Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing Planned Burn Guidelines Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland

DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 1 1/05/13 2:28 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 Guideline – Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland First edition Bibliography ISBN 978-1-7423-0930 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 this planned burn guideline based on experience and/or expert knowledge with regard to fire management in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. QPWS staff include: Grant Anchen, Nick Smith, Lana Little, Bronwyn Terry, Marty McLaughlin, Andrew Millerd, Mike Ahmet, Tony Cockburn, Mick Cockburn, Carly Greig, Alicia Wardlaw and Eda Addicott; and externally by Mr Peter Stanton (Peter Stanton Environmental Consultant Pty Ltd), Dr Paul Williams (Vegetation Management Science Pty Ltd) and Dr Leasie Felderhof (Firescape Science Pty Ltd) This guideline has been developed and produced by the QPWS Enhanced Fire Management Team: Justine Douglas, David Shevill, Wayne Kington, Jenise Blaik, Kerensa McCallie, Troy Spinks and Mark Cant; 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: Blackbraes National Park, Michael Ahmet (2006). Bp2010

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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 2 1/05/13 2:28 PM Foreword The Einasleigh Uplands bioregion primarily straddles the Great Dividing Range in north-eastern Australia. It contains a diversity of landscapes from the highlands of the Great Dividing Range and associated ranges to the adjacent woodlands and grasslands. The bioregion is characterised by volcanic rocky landscapes, basalt, granite and sandstone geology and features lava tubes, limestone caves, lakes/wetlands and perennial springs. It rises from an altitude of 100 metres to over 1100 metres and contains the headwaters of major river systems including the Burdekin, Flinders, Gilbert, Normandy and Mitchell.

Rangeland cattle grazing exists over most of the bioregion. The bioregion once hosted forestry production and is relatively rich in minerals. One of the biggest issues facing this bioregion is altered burning practises. Although not producing a major visible effect today, altered fire management practises have the potential to greatly change the landscape over a long period of time.

The challenge within the Einasleigh Uplands is to determine fire regimes that will provide the best opportunities to maintain ecosystem diversity. The landscape requires fire in order to nurture its native vegetation communities. A great extent of the Einasleigh Uplands is prone to lightning strikes. These strikes ignite fires towards the end of the dry season which burn uncontrolled across the landscape until the first wet storms extinguish the flames. This is a natural process and many plant species require fire as part of their life-cycle, including for germination of seeds.

However, too frequent or extensive wildfires can have undesirable impacts on biodiversity. The extent and frequency of wildfire can be mitigated with earlier safe burns, to create a better balance of planned burns and wildfires for improved biodiversity outcomes.

The aim of these planned burn guidelines is not only to provide guidance and assistance in understanding the role and application of fire but also to promote fire as a legitimate conservation tool.

Grant Anchen Ranger-in-Charge Northern Region Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 3 1/05/13 2:28 PM Table of contents Foreword...... iii

Purpose of this guideline...... vi

Scope...... vii

Fire and climate in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion of Queensland.... ix

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

Chapter 1: Eucalypt communities...... 1 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities...... 3 Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities...... 22 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses...... 33 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds...... 34

Chapter 2: Melaleuca communities...... 35 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities...... 36 Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca fringing communities...... 43

Chapter 3: Acacia dominated communities...... 44 Issue 1: Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain the health of acacia-dominated communities...... 45 Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses...... 50

Chapter 4: Riparian, springs and fringing communities...... 51 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, springs and fringing communities...... 52

Chapter 5: Vine thickets...... 54 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into vine thickets...... 55

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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 4 1/05/13 2:28 PM Chapter 6: Common issues...... 57 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns...... 58 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites...... 68 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses...... 77 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds...... 87 Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups...... 99 Issue 6: Cyclones and severe storms...... 106

Glossary of fire terminology...... 111

References...... 119

Appendix 1: List of regional ecosystems...... 121

Appendix 2: Mosaic burning...... 128

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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 5 1/05/13 2:28 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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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 6 1/05/13 2:28 PM Scope • This guideline applies to the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion (refer to Figure 1) and covers the following fire vegetation groups: eucalypt, melaleuca, acacia, riparian communities and vine thickets (refer to Appendix 1 for regional ecosystems contained in each fire vegetation group). • It covers the most common fire management issues arising in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. In some cases, there will be a need to include issues in fire strategies or 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.

Grant Anchen, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011).

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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 7 1/05/13 2:28 PM Figure 1: Map of the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion of Queensland.

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DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 8 1/05/13 2:28 PM Fire and climate in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion of Queensland The Einasleigh Uplands is characterised by hot humid summers (wet season), cool dry winters and hot dry periods with storm activity leading into the wet season. About 90 per cent of the bioregions rainfall is associated with the passage of tropical depressions on the coast. Annual rainfall can vary (400 millimetres (mm) to 1000 mm) and decreases from north to south and distance from the coast. The variability of the wet season (i.e. when it commences, its duration and summative rainfall) can alter the timing of the ‘normal’ fire season.

Wet years usually lead to a flush of grass growth which cures during winter and creates increased fuel loads. In contrast, dry years result in reduced grass growth, lower fuel loads, and a lowered risk of extensive wildfires.

Planned burning in Einasleigh Uplands generally commences early in the dry season (around April) to take advantage of partially cured grasses and soil moisture from the previous wet season. These conditions create low-severity burns. Planned burning must remain flexible to allow for variation in the timing and length of wet seasons. Strong south-easterly winds are common between August and October and reduce the window of opportunity for planned burning. It is also important to be aware of conditions prior to and following burns. Frosts which can occur during the winter months quickly cure fuels across the landscape increasing flammability.

The wildfire season generally extends from September to January (seasonally dependant). Lightning is a frequent ignition source of wildfires at the end of the dry season or very early wet season.

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 humidity (~ 17 per cent) and winds ~15 km/hr (refer to Figure 2).

