noincrease How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 136 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned grasses. invasive of in density reduction Significant to low.to communities non-target adjacent to of fuels Reduction • • • • Victoria Protocol [Parks Victoria 1995]): using thefollowing criteria (from Parks define thedensity of theinfestation conditions andgrowing season): suitable germination/establishment Before andafter theburn (after option is given here. Protocol (Parks Victoria 1995).One Pest Plant Mapping andMonitoring publications such as theParks Victoria Seek advice from resource staff and/or locations. the remaining fuel inat least three assess visually to Go, to isReady Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your or Step 5of theQPWS Planned Burn assessment guide(Hines et 2010b), al. Post fire: use theOverall fuel hazard

nearly so)of target weed. Dense (>75%)=monoculture (or and native species. equal proportions of target weed Medium (25–75%cover) =roughly abundance than target weed. species have much greater Light (5–24%cover) =Native plantsrare. very Rare (0–4%cover) = Target weed reduced to low. hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel low. has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard density gets worse. category orweed change indensity Not Achieved: No fire). fire to light afterthe from dense before the category’ (e.g. goes ‘drops’ one‘density Weed infestation Partially Achieved: after thefire). before thefire to light (e.g. goes from dense ‘density categories’ infestation ‘drops’ two Achieved: Weed 6/05/13 3:59 PM 136 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 137 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 137 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters and to ensure invasive grasses donot re-establish at thesite. monitor thesite to ensure theobjectives of theburn have beenachieved When using fire to reduce thedensity of invasive grasses it is important to section of theQPWS Fire Management System. for establishing observation points can beobtained from themonitoring supported by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions that observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually important to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is Monitoring theissue over time • •

abundant inwetlands andswamps). objectives (e.g. whentargeting para grass that is starting to become fire severity. Ahigh-severity fire may be required to achieve specific In general invasive grasses should beburnt inways that minimise This will dependonthespecies of invasive grass being targeted. (see discussion above). Dependent uponthespecies andtheobjective of theburn (see discussion above). Dependent uponthespecies andtheobjective of theburn 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 138 limit theestablishment of bare ground encroachment andfurther of weeds. Soil moisture: Ensure good soil moisture to retain aduff layer (humus layer) and dependent uponrainfall. adjoining protected areas. This will oftenoccur onafive year cycle and is largely remove brigalow regrowth). These grazier burns may result infires carrying into to ensure fire will throughcarry their pasture grasses (for maintenance or to advantage of hot,windy conditions anddry (during late October to December) Wind speed: Beaufort 1–2,<10km/hr. Be aware that graziers will oftentake DI (KBDI):<100 GFDI: <7,low to moderate though this will largely bedependent uponthedegree of grass curing. Season: Late wet season to early season dry (March to April) is preferable so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided. It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider? 6/05/13 3:59 PM 138 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 139 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 139 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses • • • prescriptive, rather atoolkit of suggested tactics. them as required to achieve theburn objectives. What is offered below is not and vegetation. During theplanned burn, review your tactics andadjust implemented at thesame location dueto variations intopography, weather Tactics will besite specific andoftendifferent tactics will need to be What burn tactics should Iconsider? •

so care must betaken if theremoval of trees is not thedesired effect. This tactic is also useful inreducing overabundant seedlings andsaplings Particularly used to reduce fine fuels such as grasses, leaf litter andtwigs. a minimumthefire has agreater amount of time to burn fuels inthat area. reduction of available fuels. As theintensity andrate of spread are kept to will generally result inthemore complete coverage of anarea andabetter A low-intensity backing fire with good residence time. This slow-moving fire due to changes inweather conditions, topography and fuel loads, etc. a lower-intensity fire. The spacing of the spots may throughoutvary the burn where there is aninvasive grass infestation. Spots apartwill further result in Spot ignition.Can beused to alter thedesired intensity of afire particularly seedlings emerge. up treatments eitherby fire orherbicide if any remaining plants andnew successful treatment of these grasses will require monitoring andfollow material has beenshown to bea very effective control method. The grasses followed by alow to moderate-intensity burn into theremaining As partof acontrol program. The initial over-spraying of highbiomass to increase theintensity and resulting severity of theburn. sufficiently the cured,spacing shorten of lit spots or use lineor strip ignition though theinfestation. If weather conditions are too mild orgrasses are not the season. Conditions which favour arunning fire will help thefirecarry Running fire. For many invasive grasses it is recommended to burn early in 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 140 • •

impacts uponthenon-target community). and resulting inahigh-severity-fire (that potentially may have devastating surrounding areas to limit thechance of fire carrying into theinfested area buffel grass. Note that this tactic will still require fire management inthe are left unburnt long enoughto form aclosed canopy that shades out the thrive andout-compete this invasive grass. Ideally, acacia communities an opportunity for species such as mulga, brigalow orotheracacias to Fire exclusion. Excluding fire from a buffel grass infestation may provide community. target community. Ensure good soil moisture is present within thenon-target a low-intensity backing fire that travels down the slope towards thenon- lying areas (e.g. drainage lines) utilise thesurrounding topography to create the non-target community. Where thenon-target community is present inlow late afternoonorat night to create alow-severity fire that burns away from green (not cured). Burn under mild conditions, early morning onthedew, burning inareas adjacent to invasive grass infestations while thegrass is backing fire that burns away from thenon-target community. Undertake conditions along themargin of thecommunity to promote alow-intensity lighting patterns (e.g. spot lighting with matches) during favourable weather Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities. Use appropriate 6/05/13 3:59 PM 140 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 141 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 141 Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings • Key indicators of overabundant saplings: Awareness of theenvironment trees andshrubs. Dodonoea spp., eucalypts, white cypressCallitris pine glaucophylla orother include doolan Acacia salicina, gidgee Acacia cambagei, Eremophilla spp., Species which tend to become overabundant intheMulga Lands bioregion important indetermining if overabundance is anissue. Knowing thefire history of anarea andtheindividual species response to fire is provide variety inage andfor eventual replacement of mature canopy species. only a very small numberof canopy andmid-stratum recruits are neededto stratum through competition andshading. To maintain anopenstructure, the understorey of openforest orwoodland can reduce thehealth of theground variations of fire severity; however abroad-scale Isolated thickets of saplings can result from localised hot spots ornormal Issue 5:Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings • • • •

overabundance of these species inthemid-stratum. or othersaplings emerging intheground stratum; orabroad-scale A broadscale mass germination of young acacia, cypress pine,eucalypts diversity andabundance. Shrubs where present, have dead ordying branches andare declining in ground layer plants are reduced inhealth andabundance. Grasses are continuous ornear continuous but starting to collapse. Other Understorey ormid-stratum is difficult to seethrough or walk through. understorey. Presence of amonoculture of single species (e.g. cypress pine)inthe

overabundance of saplings in 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 142 Other considerations Potential impacts of overabundant saplings • • • • response to: An overabundance of saplings intheunderstorey may betriggered in Why are saplings andseedlings overabundant? Discussion • • • • • • •

planned burning. will bemore difficult to recover andthearea becomes alower priority for Where grasses are scattered, poorly formed andcollapsing, forest health that otherspecies can compete. base andwhile fire will not kill them,it will keep themlow inprofile, so Be aware that someoverabundant eucalypt species will re-sprout from the which requires follow-up fire. and monitoring will helpdetermine whetherthis is abroad-scale issue wildfire (which tends to beahigherseverity fire). Post-fire observations absence of fire, which is likely to lead to a mass germination event after Certain wattles andothertree species build uplarge seedbanks inthe landscape. with timemaintaining abalance of openandwoodland areas across the fire continues to beapplied within andaround these areas, they will thin maintained andintheabsence of heavy grazing) providing appropriate severity fire orhigh rainfall years. Inhealthy country (where fire has been Some shrubs andtrees may thicken inresponse to anoccasional high- issue. broad-scale normal variations of fire severity andshould not be confused with the Small isolated flushes of saplings can result from localised hot spots or species rather than grasses andherbs. the community does burn. This may promote theregeneration of woody The fire intensity will often behigherand reach into the canopy when that area if left too long. Once thickets have developed it may bedifficult to re-introduce fire into due to shading andless fine fuel to carry future fires. A thickening of trees will result inalower diversity intheground stratum (due to oneof theabove causes). a highrainfall event orsevere fire event which has exacerbated thickening heavy grazing a lack of, oralong absence of fire 6/05/13 3:59 PM 142 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 143 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 143 Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Medium Priority High Low sparse andfire is nolonger viable. has beensignificantly disrupted. Ground stratum is absent or Planned burn inareas where ecosystem structure andfunction recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 144 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable refer to thecompendium of planned Select from below as appropriate for thesite: Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time stubble. remain as bases grass the clumping > 90%of scorched. saplings are overabundant > 75%of Measurable Measurable objectives bases remaining afterfire. intensity) andestimate clumping grass variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor components) scorched. overabundant saplings (above ground intensity), estimate thepercentage of variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor How to beassessed < 75%bases remain. Not Achieved: remain. 75–90 %bases Partially Achieved: > 90%bases remain. Achieved: Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. How to bereported (in fire report) 6/05/13 3:59 PM 144 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 145 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 145 Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity Low class High Low Fire (M) (H) (L) (small areas of highmay of moderateareas occur) to (small

150–500 intensity (kWm < 150 500– 1000 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 1.5–3.0 height flame < 0.5 (m)

7.5–15.0 Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch < 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) or nocanopy scorch. scorching of midstratum. Little grass stubble retained. Some all canopy trees andclumping Humus layer retained. Nearly be retained but charred. Some patchiness. Litter may amount of canopy scorch. Scorching of midstratum. Small Most of canopy trees retained. stubble andfallen logs remain. of humus layer, clumping grass scorched litter remains. Some patchiness.Limited Some (or nearly so). stratum burnt completely < 20mheight canopy, mid canopy scorch inmoderate humus remains. At least some Little ornopatchiness. Limited (loss of biomass) Description 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 146 Other considerations: • • • • Scorch height: Wind speed: <15km/hr FFDI: <11 higher scorch andbetter conditions for grass recovery. regeneration of grasses. Ingeneral late summer burning is preferable to provide Season: Depends onaccumulation of fuel andsufficient moisture to favour avoided. and following burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes can be When planning aburn it is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto What weather conditions should Iconsider? •

forest andwoodland should beresumed. Once thearea has recovered, therecommended regime for healthy open available ground fuel but not scorching thetargeted saplings. aware that alow-severity fire may domore harm than good, by reducing For mediumpriority planned burns (planned burns indegraded areas), be recommended for this community. saplings occurs. This may requirefire frequency ashorter than normally Try to carry out planned burns before significant seeding of overabundant planned burn as fuel allows for low this issue. If theinitial fire triggers aflush of newseedlings, follow-up It is possible that more than oneplanned burn will berequired to manage depending ontarget species. Scorch height required to reduce overabundant saplings will be variable to moderate to severity fire. 6/05/13 3:59 PM 146 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 147 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues 147 Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings Cypress pinecan invade shrublands. Stephen Peck, QPWS, Thrushton National Park (2007). 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 148 • • suggested tactics (refer to Issue 1for additional tactics). burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? •

and any newseedlings. instance afollow-up planned burn will berequired to thinsurviving saplings surface fuels dueto shading-out orthethicket is well developed. Inthis uphill), may berequired initially where there is alack of surface andnear A running fire of ahigherseverity (e.g. afire lit along themid-ridge running reducing overabundant seedlings/saplings. and rate of spread are kept to aminimum.Greater residence timeis useful in the fire has agreater amount of residence time,while ensuring fire severity against thewind onthesmoky edge orfire running down-slope, will ensure A backing fire with good residence time.Aslow moving backing fire lit target species andtheirheight. the scorch height required to achieve burn objectives is dependent onthe While alow to moderate-severity fire is recommended to address this issue, 6/05/13 3:59 PM 148 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 8—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce overabundant saplings/seedlings DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 149