Charters Towers Fire Danger Index (1972-2010) The likelihood of a fire FFDI 25+ (VH+) GFDI 25+ (VH+) 4.0 weather day or sequence of days (FDI 25+) increases 3.5 significantly from August to 3.0 December. Data (Lucas 2010). 2.5 Further information can be 2.0 found in the QPWS Planned 1.5 Burn Guidelines: How to 1.0

Average days per month Assess if Your Burn is Ready 0.5 to Go and on the Bureau

0.0 of Meteorology website at Jan Feb Mar Apr MayJuneJuly Aug Sept OctNov Dec . Month Figure 2: Fire weather risk in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion ix

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x Einasleigh Uplands 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 1/05/13 2:28 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.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, 1/05/13 2:28 PM xi Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 1

1 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Fire management issues • • • • type: these communities varies significantly depending on rainfall, altitude andsoil group intheEinasleigh Uplands bioregion. The composition andstructure of Eucalypt forest andwoodland communities are thedominant fire vegetation Chapter 1:Eucalypt communities pose significant threats, particularly to grassy eucalypt communities. quadrivalvis, gamba grass Andropogon gayanus andlantana Lantana camara Weed species such as buffel grass Cenchrus ciliaris,grader grass Themeda high-severity, frequent fires. species inwoodlands that exist onsandstone can decline if not protected from attributed to along absence of fire. Another issue is that thediversity of shrub and Cypress understorey (species can include Eucalyptus areas is overabundant saplings inthemid-stratum that shade out the grassy An issue threatening thestructure of this fire vegetation group insome decline inplanned fires. fire-prone landscapes and contemporary land use practices which have seena fire-sensitive communities andproperty. This is exacerbated by large tracts of extensive wildfires. These fires impact onthe area’s biodiversity values, nearby A key management concern for this fire vegetation group is frequent andoften

sandstone, granite andacid volcanic soils. Eucalypt woodlands with ashrubby understorey generally occur on boundary. occur inelevated areas andonmoist hills andranges close to the Wet Tropics Open eucalypt forests of smooth-barked gums,stringy barks andmahogany lying areas where they occur as marshes. landscape andare generally found onbasalt andalluvial plains andonlow Very openwoodland with patches of grasslands are minorcomponents of the canopy trees andshrubs andawell-developed understorey of grasses. bloodwoods andbox species, generally with asparse mid-story of juvenile On hills, ranges andalluvial plains common species include ironbarks, spp.). Often this is associated with overgrazing, but it can also be spp., Melaleuca spp., Acacia spp., spp., 1/05/13 2:28 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 2

4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: National Park, 1638ha; National Dalrymple Park, 1579ha. Kuranda West Forest Reserve,2010ha; Kinrara National Park, 1844ha; Porcupine Gorge Park, 2455ha; Mingela State Forest, 2097ha; Ngalba Bulal National Park, 2085ha; Reserve, 2940ha; Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, 2622ha; Mount Lewis National National Park, 3628ha; White Mountains Resources Reserve,3373ha; The Bluff Forest (Under Negotiation With Aboriginal LandandNational Park), 3765ha; Forty Mile Scrub Flagstone Forest Reserve,4034ha; Bilwon State Forest, 4 003ha; Upper Granite Normanby 5 181ha; The Bluff State Forest, 5179ha; Bulleringa National Park, 4111ha; Mount Reserve, 5853ha; Paluma Range National Park, 5565ha; Retreat Valley/Diggers Creek, National Park, 9019ha; Mount Rosey Resources Reserve,6550ha; Bilwon Forest Reserve, 14993ha; Palmer Goldfield Resources 14142 Reserve, ha; Mount Windsor National Park, 33419ha; Blackbraes National Park, 30496ha; Blackbraes Resources 64 420ha; Undara Volcanic National Park, 59672ha; The Canyon, 42786ha; Girringun Examples of this Wairuna FVG: Station (Proposed addition to Girringun National Park ), Refer to Appendix 1for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 10233539hectares (ha), 87percent;Regional ecosystems:

Manage rubber vine, lantana andotherwoody weeds. Manage invasive grasses. Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities. Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities. 1/05/13 2:28 PM

2 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 3 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 3 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities • • • • Key indicators of ahealthy grassy eucalypt forest andwoodland: Awareness of theenvironment Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities with mosaic burning. Issue 1:Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities Eleanor Collins, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2006). heights andages. Healthy openironbark woodland with agrassy understorey. Trees are of various • •

Patches of grassland (where they occur), have scattered trees andshrubs. their distribution. Grevillea glauca, andsilver oak G. parallela, they are generally scattered in as smooth-leaved-quinine Petalostigma banksii,bushman’s clothes peg The shrublayer is generally sparse to absent. Where shrubs are present, such vigorous. native grasses, herbs andlegumes. Grasses may becontinuous, upright and The ground layer has agood cover anddiversity of annual andperennial are nothaving anoticeable shading effect onground-layer plants. in themidandlower stratums (enoughto eventually replace thecanopy) but Eucalypt communities have agrassy understory with scattered canopy species The forest orwoodland is easy to walk through orseethrough. landscape (e.g. there are older clumps interspersed with younger clumps). Spinifex (where it occurs), shows a variation of time-since-fire across the 1/05/13 2:28 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 4 Nola Jefferys,Einasleigh area (2011). and tall shrubs. Mixed eucalypt woodlands sometimes have anopensub-canopy of juvenile canopy trees Lana Little, QPWS, Chillagoe- Mungana Caves National Park (2000). Monitoring grass-layer diversity and vigour can beused to helpdetermine fire frequency. Open woodland with ahealthy understory of annual andperennial native grasses. 1/05/13 2:28 PM

4 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 5 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 5 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities Very openbloodwood/ironbark woodland onbasalt. Native themeda grasses dominate Justine Douglas, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). appear sparse andless vigorous. Low openwoodland of Eucalypt shirleyi. Onsandy, shallow soils, grasses naturally Justine Douglas, QPWS, National Dalrymple Park (2011). the ground layer but buffel grass is present. 1/05/13 2:28 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 6 Mark Newton, DSITIA, Irvenbank area (2006). ground layer. species and shrubs are present intheunderstorey, they are not yet shading-out the Open eucalypt forest onhills adjacent to thewet tropics boundary. Whilst canopy Grant Anchen, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). patches of grasslands. Woodlands can vary from opento very open;where they sometimes merge into small 1/05/13 2:28 PM

6 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 7 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 7 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities Old spinifex clumps are interspersed with recently-burnt spinifex. Awet season burn was • • • • • • forest orwoodland: The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain agrassy eucalypt QPWS, Porcupine Gorge National Park (2007). used to achieve this patchy mosaic.

fresh growth, look grey anddry. formed continuous hummocks over abroad area. Spinifex clumps have little Where it occurs, spinifex cover increases and clumps are touching orhave calotrope are beginning to expand in openwoodland communities. Where present, exotic woody weeds such as lantana, rubber vine and suspended leaf litter, bark andtwigs. There is abuild upof fine fuels such as dead grass material, leaf litter, emerge intheground stratum. Grasses are becoming scarce. In wetter areas where openforests occur, rainforest pioneers may begin to and/or grasses have collapsed. Ground-layer diversity is declining. Grass clumps are poorly-formed. There is anaccumulation of dead material the ground layer. emerge inabundance (upto approximately waist height)andare shading out Eucalypts, acacias, melaleuca, cypress and/orcasuarina are beginning to 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 8 Justine Douglas, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). of canopy species. lower stratums, use early season dry burns of low severity to encourage theregeneration indicate that afire is required. Because there are very few canopy species inthemidand This very open ironbark woodland is still healthy but anaccumulation of grasses may Justine Douglas, QPWS, Range Hervey’s (2011). canopy recruitment. this community will ensure somesaplings are thinnedandothers are retained for Eucalypt andmelaleuca saplings are emerging inabundance. Maintaining fire in 1/05/13 2:29 PM

8 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 9 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 9 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities of this openwoodland community. Grevillia pteridifolia Grant Anchen, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). thickening inthemidstorey is starting to shade out theground layer (2011). Blackbraes National Park Justine Douglas, QPWS, indicate fire is required. in these communities can regeneration of cypress communities. Dense eucalypt woodland found scattered within Cypress pineis often 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 10 out of theground layer if left unburnt for long periods. some woodland communities. However, overabundance can eventually lead to shading- Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Undara National Park (2007). large percentage of rubber vines inthis openwoodland. the grass fuels are continuous there is enoughfuel to carry a high-severity fire and kill a Rubber vine is fire-sensitive. Most plants can be killed with high-severity fires. Because Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Bulleringa National Park (2007). Smooth-leaved quinine Petalostigma banksiiis naturally abundant intheshrublayer of 1/05/13 2:29 PM

10 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 11 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 11 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities • • • Discussion • • •

guidelines). by exotic pasture grasses (refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),for management in theregeneration of native grass communities that were once dominated should re-establish amore healthy system over time.Fire can also play arole structure of theunderstorey appears healthy, implementing this guideline trees andshrubs at different age classes). Inthese cases, as long as the native grasslands, presence of high-biomass pasture grasses, absence of ecosystems (e.g. woody thickening from clearing orovergrazing, loss of Undara National Park in 1990). These areas may still contain somedisturbed relatively recently) used for cattle grazing (e.g. Blackbraes in1998and Many of theprotected areas intheEinasleigh Uplands bioregion were (until woodland. Donot confuse this issue with woodland thickening. mid-stratum dense shrubs (e.g. quinine,currant bush) can occur within open Whilst shrubs are generally sparse to absent, sometimes small pockets of the landscape. reduce fuel loads andcreate amosaic of burnt andunburnt patches across wildfires is to undertake amosaic of low-intensity, early dry-season fires to production. Akey strategy to minimise theimpacts of these extensive communities. Wildfires also pose arisk to life, property andprimary impacts onthebiodiversity values of opengrassy forest andwoodland incidences of late dry-season wildfires. These wildfires have negative A major conservation issue intheEinasleigh Uplands bioregion is the forest can berapid inthese areas. eucalypt woodland species andgrasses. System change from opento closed quickly grow into themidstratum intheabsence of fire, shading-out juvenile are oftenpresent inopenforest communities. Rainforest species can In themoister areas adjacent to the Wet Tropics boundary, rainforest species too green to burn will burn severely and vice versa. used andlocal knowledge sought as somegrass species which still appear assist indetermining whengrasses are ready to burn. Caution should be cent cured. AustralianThe North Grassland Fuel Guide (Johnson 2001)may Grasses are generally considered ready to burn whenthey reach 50–60 per (Williams et 2009). al. fire. Theavailable fuel tends to be uniform andprimarily intheground layer or three years, with noaddition to grass fuel loads with greater time-since- has shown that fuel loads inthese areas reach amaximum level aftertwo Fuel accumulates quickly within grassy eucalypt woodlands. Monitoring 1/05/13 2:29 PM • Discussion • • • • • forest can berapid inthese areas. eucalypt woodland species andgrasses. System change from opento closed quickly grow into themidstratum intheabsence of fire, shading-out juvenile are oftenpresent inopenforest communities. Rainforest species can In themoister areas adjacent to the Wet Tropics boundary, rainforest species too green to burn will burn severely and vice versa. used andlocal knowledge sought as somegrass species which still appear assist indetermining whengrasses are ready to burn. Caution should be cent cured. AustralianThe North Grassland Fuel Guide (Johnson 2001)may Grasses are generally considered ready to burn whenthey reach 50–60 per (Williams et 2009). al. fire. Theavailable fuel tends to be uniform andprimarily intheground layer or three years, with noaddition to grass fuel loads with greater time-since- has shown that fuel loads inthese areas reach amaximum level aftertwo Fuel accumulates quickly within grassy eucalypt woodlands. Monitoring guidelines). by exotic pasture grasses (refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),for management in theregeneration of native grass communities that were once dominated should re-establish amore healthy system over time.Fire can also play arole structure of theunderstorey appears healthy, implementing this guideline trees andshrubs at different age classes). Inthese cases, as long as the native grasslands, presence of high-biomass pasture grasses, absence of ecosystems (e.g. woody thickening from clearing orovergrazing, loss of Undara National Park in 1990). These areas may still contain somedisturbed relatively recently) used for cattle grazing (e.g. Blackbraes in1998and Many of theprotected areas intheEinasleigh Uplands bioregion were (until woodland. Donot confuse this issue with woodland thickening. mid-stratum dense shrubs (e.g. quinine,currant bush) can occur within open Whilst shrubs are generally sparse to absent, sometimes small pockets of the landscape. reduce fuel loads andcreate amosaic of burnt andunburnt patches across wildfires is to undertake amosaic of low-intensity, early dry-season fires to production. Akey strategy to minimise theimpacts of these extensive communities. Wildfires also pose arisk to life, property andprimary impacts onthebiodiversity values of opengrassy forest andwoodland incidences of late dry-season wildfires. These wildfires have negative A major conservation issue intheEinasleigh Uplands bioregion is the DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 12 • • •

Towers. Avoid burning whenironbark communities are stressed. dieback of ironbarks during severe drought was recorded near Charters regimes. Ironbark species are sensitive to drought.Inthe1990s amassive group could beasign of drought andnot necessarily dueto changed fire It is important to note that visual signs of poorhealth inthis fire vegetation and grasslands, consider fire management. than fire). Where this thickening is expanding into adjacent open woodlands wetlands may bearesponse to afloodand associated silt deposition rather influenced by prolonged flooding (e.g. a flush of coolabah seedlings around Be aware that flushes of Eucalyptus trees can diewhentheircrown is scorched. generally survives low-intensity fires but is considered fire-sensitive as adult scattered plants orsmall clumps, andpersists well infire sheltered areas. It Cypress pineCallitris spp. occurs naturally insomeeucalypt communities as 2001 2003 spp. andMelaleuca spp. can be load two to three years afterfire. species, generally reaching amaximum fuel with seasonal rainfall, soil typeandgrass year cycle. Fuel load accumulation will vary fuels in ironbark woodland over athree Note therapid accumulation of grassy QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2001,2002,2003). 2002 1/05/13 2:29 PM