149 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Glossary of fire terminology (Primary source: Australasian Fire Authorities Council 2012). Glossary of fire terminology distribution Age-class Available fuel Aerial ignition Backing-fire Burn severity Terminology and five years ago) (refer to Figure 1). (e.g. 25percent of afire vegetation group burnt between one represented as aplot of areas (y-axis) versus age-class (x-axis) burning inachieving varied habitat conditions. This is usually fire ecology this is used to indicate thesuccess of mosaic class) of aparticular vegetation community afterfire. In The distribution of groups of similar aged vegetation (age- current orspecified conditions. of thetotalThe portion fuel that would actually burn under incendiary devices ormaterials from aircraft. The lighting of fine fuels for planned burning by dropping minimal. down slope, where the flame height andrate of spread is The partof afire which is burning back against thewind or levels of biomass orecological function. Relates to theamount of timenecessary to return to pre-fire Percentage (%) area 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 F i g 1- u 56 r e 1 -1 : 01 I d 1- e 02 16-2 15 a l i s e d a 1- g 53 31-3 25 e Definition - A c g l e a - s c s l a d s 6- s 54 41-4 40 i ( s y t e r a Vegeta i r b s ) u t i 6- ti o 55 51-5 50 on communit n ( c o n c e 5- p 56 61-6 60 y t o n l y ) 6- 70 6/05/13 3:59 PM scale Beaufort Duff layer Duff (DI) Drought index Drought temperature Dew point Char height Crown scorch BOM Terminology visible effects uponland objects orseas surface. • wind speed • Beaufort force (orBeaufort number) • equates to: and relies on visual indicators rather than instruments. It Navy. It is useful infire management to indicate wind speed the early nineteenth century by Admiral Beaufort of theRoyal A system of estimating wind andreporting speeds, invented in Refer to ‘humus layer’. vegetation. reflecting thedryness of soils, deepforest litter, logs andliving A numerical value (e.g. theByram-Keetch Drought Index), drought.shtml> information, refer to information, refer to

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151 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Glossary of fire terminology Fireline Fire interval Fire intensity Fire extent Fire frequency FFDI/FFDR Rating (FDR) Fire Danger Index (FDI)/ Fire Danger Fire behaviour Terminology avoid theperception that afire will stop at abreak. shortcomings it should beused inpreference to ‘firebreak’ to NOT fire breaks. Although theterm ‘fi reline’ is not without its control line(e.g. access track to acampground). Firelines are should (usually) have aprimary purpose otherthan that of a be used inthemanagement of afire. Permanent fi relines fire trails orcontrol lines) orenvironmental features that can Constructed ortreated lines/trails (sometimes referred to as events (refer to Appendix 2). number of years that anarea should beleft between fire expressed as arange indicating aminimumandmaximum community inthesame point of thelandscape. Often The interval between successive fires for a vegetation Byram fire-line intensity). units of kilowatts permetre of thefireline (also known as the The amount of energy released perunit lengthof fire front, in Refer to patchiness. in thesame point of thelandscape (refer to fire interval). The frequency of successive fires for a vegetation community Forest Fire Danger Index/Danger Rating. fuel moisture andwind speed. spread, orsuppression difficulty for specifi c combinations of A relative numberandrating denoting anevaluation of rate of and topography. The manner inwhich afire reacts to variables of fuel, weather Definition 6/05/13 3:59 PM zone’. management and ‘fire group’ vegetation ‘fire terms over the Clarification group (FRG) Fire regime Fire regime Fire perimeter Terminology requirements. P2, P3, WM1, WM2, etc) each with specific fi re management identified as fi re management subzones (FMSz) (e.g. P1, are anumberof these other zones within astrategy they are override fi theFVG re regime requirements. Further, if there reference) will have specific management objectives that sustainable production, rehabilitation, exclusion, and (e.g. protection, wildfire mitigation, special conservation, reflected infi re strategies. Otherfi re management zones identified intheBioregional Planned Burn Guidelines andare fire management requirements. Fire regimes for FVGsare (FVGs)—groups of related ecosystems that share common management zone are basedfi onthe re vegetation groups The fire management requirements within aconservation fire detailed alternative for use with fire strategies or inmapping. requirements. Fire regime groups are provided as amore groups to provide more detail about specific fi re management mosaic etc. These are asub-grouping of the fire vegetation management regime including season, severity, recommended A group of related ecosystems that share acommon fire and season of burning. or area including thefrequency, intensity, extent, severity, type The recommended use of fire for aparticular vegetation type The outer containment boundary in which fire is being applied. Protection Conservation Wildfire mitigation, etc Fire management zone Definition Fire management sub-zone or Fire vegetation group FVG2 FVG1 W2 W1 P2 P1 Fireline Fire interval Fire intensity Fire extent Fire frequency FFDI/FFDR Rating (FDR) Fire Danger Index (FDI)/ Fire Danger Fire behaviour Terminology avoid theperception that afire will stop at abreak. shortcomings it should beused inpreference to ‘firebreak’ to NOT fire breaks. Although theterm ‘fi reline’ is not without its control line(e.g. access track to acampground). Firelines are should (usually) have aprimary purpose otherthan that of a be used inthemanagement of afire. Permanent fi relines fire trails orcontrol lines) orenvironmental features that can Constructed ortreated lines/trails (sometimes referred to as events (refer to Appendix 2). number of years that anarea should beleft between fire expressed as arange indicating aminimumandmaximum community inthesame point of thelandscape. Often The interval between successive fires for a vegetation Byram fire-line intensity). units of kilowatts permetre of thefireline (also known as the The amount of energy released perunit lengthof fire front, in Refer to patchiness. in thesame point of thelandscape (refer to fire interval). The frequency of successive fires for a vegetation community Forest Fire Danger Index/Danger Rating. fuel moisture andwind speed. spread, orsuppression difficulty for specifi c combinations of A relative numberandrating denoting anevaluation of rate of and topography. The manner inwhich afire reacts to variables of fuel, weather Definition DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 152 zone’. management and ‘fire group’ vegetation ‘fire terms over the Clarification group (FRG) Fire regime Fire regime Fire perimeter Terminology requirements. P2, P3, WM1, WM2, etc) each with specific fi re management identified as fi re management subzones (FMSz) (e.g. P1, are anumberof these other zones within astrategy they are override fi theFVG re regime requirements. Further, if there reference) will have specific management objectives that sustainable production, rehabilitation, exclusion, and (e.g. protection, wildfire mitigation, special conservation, reflected infi re strategies. Otherfi re management zones identified intheBioregional Planned Burn Guidelines andare fire management requirements. Fire regimes for FVGsare (FVGs)—groups of related ecosystems that share common management zone are basedfi onthe re vegetation groups The fire management requirements within aconservation fire detailed alternative for use with fire strategies or inmapping. requirements. Fire regime groups are provided as amore groups to provide more detail about specific fi re management mosaic etc. These are asub-grouping of the fire vegetation management regime including season, severity, recommended A group of related ecosystems that share acommon fire and season of burning. or area including thefrequency, intensity, extent, severity, type The recommended use of fire for aparticular vegetation type The outer containment boundary in which fire is being applied. Wildfire mitigation, etc Protection Conservation Fire management zone Definition Fire management sub-zone or Fire vegetation group FVG2 FVG1 W2 W1 P2 P1 6/05/13 3:59 PM 152