12 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 13 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 13 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities 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? the burn. boundary of within the burnt ground 30–70 %of mosaic of hectares, a Over several Measurable Measurable Medium objectives Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem 3. 2. 1. Choose oneof these options:

burnt within visual field. estimating percentage of ground through planned burn area burn area), walk 300mormore 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 air. more vantage points,orfrom the fire association burnt—from oneor Visual estimation of percentage of How to beassessed Priority assessment burnt. < 20%or>80 Not Achieved: 70–80 %burnt. between 20–30%or Partially Achieved: 30–70 %burnt. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 14 Management System, orconsider formulating your own. of planned burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecomplete compendium 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 Justine Douglas, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). An example of how fire was used to scorch overabundant eucalypt saplings. reduced. < 2mare saplings overabundant > 75%of components) reduced. overabundant saplings (above ground transects, estimate thepercentage of Select several sites orwalk several Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. 1/05/13 2:29 PM

14 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 15 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 15 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities • 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 strike abalance between tree reduction andcanopy tree recruitment. helps to ensure emerging overabundant trees are managed. It is important to Low two to five years for eucalypt woodlands with agrassy understorey. 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) andwith theoccasional moderate. Anoccasional moderate-severity fire

100 intensity (kWm < 100 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity – 150 -1 )

Average 0.5 height flame < 0.5 (m) – 1.5

Average 2.0 height scorch scorch < 2.0 (m) – 5.0 Fire severity (post-fire) partly scorched. Upper canopy leaves may be storey canopy leaves scorched. fuels burnt.All ormost of mid- All surface andnear surface canopy scorch. of elevated fuels. Little orno have burnt. Some scorching surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness, most of the (loss of biomass) Description 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 16 Landscape mosaic Good soil moisture is critical for arange of aspects: Soil moisture: 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? • • Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • • • • Wind speed: <23km/hr DI (KBDI):80–160 GFDI: <8 Season: Early season dry burns

It promotes amosaic of burnt andunburnt patches. Good soil moisture encourages species regeneration soonafterfire. encroachment of weeds. It limits theopening of bare ground which can result inerosion andthe trees. Good soil moisture minimises loss of habitat features such as hollow-bearing advantage over invasive grasses andwoody weeds. It protects andretains thebases of grasses, ensuring they have acompetitive Einasleigh Uplands within each year. Do not burn more than 40percent of this fire vegetation group inthe communities. A mosaic is achieved with generally 30–70percent burnt within thetarget Wind speed: <23km/hr DI (KBDI):<80 GFDI: 8–14 Season: Storm burns 1/05/13 2:29 PM

16 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 17 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 17 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities features for this species. removal of ground-cover habitat wildfires can lead to the resources. Late dry-season diurnal refuge areas andfood and unburnt patches provides bettong. Amosaic of burnt for species such as therufous kangaroo grass are habitat understorey dominated by Woodlands with anative grassy (2011). Blackbraes National Park Justine Douglas, QPWS, scorch has occurred. Note that little canopy soon afterthewet season. after alow-severity burn the ground-layer soon Species regeneration in QPWS (2009). 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 18 • • • • Other considerations: Grant Anchen, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2010). altitude. Early frosts can theplanned shorten burn season. Widespread frosts can occur any timebetween May and September, most commonly at •

Ensure planned burn programs are ahighpriority afterabig wet season. a result, late season wildfires are common across theEinasleigh Uplands. After along wet summer, grassy fuel loads will behigherthan normal. As (refer to Chapter 6(Issue 5),regarding fire management guidelines). Strategic planned burning of theeffected areas may therefore berequired and leaf litter) not only increase fuel loads but can impedefireline access. conditions which may alter fire behaviour. Fallen fuels (e.g. trees, branches Tropical cyclones andsevere storms have thepotential to change fuel Avoid burning during these months. Strong south-easterly winds are common from about August to October. reviewing fire management programs afterfrost events. even intheearly season dry whengood soil moisture is present. Consider moisture levels. Fires may not self-extinguish inaffected communities Frosts can occur during thewinter months andwill quickly reduce fuel Heavy dews can influence the spread of early-season fires. 1/05/13 2:29 PM

18 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 19 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 19 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities • • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • • • Aerial ignition issue. this in assist may that tactics What is offered below is not prescriptive; rather it is atoolkit of suggested tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve burn objectives. at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during theburn, Tactics will besite specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

rather than use aformulated gridpattern across theburn area. the desired mosaic andburn severity, it is preferable to scatter incendiaries spacing anddrop patterns achieve thedesired burn objectives. To achieve It is recommended that anaerial incendiary plan is developed to ensure (as opposed to repetitive lighting of main burn operations from firebreaks). Aerial incendiary operations also allow for variations inignitionpoints buffer that burns away from theedges of non-target communities. such as peaks andridges which create abacking fire downhill or to create a Helicopters provide theopportunity to directly target topographical features terrain. bioregion dueto thescale of areas being managed andits ofteninaccessible Aerial ignitionfrom ahelicopter is oftenused intheEinasleigh Uplands extinguish fires overnight. or whenburning adjacent to adjoining Dew properties. can beuseful to adjacent to non-target communities, whenburning later season inthedry promoting alow to moderate-severity fire. This tactic is useful when burning Afternoon orevening lighting generally creates milder burn conditions, edge for ahigher-severity fire ignited inside the burn area. create alow-intensity backing fire into the burn area or create a containment Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can beauseful way to topography, fuel loads, fuel moisture andweather conditions. spacing of thespots may vary throughout theburn dueto variations in a range of methods including matches, driptorches andincendiaries. The desired mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas. This can beachieved by using Spot ignitioncan beused to alter theintensity of afire and create the allow. are lit infire-adapted communities from early inthe year when conditions Progressive burning. Fires (of varying extent, severity andover various times) gain anunderstanding of terrain. photograph. Use of aerial photographs (stereoscopic images) is useful to It is good practice to plot theincendiary drop path onto amap oraerial ground ignitionto secure anedge around thearea being burnt. In someinstances this tactic may beimplemented inconjunction with

1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 20 • • • Mark Parsons, QPWS, Princess Hills (2003). burn mosaic. The spacing of incendiaries is important andhelps achieve thedesired fire intensity and •

guidelines). target community. (Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 5),regarding fire management community to promote alow-intensity fire that burns away from thenon- use appropriate lighting patterns along themargin of thenon-target Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities.required, Where techniques, ininaccessible areas (seek advice). day. Boundary burning can also beachieved by particular aerial burning is cured. This could betwo to three days afterslashing orlater onthesame possible afterthewet season andburning theslashed grass as soonas it accessible, this strategy may include slashing boundaries as soonas fires entering apropertyor to contain fires withinboundaries. Where Boundary burning is anignitionstrategy undertaken to reduce late season extensive fires season. inthedry in spinifex dominated communities. This tactic also reduces therisk of Wet season burning provides theopportunity to achieve landscape mosaics and property. burns, inoftenunpredictable weather conditions can pose risks to habitats 50 mmof rain is recommended before burning. The undertaking of storm when there is a very highchance of rain afterburning. Aminimumof about maintain grasslands). Storm burns are undertaken afterthefirst storms and (e.g. manage woody thickening, someweed control programs andto Storm burning can beused as astrategy to address habitat requirements 1/05/13 2:29 PM

20 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 21 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 21 Issue 1: Maintain healthy grassy eucalypt communities Low-severity burns ingrassy woodland communities. Mark Parsons, QPWS, Princess Hills (2006). conditions. Insomeareas, dry-season burning can commence as early as March. Timing of early dry-season burns will vary annually dueto variations inseasonal Nick Smith, QPWS, Undara National Park (2011). 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 22 • • Key indicators of healthy shrubby communities: Awareness of theenvironment Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities with mosaic burning. Issue 2:Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, Bulleringa National Park (2009). Healthy • •

Fire-promoted short-livedspecies may bepresent. Shrubs are of aflowering age. ramiflora andLeptospermum pallidum. Comesperma pallidum, toothbrush grevillea Grevillea pteridifolia, Acacia Jacksoniaspp., ramosissima, Townsvillewattle There is adiversity of shrubspecies including acacia, hopbush Dodonaea impacts. replace thecanopy) but are not extensive enoughto produce shading young canopy species are recruiting intheunderstorey (enoughto eventually Eucalypt communities have acanopy of eucalypt orcorymbia trees. Some Eucalyptus chartaboma woodland with ashrubby understorey. Acacia leptostachya, 1/05/13 2:29 PM

22 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 23 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 23 Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities Shrubby eucalypt woodland. Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, Bulleringa National Park (2009). eucalypt woodland. This area has beenunburnt for eight years. Fire-killed shrubs (Grevillea decora and Acacia spp.) dominate theunderstory of this open Bulleringa National Park (1991). Peter Stanton, Environmental Consultant PtyLtd, estate: formally Bulleringa Pastoral Holdings PtyLtd, now 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 24 • • • • • eucalypt woodland The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain openshrubby Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, Bulleringa National Park (2005and2006). of seed production following fire. plants can beused to indicate appropriate fire intervals, based onallowing several years Shrubs such as therare Acacia ramiflora (above) display fire-triggered germination. These

Fuel loads are sufficient to amoderatecarry to hot fire. form continuous hummocks. Where they occur, spinifex cover has increased andclumps are beginning to are absent between spinifex hummocks. The diversity of theground layer has decreased with time.Herbs andforbs matured andset-seed numerous times. Fire-germinated seedlings such as someAcacia spp. andGrevillea spp.have fire are beginning to dieorare dead. Acacia spp.Jacksonia and ramosissima, which germinated afteraprevious 1/05/13 2:29 PM

24 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 25 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 25 Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities • • • Discussion Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, Bulleringa National Park (2009). Species diversity inthis shrubby woodland is starting to decline.

particularly herbs (Williams and Tran 2009). few years afterfire anddeclines due to short-livedfire promoted species, woodlands. At Bulleringa National Park, plant diversity increases inthefirst Shrub species diversity declines andsomedisappear in very long-unburnt drier times whennatural barriers to fire are less reliable. originate from down-slope adjacent opengrassy woodlands that burn during burn extensive areas of shrubby eucalypt communities. These fires generally The main concern is repeated fires of intervals short andof highseverity that fire andwhose seedlings require anumberof years to mature. vegetation group. They contain alarge numberof shrubs that germinate after Within theEinasleigh Uplands bioregion there are only small areas of this fire 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 26 woodland (2009). Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, White Mountains National Park. Jacksonia ramosissima flowering (2007)and later dying in this long-unburnt shrubby 1/05/13 2:29 PM

26 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 27 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 27 Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities 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? of theburn. the boundary ground within blackened 25–50 %of mosaic of hectares a Over several Very high Measurable Measurable objectives Priority High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation c. b. a. Chose oneof these options:

vantage points,orfrom theair. vegetation burnt—from oneormore Visual estimation of percentage of burnt within visual field. estimating percentage of ground through planned burn area burn area), walk 300mormore 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 burn area How to beassessed Priority assessment burnt. < 25%or>50 Not Achieved: 25–50 %burnt. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 28 Management System, orconsider formulating your own. of planned burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecomplete compendium are able to mature andset seed (andthus are retained inthelandscape). sufficiently patchy that someareas remain long unburnt, sothat these species Monitoring of obligate seedregenerating species can assist inensuring fires are 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 area. over theburn promoted Acacia spp.) spp. and Jacksonia (e.g. seeders of obligate Recruitment b. a. (six months to a year Chose oneof these options

shrubs can beseen. seeding trees of obligate seeder seedlings andmature flowering or Across theburn area, both provide guidance. mapping, where available, can the air. Fire reportsandfire history one ormore vantage points,orfrom stages of recovery from fire —from seen to beat various heights and Jacksonia spp. orgrevilleas can be Obligate seeders such as acacias,

after theburn):

across theburn area. single age/height shrubs are all of a Obligate seeder Not Achieved: burn area. maturity across the heights/stages of presentat various seeder shrubs are Achieved: Obligate 1/05/13 2:29 PM

28 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 29 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 29 Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities QPWS, Bulleringa National Park (2001,2002,2007,2009). 2009–2010 fire season. area has matured sufficiently to afire carry and was recommended for burning inthe is followed by aseries of images of shrubregeneration post-fire. Inthis final photo the sequence illustrates shrubdiversity decline afteralong fire-free interval (2001). This (Clockwise from top left)Aphoto-monitoring site inashrubby eucalypt community. This 2007 2001 2009 2002 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 30 • 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 severity fire helps to ensure the regeneration of shrubs. Low class Low Fire (M) (L) andwith theoccasional moderate orhigh.Anoccasional moderate-