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153 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Glossary of fire terminology GFDI/GFDR Grid ignition content Fuel moisture Fuel load Fuel hazard Fuel Flame height group (FVG) vegetation Fire Fire severity Fire season Terminology Grassland Fire Danger Index/Danger Rating. set at apredetermined grid-like spacing through anarea. A methodof lighting prescribed fires where ignitionpoints are of theoven weight dry of thefuel particle(%ODW). The water content of afuel particleexpressed as apercentage structure. does not describe how thefuel is arranged, norits state or expressed as tonnes perhectare. Aquantification of fuel load weightThe dry of combustible materials perarea, usually ignited. flammability andthediffi culty of suppression if fuel should be such factors as quantity, arrangement, current orpotential The condition of thefuel andtakes into consideration measured intonnes perhectare. which can beignited andsustains afire. Fuel is usually Any material such as grass, leaf litter andlive vegetation, ground level, excluding higherflares. The vertical distance between theaverage tipof theflame and management, these ecosystems are treated as agroup. management requirements. For thepurpose of practical fire A group of related ecosystems that share common fire fire intensity. vegetation mortality, soil alteration). Can beused to indicate immediately afterthefire (e.g. vegetation consumption, A measure of theeffect of fire on vegetation andsoil control. spread andcause sufficient damage to warrant organised fire The period(s)of the year during which fires are likely to occur, Definition 6/05/13 3:59 PM grasses grasses High biomass Mineral earth pioneers Mesophyll Litter pattern Lighting mosaic Landscape Index (KBDI) Drought Keetch-Byram Junction zone duff layer) Humus (or Terminology increase threat to life andproperty. • • increase biomass • can lead to decreased biodiversity • are generally taller than native species • native species to form dense mono-specific stands. They: Tend to beexotic species of grasses which can out-compete material. Being completely free of any vegetation orothercombustible establish inneighbouring communities. Large-leaved (12.5–20cm long) rainforest tree species able to layer of theforest floor). needles, little altered instructure by decomposition. (Thelitter dead sticks, branches, twigs, andrecently fallen leaves and The top layer of theforest floor composed of loose debris of burning operations, orindirect attack. The lighting pattern adopted by fire fi ghters during planned broader area. planning aseries of fires across abioregion areserve, or A mosaic burn at alandscape level, usually achieved by litter, andheavy fuels andexpressed as ascale from 0–203. A numerical value reflecting thedryness of soils, deepforest fronts (orflanks) burning towards oneanother. An area of greatly increased fire intensity caused by two fire floor, the original vegetative structures still being recognisable. The mat of partlydecomposed vegetation matter ontheforest increase fire severity Definition GFDI/GFDR Grid ignition content Fuel moisture Fuel load Fuel hazard Fuel Flame height group (FVG) vegetation Fire Fire severity Fire season Terminology Grassland Fire Danger Index/Danger Rating. set at apredetermined grid-like spacing through anarea. A methodof lighting prescribed fires where ignitionpoints are of theoven weight dry of thefuel particle(%ODW). The water content of afuel particleexpressed as apercentage structure. does not describe how thefuel is arranged, norits state or expressed as tonnes perhectare. Aquantification of fuel load weightThe dry of combustible materials perarea, usually ignited. flammability andthediffi culty of suppression if fuel should be such factors as quantity, arrangement, current orpotential The condition of thefuel andtakes into consideration measured intonnes perhectare. which can beignited andsustains afire. Fuel is usually Any material such as grass, leaf litter andlive vegetation, ground level, excluding higherflares. The vertical distance between theaverage tipof theflame and management, these ecosystems are treated as agroup. management requirements. For thepurpose of practical fire A group of related ecosystems that share common fire fire intensity. vegetation mortality, soil alteration). Can beused to indicate immediately afterthefire (e.g. vegetation consumption, A measure of theeffect of fire on vegetation andsoil control. spread andcause sufficient damage to warrant organised fire The period(s)of the year during which fires are likely to occur, Definition DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 154 grasses grasses High biomass Mineral earth pioneers Mesophyll Litter pattern Lighting mosaic Landscape Index (KBDI) Drought Keetch-Byram Junction zone duff layer) Humus (or Terminology increase threat to life andproperty. • • increase biomass • can lead to decreased biodiversity • are generally taller than native species • native species to form dense mono-specific stands. They: Tend to beexotic species of grasses which can out-compete material. Being completely free of any vegetation orothercombustible establish inneighbouring communities. Large-leaved (12.5–20cm long) rainforest tree species able to layer of theforest floor). needles, little altered instructure by decomposition. (Thelitter dead sticks, branches, twigs, andrecently fallen leaves and The top layer of theforest floor composed of loose debris of burning operations, orindirect attack. The lighting pattern adopted by fire fi ghters during planned broader area. planning aseries of fires across abioregion areserve, or A mosaic burn at alandscape level, usually achieved by litter, andheavy fuels andexpressed as ascale from 0–203. A numerical value reflecting thedryness of soils, deepforest fronts (orflanks) burning towards oneanother. An area of greatly increased fire intensity caused by two fire floor, the original vegetative structures still being recognisable. The mat of partlydecomposed vegetation matter ontheforest increase fire severity Definition 6/05/13 3:59 PM 154