100–150 intensity (kWm < 100 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 height flame < 0.5 (m)

Average 2.0–5.0 height scorch scorch < 2.0 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) canopy scorch. of elevated fuels. Little orno have burnt. Some scorching surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness, most of the partly scorched. Upper canopy leaves may be storey canopy leaves scorched. fuels burnt.All ormost of mid- All surface andnear surface (loss of biomass) Description 1/05/13 2:29 PM

30 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 31 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 31 Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities Mosaic (mosaic of anindividual planned burn) • • • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) 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? Wind speed: <23km/hr DI (KBDI):80–160 GFDI: <8 Season: Early season dry burns

increased. However, overall severity is generally low to moderate. understory of grasses such as spinifex, fuel loads andfire severity may be of thenon-continuous grass layer. Insomeplaces where there is adense In rocky areas this fire vegetation groups tends to burn patchily because broad-scale frequent burning is undesirable. Seedlings require several years to mature (less than five years). Therefore, communities. Some shrubs are fire-killed but rely on post-fire recruitment. A mosaic is achieved with generally 25–50percent burnt within thetarget Be aware that shrubs vary intheirmaturing rates. ten years. maximum timeframe). Consider abroad fire interval range of between five to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through to the Apply mosaic plan burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies to patchiness andadjusted for wildfire risk anddrought cycles. assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire Fire frequency should primarily bedetermined through on-ground Wind speed: <23km/hr DI (KBDI):<80 GFDI: 8–14 Season: Wet season burns 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 32 • • Aerial ignition grassy woodlands) has to beplanned with these communities inmind. communities. Therefore burning of surrounding communities (generally open woodlands have alonger inter-fire interval than surrounding fire-adapted Burn inassociation with thesurrounding landscape. Shrubbyeucalypt What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • • •

season fires. containment edge for higherseverity fires, or to create a barrier to later way to create alow severity backing fire into the burn area, or to create a Commence lighting ontheleeward orsmoky edge. This can beauseful promoting alow to moderate severity fire. Afternoon orevening lighting generally creates milder burn conditions help create amosaic burn, thereby reducing therisk of broad scale wildfire. particularly where there is anaccumulation of volatile fuels. This tactic may Spot ignitioncan beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire areas. landscape features such as moist gullies, drainage lines andrecently burnt when conditions are suitable. Use intandem with good soil moisture and a greater opportunity to implement planned burns throughout the year a varied mosaic across theplanned burn area. It also gives managers and at various times from early inthe year whenconditions allow, creating Progressive burning. Using acombination of techniques (ground andaerial) lighting crews are well aware of theplan priorto ignition. plot theincendiary drop path onto amap oraerial photograph andensure particularly useful to gain anunderstanding of terrain). It is good practice to Use of aerial photographs is recommended (stereoscopic images are achieve thedesired burn objectives. Monitor thefires’ movements. incendiary plan is developed to ensure thespacing anddrop patterns The spacing of incendiaries is It important. is recommended that anaerial and burns away from thecommunity. or away from theedges of thenon-target community. This creates abuffer such as peaks, ridges andspurs to create abacking fire that travels downhill Helicopters provide theopportunity to directly target topographical features escarpments typical of shrubby eucalypt communities. inaccessible terrain generally associated with sandstone ridges and Aerial ignitionfrom ahelicopter is recommended for remote, rugged 1/05/13 2:29 PM

32 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 2: Maintain healthy shrubby eucalypt communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 33 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities 33 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. communities. gradually results intheoverall decline of thehealth anddiversity of eucalypt characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging high-severity fires. This Andropogon gayanus inparticular, pose asignificant threat by altering fuel Cenchrusgrass ciliaris,Grader grass Themeda quadrivalvis andGamba grass in significant damaging impacts uponthe vegetation community. Buffel dramatically increase fire severity, are oftenpromoted by fire and may result It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses as they can Issue 3:Manage invasive grasses 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 34 Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 4),regarding fire management guidelines. use of fire andherbicide. approach to fire management or for well-established infestations, the integrated communities. The presence of weeds such as these may require analtered aggressive weeds that invade openwoodland, vine thickets andriparian Rubber vine weeds Issue 4:Manage rubber vine, lantana andotherwoody Cryptostegia grandiflora andlantana Lantana camara are 1/05/13 2:29 PM

34 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt communities Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 35

35 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities management may berequired (refer to Issue 1). Where they occur as woodlands orshrublands, amore active approach to fire However somecan tolerate occasional low-severity fire. communities are generally fire-sensitive andfire should not bedirectly applied. Fringing forests can bedamaged by fire and require protection. Swamp melaleuca communities onsomeoccasions. conditions whenmelaleuca communities are moist, allowing fire to intocarry landscape, thefocus is onmanaging surrounding areas under appropriate Where melaleuca occurs as isolated stands within thebroader fire-adapted issues differ as aresult. (e.g. restricted low-lying areas oras openwoodlands) andfire management There are differences inhow melaleuca communities occur inthelandscape Fire management issues forests andwoodland communities. species. Melaleuca species are also acommon sub-canopy species of open wetlands, springs andwater courses, they oftenshare thecanopy with eucalypt monantha occur indrierareas. Where they form fringing communities around leafed paperbark Melaleuca citrolens, Melaleuca stenostachya and Melaleuca nervosa dominated by broad-leaved paperbark Melaleuca viridiflora , Melaleuca woodlands communities. Inlow-lying areas, melaleuca communities are This fire vegetation group occurs throughout theEinasleigh Uplands as Chapter 2:Melaleuca communities 2. 1. Issues: locations seemap. National Park, 44ha; Paluma Range National Park, 35ha; The Canyon, 29ha. andother Great Basalt Wall National Park, 80ha; Pinnacles National Park, 61ha; Mount Lewis 114 ha; Mount Rosey Resources Reserve,91ha; Porcupine Gorge National Park, 81ha; National Park, 146ha; Girringun National Park, 115ha; Blackbraes Resources Reserve, 415 ha; Wairuna Station (Proposed addition to Girringun National Park), 413ha; Bulleringa Examples of this Undara FVG: Volcanic National Park, 1960ha; Blackbraes National Park, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 131051ha, 1percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca fringing communities. Maintain healthy melaleuca communities. , orblack tea-tree Melaleuca bracteata. Scattered patches of narrow- 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 36 The following may indicate that fire is required: • • • Key indicators of ahealthy melaleuca community: Awareness of theenvironment Maintain healthy melaleuca communities with fire management. Issue 1:Maintain healthy melaleuca communities Lana Little, QPWS, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park (2011). association with thesurrounding country. Melaleuca typically grows inassociation with openwoodland communities. Burn in • •

grasses are beginning to collapse. clumps are poorly-formed. There is anaccumulation of dead material and Grasses are becoming sparse where they were once abundant orthegrass browning andthere is abuild-up of dead leaves. ofproportion these have dead ordying crowns orbranches. Lower leaves are The crowns andbranches of shrubs are declining inhealth andahigh Weed species are uncommon. variable sizes (enoughto eventually replace thecanopy). of grasses, sedges, shrubs (oramix of these) andafew canopy species of Healthy melaleuca communities have ahealthy canopy with anunderstorey Melaleuca is thedominant canopy tree. 1/05/13 2:29 PM

36 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 37 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities 37 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities layer means fires are infrequent. Melaleuca monantha Fiona O’Grady, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). moisture or free standing water. communities are not fire-sensitive but generally donot burn because they have good soil Black tea-tree Melaleuca bracteata oftenoccurs inareas of impededdrainage. These Mark Newton, DSITIA, Near Mount Carbine (1999). woodland with asparse understorey. The naturally-sparse ground 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 38 • • • • Discussion Mark Newton, DSITIA, Mount Carbine area (1999). high soil moisture content. Fires are unlikely to carry far into melaleuca communities with sparse ground layer and/or

with fire management may be required. If anarea has not burnt for along time,direct targeting of melaleuca areas conditions within themelaleuca community to limit fire spread andseverity. burning surrounding fire-adapted areas with a good awareness of moisture The main fire management approach for melaleuca communities is may slow orprevent regeneration. Melaleuca woodlands are fire-adapted, but high-severity orfrequent fires sparse ground layer and/orhighsoil moisture. Fires are unlikely to carry very far into melaleuca communities that have a surrounding vegetationcommunities. across theEinasleigh Uplands, aimto manage fire in association with the Due to thepatchy nature andremoteness of melaleuca communities 1/05/13 2:29 PM

38 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 39 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities 39 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities Management System, orconsider formulating your own. of planned burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecomplete compendium 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? suckers. back basal to not pushed height andis its canopy maintains viridiflora Melaleuca > 75%of area. management burnt within woodland melaleuca 30–60 %of Woodland: Measurable Measurable objectives Priority High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem saplings/seedlings scorched. severity); estimate thepercentage of variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor unburnt country onanannual basis. or from theair, estimate burnt and From oneormore vantage points How to beassessed Priority assessment Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. < 20%or>80%. Not Achieved: 20–30 %or60–80%. Partially Achieved: Achieved: 30–60%. How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 40 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 Note: This table assumes good soil moisture and optimal planned burn conditions. • Moderate

severity Low class Low Fire (M) (L) andoccasionally moderate.

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 1/05/13 2:29 PM

40 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 41 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities 41 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities Soil moisture: Burn whengood soil moisture exists inmelaleuca communities Wind speed: <23km/hr DI (KBDI):80–100 GFDI: <8 Early dry-season burns 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? • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion)

four andsix years. 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 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 42 • • issue. this in assist may that tactics What is offered below is not prescriptive; rather it is atoolkit of suggested tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve burn objectives. at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during theburn, Tactics will besite specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? •

overabundant trees. are kept to aminimum.Greater residence timeis useful inreducing amount of residence timeandensures fire intensity and rate of spread in themore complete coverage of anarea. It ensures thefire has agreater against thewind onthesmoky edge ordown-slope) will generally result A backing fire with good residence time.Aslow-moving backing fire (lit hot damaging junction zones forming within thecommunity. lighting adjacent to melaleuca stands is preferred as it limits thechance of Spot ignitionis useful to alter thedesired severity of afire. Well-spaced spot from early inthe year whenconditions allow. extents, severity andat various times) are lit infire-adapted communities management andreduce theseverity andextent of wildfires. Fires (of varying take advantage of different conditions. This may also assist with fuel load Progressive burning is auseful tactic to create variation, mosaics and 1/05/13 2:29 PM

42 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 43 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Melaleuca communities 43 Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca fringing communities Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 5),regarding fire management guidelines. severe fires. Melaleuca fringing communities require protection from too-frequent and/or communities Issue 2:Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca fringing 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 44 2007) andinfluence thepotential for frequent and damaging fires. severity. Species such as buffel grass alter fuel characteristics at thesite (Butler communities. These grasses draw fires into theareas andincrease thefire Introduced invasive grasses pose thegreatest threat to fire-sensitive communities. mitigate theintensity andextent of unplanned fires impacting uponacacia (e.g. planned burns) rather; burn surrounding fire-adapted vegetation to instances, fire is not applied directly to acacia dominated communities Acacia species are vulnerable to frequent andhigh-severity fires. Inmost Fire management issues sandstone pavements. and shrubs. Small patches of low acacia shrublands are restricted to rock and gidgee andbrigalow). The understorey is generally sparse andincludes grasses typically dominated by small stands of asingle acacia species (e.g. lancewood, This fire vegetation group contains acacia forests and woodlands that are Chapter 3:Acacia dominated communities 2. 1. Issues: The Bluff Forest Reserve,14ha; Blackbraes National Park, 7ha. 602 ha; Gilbert River Proposed newNational Park, 127ha; Girringun National Park, 69ha; Park, 3385ha; Porcupine Gorge National Park, 1308ha; Great Basalt Wall National Park, Station (Proposed addition to Girringun National Park), 3904ha; Undara Volcanic National Examples of this Bulleringa FVG: National Park, 19222ha; The Canyon, 5536ha; Wairuna for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 512585ha, 4percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Manage invasive grasses. dominated communities. Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain thehealth of acacia- 1/05/13 2:29 PM 44 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 45 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities 45 Issue 1: Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain the health of acacia-dominated communities 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 maintain thehealth of acacia-dominated communities Issue 1:Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to Gary Wilson, Queensland Herbarium, Bulleringa National Park (2006). post-fire via seedlings. However, it can take 6¬–20 years before thetrees set-seed. A healthy lancewood-dominated forest. Fire-killed acacias such as lancewood regenerate 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 46 Fiona O’Grady, QPWS, Porcupine Gorge National Park (2011). bare rock, steep relief, poorsoils andsparse fine fuels intheground layer. Acacia communities are oftenafforded protection from fire by natural features such as Justine Douglas, QPWS, White Mountains National Park (2011). shrub species. Acacia-dominated communities are generally well-represented with fire-sensitive 1/05/13 2:29 PM