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155 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Glossary of fire terminology Planned burn plants Perennial Patchiness species) regenerating seed (obligate seeders Obligate Mosaic burn Terminology ecological manipulation), andprotecting life andproperty. or production resources of thearea (e.g. reducing fire hazard, the purposes of managing thenatural and/orcultural and/ QPWS operations: afire that is deliberately andlegally lit for planned resource management objectives. Inthecontext of the time,intensity, andrate of spread required to attain environmental conditions to apre-determined area andat The controlled application of fire under specifi ed or growing continuously like many shrubs. dying back aftereach season as someherbaceous plants do, Plants that last for more than two growing seasons, either burnt). affected by fire (i.e. 20percent patchiness =80percent (grasses, herbs andtrees/shrubs less than onemetre) not A percentage of orproportion theground layer vegetation species. should beburnt inorder to avoid thelocal extinction of these the minimumfrequency with which a vegetation community seeders to mature andestablish aseedbank oftenindicates bank to regenerate. Infire ecology, thetimeit takes obligate Shrubs that are killed by fire andrely onsoil-stored seed burn andat alandscape level (refer to Appendix 2). variation infire regimes. This can occur within anindividual An approach which aims to create spatial andtemporal Definition 6/05/13 3:59 PM Testfi re Strip burning Scorch height humidity (RH) Relative spread (ROS) Rate of burning Progressive Terminology behaviour. A controlled fire of limited extent ignited to evaluate fire preceding strip bums out. and thenburning successively wider adjacent strips as the Setting fire to anarrow strip of fuel adjacent to afire-line plants are turned brown by theheat of afire. Is theheight to which former green leaves still suspended on vapour theaircan hold at that temperature. expressed as apercentage of themaximum amount of water The amount of water vapour inagiven volume of air, hour. specified partof thefi re perimeter, defi ned as metres per The forward progress perunit timeof thehead fire oranother 10 September 2011). good conditions for regeneration (Mick Blackman pers. comm., fire where rain can bereliably expected to follow; providing January, is auseful way to achieve intense, wind supported where climatic conditions allow, from December through to often favour woody species over grasses. Storm burning, season andfires will not go Fires out. conditions indry will of leaves oftencrosses natural water features. This is thedry burnt the year before. Falling leaf season, where ablanket will burn through thenight andwill extinguish within areas burnt the year before. Secondary burn season where fires self extinguishes overnight andwill not burn through areas The early burn periodfollowing seasonal heavy rain where fire wet tropics (this will vary from moister to drierclimatic areas): climatic conditions, there can beupto four seasons inthe behaves differently indifferent seasons. Depending onlocal unburnt areas, andseasonal variability. Be aware of how fire burning helps create arich mosaic of intensities, burnt/ the year. They also provide fauna refuge areas. Progressive can provide opportunistic barriers to fire for burning later in small ignitions creating a fine scale mosaic. These burnt areas early inthe year afterheavy seasonal rain, with numerous conditions allow. Queensland, Innorthern ignitioncan begin where ignitionis carried out throughout much of the year as Progressive burning is anapproach to planned burning Definition Planned burn plants Perennial Patchiness species) regenerating seed (obligate seeders Obligate Mosaic burn Terminology ecological manipulation), andprotecting life andproperty. or production resources of thearea (e.g. reducing fire hazard, the purposes of managing thenatural and/orcultural and/ QPWS operations: afire that is deliberately andlegally lit for planned resource management objectives. Inthecontext of the time,intensity, andrate of spread required to attain environmental conditions to apre-determined area andat The controlled application of fire under specifi ed or growing continuously like many shrubs. dying back aftereach season as someherbaceous plants do, Plants that last for more than two growing seasons, either burnt). affected by fire (i.e. 20percent patchiness =80percent (grasses, herbs andtrees/shrubs less than onemetre) not A percentage of orproportion theground layer vegetation species. should beburnt inorder to avoid thelocal extinction of these the minimumfrequency with which a vegetation community seeders to mature andestablish aseedbank oftenindicates bank to regenerate. Infire ecology, thetimeit takes obligate Shrubs that are killed by fire andrely onsoil-stored seed burn andat alandscape level (refer to Appendix 2). variation infire regimes. This can occur within anindividual An approach which aims to create spatial andtemporal Definition DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 156 Testfi re Strip burning Scorch height humidity (RH) Relative spread (ROS) Rate of burning Progressive Terminology behaviour. A controlled fire of limited extent ignited to evaluate fire preceding strip bums out. and thenburning successively wider adjacent strips as the Setting fire to anarrow strip of fuel adjacent to afire-line plants are turned brown by theheat of afire. Is theheight to which former green leaves still suspended on vapour theaircan hold at that temperature. expressed as apercentage of themaximum amount of water The amount of water vapour inagiven volume of air, hour. specified partof thefi re perimeter, defi ned as metres per The forward progress perunit timeof thehead fire oranother 10 September 2011). good conditions for regeneration (Mick Blackman pers. comm., fire where rain can bereliably expected to follow; providing January, is auseful way to achieve intense, wind supported where climatic conditions allow, from December through to often favour woody species over grasses. Storm burning, season andfires will not go Fires out. conditions indry will of leaves oftencrosses natural water features. This is thedry burnt the year before. Falling leaf season, where ablanket will burn through thenight andwill extinguish within areas burnt the year before. Secondary burn season where fires self extinguishes overnight andwill not burn through areas The early burn periodfollowing seasonal heavy rain where fire wet tropics (this will vary from moister to drierclimatic areas): climatic conditions, there can beupto four seasons inthe behaves differently indifferent seasons. Depending onlocal unburnt areas, andseasonal variability. Be aware of how fire burning helps create arich mosaic of intensities, burnt/ the year. They also provide fauna refuge areas. Progressive can provide opportunistic barriers to fire for burning later in small ignitions creating a fine scale mosaic. These burnt areas early inthe year afterheavy seasonal rain, with numerous conditions allow. Queensland, Innorthern ignitioncan begin where ignitionis carried out throughout much of the year as Progressive burning is anapproach to planned burning Definition 6/05/13 3:59 PM 156

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157 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: References Environment, Victoria. report no. 82.Fire Management Branch, Department of Sustainability and assessment guide , 1st editionApril 2010,Fire andadaptive management Hines F, Tolhurst KG, Wilson AAGandMcCarthy GJ2010a,Fuel hazard pp. 491–3. the 16thAustralian Weed Conference, Queensland Weeds Society, Brisbane, Greig C 2008,‘Lion’s tail control at Boodjamulla National Park’, Proceedings of Journal, vol. 31,pp. 293–305. variables, andrelationship with grass, forb andreptile species’, TheRangeland Queensland’s semi-arid woodlands: response to local andlandscape scale Eyre TJ, Wang J, Venz MF, Chilcott C and Whish G2009,‘Buffel grass in Brisbane. bioregion regional vegetation management plan, Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources andMines (DNRM)2002,Themulgalands Queensland Government, Brisbane. Procedural guide–Management ofcultural heritage places onQPWSestate Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2010b, Queensland Government, Brisbane. Operational policy –Management ofcultural heritage places onQPWSestate, Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2010a, Currawinya National Park fire strategy’, Queensland Government, Brisbane. Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2002,Draft- and Wildlife, Queensland Government, Brisbane, unpublished work. management based regional ecosystems -draft for comment, Queensland Parks Crowley G2003,Brigalow Belt northrecommendations for ecological fire Communities, Attorney Conservation Act 1999, Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Commonwealth of Australia 1999,Environment Protection and Biodiversity Restoration, vol. 4,pp. 120–125. woodland: acase study from central Queensland’, Ecological Management and Butler DW andFairfax RJ2003, ‘Buffel grass andfire inagidgee andbrigalow terminology, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, Canberra. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) 2012,Glossary ofrural fire References ‑ Gener al’s Canberra. Department, , 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 158 spatial layer, version 6.1,Queensland Government, Brisbane. remnant vegetation communities and regional ecosystems ofQueensland Queensland Herbarium 2011b(16 September), Survey and mapping of2006 Brisbane. (REDD), version 6.0b,Department of Environment andResource Management, Queensland Herbarium 2011a,Regional ecosystem description database Queensland Government, Brisbane. Queensland Government 2004,Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 , Queensland Government, Brisbane. Queensland Government, 1999,Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999 , Aborigines’, Journal ofBiogeography, vol. 21,pp. 573–580. of skilful fire management of Callitris intratropica R.T. Baker Australianby north Price OandBowman DM1994,‘Fire-stick forestry: amatrix model insupport Parks Victoria. Parks Victoria 1995,Parks Victoria pest plant mapping and monitoring protocol, of Primary Industries. Queensland’, Queensland Botany Bulletin No. 31984,Queensland Department Neldner VJ (1984),‘Vegetation surveyof Queensland –southcentral Tropical Savannas CRC,Darwin. J, Russell-Smith Jand Williams R2004,Fire management in the rangelands, Myers B,Allan G,Bradstock R,Dias L,Duff G,Jacklyn P, Landsberg J,Morrison unpublished work. on conservation reserves, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane, Melzer RandPorterG2002,Guidelines for the management ofbuffel grass Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal, vol. 60,pp. 1–14. Lucas C 2010,‘Ondeveloping ahistorical fire weather data-set for Australia’, biodiversity ofacontinent, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. JE Williams andAMGill (eds.), Flammable Australia: the fire regimes and functional processes andbiological diversity’, pp. 351–372,inRABradstock, Hodgkinson K 2002,‘Fire regimes inAcacia wooded landscapes: effects on Environment, Victoria. report no. 82,Fire Management Branch, Department of Sustainability and assessment guide,4theditionJuly 2010,Fire andadaptive management Hines F, Tolhurst KG, Wilson AAGandMcCarthy GJ2010b,Overall fuel hazard 6/05/13 3:59 PM 158

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159 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: References pp. 317–325. sandridge desertincentral Australia’, TheRangeland Journal, vol.30, properties of fire in feathertop spinifex Triodia schinzii (Henrard) Lazarides Wright BRandClarke PJ 2008, ‘Relationships between soil temperatures and Environment, Victoria. report no. 82.Fire Management Branch, Department of Sustainability and assessment guide,1st editionApril 2010,Fire andadaptive management Victoria. In:Hines F, Tolhurst K, Wilson AandMcCarthy G2010a, Fuel hazard 31, Fire Management Branch, Department of Conservation and Environment, management needs and practical research objectives, research reportno. Wilson AAG1992,Assessing the fire hazard onpublic lands in Victoria: fire Weeds Society, Brisbane, pp. 454–56. programs’, Proceedings of the 16thAustralian Weed Conference , Queensland Williams P2008,‘Weedy fire regimes: incorporating weed issues into fire Government, Brisbane, unpublished work. assessment Taylor Dand Swift S 2003,Prescribed burning guidelines and post burning rainfall’, Australian Rangelands Journal, vol. 2,pp. 162–168. grasslands innorth-west Queensland under varying levels of growing season Scanlan JC 1980,‘Effects of spring wildfires onAstrebla (Mitchell grass) bioregional ecosystems, Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland. Sattler Pand Williams R(eds.) 1999,Theconservation status ofQueensland’s , Department of Primary Industry andForestry, Queensland

6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 160 common fire management intent for the purpose of practical fire management. Afire vegetation group is agroup of related regional ecosystems that share Appendix 1:List of regional ecosystems Cypress pineandbull oak communities Melaleuca andwetlands communities Grasslands Eucalypt forest andwoodland TOTAL Non-remnant Riparian, fringing andsalt-pan communities Acacia dominated communities Mulga dominated communities Fire vegetationgroup Mulga Lands within the bioregion Hectares 18 603904 4 642555 1 960477 3 071141 7 219145 131 571 717 687 783 201 78 127 Percentage 25.0 10.5 16.5 38.8 100 0.7 3.9 4.2 0.4 6/05/13 3:59 PM 160

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161 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems 1 2 Chapter 2 2 1 1 Issues

Grasslands Eucalypt forest and woodland Fire vegetation group

Eucalypt forest and Eucalypt forest and Tussock grasslands Spinifex grasslands woodland-shrubby woodland-grassy Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 6.6.2. 6.3.4, 6.3.8,6.3.18,6.3.18a,6.7.5,6.7.16. 6.3.24a, 6.5.3a,6.5.5,6.5.17,6.5.17a,6.5.19a,6.7.6. 6.3.14, 6.3.15,6.7.17. (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 162 3 4 Chapter 2 1 1 Issues Cypress pine and casuarina Melaleuca and wetlands communities communities Fire vegetation group Cypress pine and casuarina Wetlands and/or wetland associated communities/ Melaleuca shrublands communities sedgelands (including mound springs) Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 6.3.11b, 6.3.11c,6.3.11e,6.3.11f, 6.3.13b,6.3.23,6.7.18. 6.3.1a, 6.3.3a,6.3.10,6.3.10a,6.3.10b,6.3.11,6.3.11a, 6.3.11d. 6.3.16, 6.3.17,6.5.19. (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 6/05/13 3:59 PM 162

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163 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems 5 7 6 Chapter 3 1 1 2 Issues Riparian, fringing and salt- Mulga dominated Acacia communities pan communities communities Fire vegetation group Fringing, riparian and Acacia fire-sensitive Acacia shrubland Mulga dominant community saltpan communities Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 6.7.14, 6.7.15,6.9.2,6.9.4. 6.3.25, 6.3.25a,6.4.4,6.9.3,6.4.1,6.4.2,6.4.3,6.3.6, 6.3.22, 6.6.1a,6.7.1,6.7.2,6.7.7,6.7.7a,6.7.13. 6.12.1. 6.5.16a, 6.5.18,6.6.1b,6.7.9,6.7.10,6.7.11,6.7.12,6.6.1, 6.5.11, 6.5.13,6.5.14,6.5.15,6.5.15a,6.5.15b,6.5.16, 6.3.21, 6.5.1,6.5.2,6.5.3,6.5.6,6.5.7,6.5.8,6.5.9,6.5.10, 6.3.12, 6.3.24,6.3.13,6.3.13a. 6.3.1, 6.3.2,6.3.2a,6.3.2b,6.3.3,6.3.5,6.3.5a,6.3.7,6.3.9, (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 6/05/13 3:59 PM DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 164 Queensland spatial layer (16 September 2011). of 2006Remnant Vegetation Communities andRegional Ecosystems of do not have any matching records in version 6.1of the Survey andMapping The RE’s listed below are those RE’s from theclassifications listed above that moved. comments sectionindicates if theRE is not of amappable size orif it has been mapped. IntheRegional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD)system, the only as asub-dominant RE within thespatial data ortheRE has not yet been been moved’ (i.e. it has beenreclassified into anewRE code), theRE exists spatial data. This may bebecause theRE is ‘not of amappable size’, theRE ‘has Some of theRegional Ecosystems (RE)listed above will not bematched inthe Vegetation Cover 2006”layer (16 September 2011)data (refer to Figure 1). The spatial data is based on version 6.1of the“Queensland Remnant ecosystems Unmatched regional regional 6.7.18, 6.7.7a. 6.3.11c, 6.3.11d,6.3.11e,6.3.18a,6.3.25a,6.5.15b,6.5.3a,6.6.1a, 6/05/13 3:59 PM 164

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165 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems produce thespatial fire vegetation group mapping product. Figure 1:Map of Queensland indicating thedifferent GIS data sources used to 6/05/13 3:59 PM and theirfire management needs. supported by photographs to help you assess thehealth of theecosystems a healthy ecosystem. This planned burn guidelineprovides key indicators fire management needs to appropriately apply fire inaway that maintains important to learn to observethehealth of thecountry andto understand its recommended fire frequencies. Irrespective of monitoring andGIS tools it is track interms of maintaining anage class distribution andconforming to evolve it will become easier to evaluate if thefire vegetation groups are on As ParkInfo/geographic information systems (GIS)andmonitoring tools species might belost. ecosystem can beleft without fire before it begins to decline inhealth and second fire, andthemaximum fi re interval represents theamount of timean of timeit takes for each species to regenerate sufficiently to tolerate a This is relevant because theminimumfire interval represents theamount fire interval (e.g. 12 years) (refer to Figures 1–5). minimum fire interval (e.g. eight years), orless frequently than themaximum required) but generally not burning any single patch more frequently than the years. Inthis case theland manager would apply mosaic burning (as oftenas A fire strategy might recommend burning with afire interval of between 8–12 the fire interval as aformula for applying fire. Consider thefollowing example: recommended fire frequency. Note that it is acommon mistake to interpret The land manager should apply mosaic burning andbeguidedby the Both are important. management area) orcan refer to thearea burnt within anindividual fire event. fire vegetation group is targeted within agiven year (across abioregion or practice can apply to burning at alandscape scale—how much of aparticular stages of response from fire (Figures 1–5provide asimplified example). This the patches overlay to build amore complex mosaic of vegetation at various ignition patterns to create apatchwork of burnt andunburnt areas. Over time weather conditions, variation intopography, frequency, intensity, season and In practice, mosaic burning is achieved through theuse of appropriate particular food source andall ecological requirements inbetween. prefer opencountry, those that needdense vegetation orthepresence of a provide agreater range of habitats for plants andanimals including those that scales, amosaic of vegetation indifferent stages of post-fire response can and maximise diversity within fire-adapted vegetation communities. At various Mosaic burning is anapproach to planned burning which aims to maintain Appendix 2:Mosaic burning produce thespatial fire vegetation group mapping product. Figure 1:Map of Queensland indicating thedifferent GIS data sources used to DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 166 and theirfire management needs. supported by photographs to help you assess thehealth of theecosystems a healthy ecosystem. This planned burn guidelineprovides key indicators fire management needs to appropriately apply fire inaway that maintains important to learn to observethehealth of thecountry andto understand its recommended fire frequencies. Irrespective of monitoring andGIS tools it is track interms of maintaining anage class distribution andconforming to evolve it will become easier to evaluate if thefire vegetation groups are on As ParkInfo/geographic information systems (GIS)andmonitoring tools species might belost. ecosystem can beleft without fire before it begins to decline inhealth and second fire, andthemaximum fi re interval represents theamount of timean of timeit takes for each species to regenerate sufficiently to tolerate a This is relevant because theminimumfire interval represents theamount fire interval (e.g. 12 years) (refer to Figures 1–5). minimum fire interval (e.g. eight years), orless frequently than themaximum required) but generally not burning any single patch more frequently than the years. Inthis case theland manager would apply mosaic burning (as oftenas A fire strategy might recommend burning with afire interval of between 8–12 the fire interval as aformula for applying fire. Consider thefollowing example: recommended fire frequency. Note that it is acommon mistake to interpret The land manager should apply mosaic burning andbeguidedby the Both are important. management area) orcan refer to thearea burnt within anindividual fire event. fire vegetation group is targeted within agiven year (across abioregion or practice can apply to burning at alandscape scale—how much of aparticular stages of response from fire (Figures 1–5provide asimplified example). This the patches overlay to build amore complex mosaic of vegetation at various ignition patterns to create apatchwork of burnt andunburnt areas. Over time weather conditions, variation intopography, frequency, intensity, season and In practice, mosaic burning is achieved through theuse of appropriate particular food source andall ecological requirements inbetween. prefer opencountry, those that needdense vegetation orthepresence of a provide agreater range of habitats for plants andanimals including those that scales, amosaic of vegetation indifferent stages of post-fire response can and maximise diversity within fire-adapted vegetation communities. At various Mosaic burning is anapproach to planned burning which aims to maintain Appendix 2:Mosaic burning 6/05/13 3:59 PM 166

Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 167

167 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning Figure 2:Planned mosaic burn—year 8. (Recommended fire interval for fi re vegetation group is eight–12 years). Figure 1:Example area between fireline andcreek burnt inawildfire—year 0. Fir eli ne

Cr eek

Bu rn t area

Previo us

bu rn

6/05/13 3:59 PM Figure 3:Planned mosaic burn—year 20. Figure 4:Planned mosaic burn—year 28. Figure 2:Planned mosaic burn—year 8. (Recommended fire interval for fi re vegetation group is eight–12 years). Figure 1:Example area between fireline andcreek burnt inawildfire—year 0. Fir eli ne

Cr eek

Bu rn t area

Previo us

bu rn

DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 168 Figure 4:Planned mosaic burn—year 28. Figure 3:Planned mosaic burn—year 20. 6/05/13 3:59 PM 168

Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 169

169 Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning QPWS, Idalia National Park (2010). the landscape. Mosaic burn onIdalia National Park showing ~30percent coverage across Wildfire andmosaic burn patterns overlaid (with years since last burnt). Figure 5:Fire history summary—year 28. 6/05/13 3:59 PM Wildfire andmosaic burn patterns overlaid (with years since last burnt). Figure 5:Fire history summary—year 28. DEPNP10066_bp2014_MULGA LANDS PBG D4.indd 170 6/05/13 3:59 PM 170

Mulga Lands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

www.nprsr.qld.gov.au

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