46 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain the health of acacia-dominated communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 47 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities 47 Issue 1: Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain the health of acacia-dominated communities Sparse fuels andbare ground mean fire is only likely to trickle thoughthis fire-sensitive Mark Newton, DSITIA, Great Basalt Wall (2006). its regeneration. A Boree-dominated community. This species is fire-killed anddoes not need fire for Mark Newton, DSITIA, Hughendenarea (2010). gidgee community. 1/05/13 2:29 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 48 • • • Discussion • • • • •

fire andin particular the presence of invasive species (e.g. buffel grass). is important to be aware of thedominant acacia species, theirresponse to When conducting planned burns inareas adjacent to acacia communities it into these areas is useful as they reduce fuel levels andmitigate theimpacts. Patchy to low-severity burns insurrounding areas that onoccasion trickle accumulation of fuels that promote high-severity, single-event wildfires. Fire exclusion inacacia-dominated communities may result inan required to allow theacacia regrowth sufficient time to recover and mature. proactive fire management approach inthe surrounding areas will oftenbe Be aware that afterafire that has affected anacacia community, amore these communities. and should maintain obligate-seeders. Donot intentionally apply fire in fine-fuel layers). Fire will naturally enter these communities occasionally the landscape where they grow (rock pavements, sandstone scarps, sparse communities are restricted intheirrange andare generally protected by five to eight years to maintain community structure. Acacia shrubland longispicata are obligate-seeders andrequire fire-free intervals of at least Acacia species such as Acacia johanis,Acacia leptostachya andAcacia severity, causing undesirable impacts. spread of invasive grasses have resulted infires of agreater frequency and 2002). Changes inland use (inparticular adecline inplanned fires) andthe substantial grass growth creating sufficient fuel to firecarry (Hodgkinson wildfire events and/or following prolonged rainfall which has resulted in associated with grasslands). Ingeneral fire has occurred during extensive at between ten and50 years (thoughthis differs where acacias are Historically, fire within most acacia communities was infrequent, estimated species. follows highrainfall years. Fire plays norole inthegermination of these (or significantly top-killed). Germination is occasionalvery and generally Acacia crombiei andboree Acacia tephrina are long-lived andfire-killed Other acacias such as gidgee Acacia cambagei, pink gidgee several seedcrops. critical to exclude fires further until theacacias reach maturity andset role inthepersistence of this community inthelandscape. It is then burning thesurrounding areas, theoccasional (rare) wildfire may play a germination. Although it is recommended to mitigate wildfire impacts by persist locally. These species are hard-seeded andrequire fire to promote post-fire regeneration from a viable seed bank inorder for the species to Fire-killed acacias such as lancewood Acacia shirleyi are reliant upon 1/05/13 2:29 PM

48 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain the health of acacia-dominated communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 49 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities 49 Issue 1: Burn adjacent fire-adapted communities to maintain the health of acacia-dominated communities mature gidgee trees. minimal scorching of patchy fires. Note occasional, mild and can withstand fire-sensitive, it gidgee is extremely community. Whilst gidgee-dominated has trickled into a A patchy burn Einasleigh area (2009). Mark Newton, QPWS, unburnt. community is long- This indicates the absence of seedlings. trees and the mature lancewood the numberof dead community. Note A lancewood Porcupine Gorge (2010). Fiona O’Grady, QPWS, clumps. initially form dense seedlings.via These regeneration post-fire longispicata Fire-killed Acacia Toomba(2011). Station Justine Douglas, QPWS, 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 50 Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. overall decline of theextent of acacia-dominated communities. of damaging highseverity fires which gradually result inthefragmentation and dominated communities by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle Cenchrus grass Buffel ciliaris inparticular poses asignificant threat to acacia- significant impacts uponthe vegetation community. dramatically increase fire severity, are oftenpromoted by fire and may result in It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses as they can Issue 2:Manage invasive grasses 1/05/13 2:30 PM

50 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Acacia dominated communities Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 51

51 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Riparian, springs and fringing communities

Issues: water present. springs are generally protected by fire because there is usually freestanding throughout thebioregion andhave thebiodiversity status ‘of concern’. These fire to control these invasive weeds (refer to Chapter 6). Thermal springs occur lantana are bothfire-sensitive andinsome cases it may benecessary to use and lantana which create thickets inriparian vegetation. Rubber vine and of these communities are subject to weed invasion, inparticular rubber vine tolerate anoccasional low-severity fire, donot intentionally burn them. Many Most of thespecies inthese communities are fire-sensitive. Whilst they can Fire management issues and intermittent creeks, riverine wetlands, springs andfringing eucalypt forests. This fire vegetation group includes open forests on stream channels, river banks communities Chapter 4:Riparian, springs andfringing 1. Park), 5ha. 11 ha; Upper Granite Normanby (UnderNegotiation With Aboriginal Land andNational National Park, 12ha; Dinden West Forest Reserve,12ha; Evelyn Creek Conservation Park, 20 ha; White Mountains National Park, 15ha; Nettle Creek Historic Tin Site, 14ha; Pinnacles Dinden State Forest, 31ha; Great Basalt Wall National Park, 22ha; Bilwon State Forest, Forest, 37ha; Mount Lewis National Park, 34ha; Porcupine Gorge National Park, 33ha; Bilwon Forest Reserve,47ha; White Mountains Resources Reserve,44ha; Kuranda State 81 ha; The Bluff Forest Reserve,54ha; Gilbert River Proposed newNational Park, 49ha; Forest, 117ha; Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, 96ha; National Dalrymple Park, Goldfield Resources 229 Reserve, ha; Retreat Valley/Diggers Creek, 129 ha; TheBluff State National Park, 415ha; The Canyon, 242ha; Mount Windsor National Park, 236ha; Palmer 2 583ha; Girringun National Park, 751ha; Paluma Range National Park, 454ha; Bulleringa Examples of this FVG: Wairuna Station (Proposed addition to Girringun National Park), for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 282081ha, 2percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Limit fire encroachment into riparian, springs andfringing communities. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 52 Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 5),regarding fire management guidelines. loss of habitat trees). communities will reduce fuel loads andmitigate theimpacts of wildfire (and the to early season dry (e.g. March to June) that occasionally trickle into fringing Patchy to low-severity burns insurrounding areas during thelate wet season fine fuel (mainly grass) andtherefore anincrease inthefire hazard. the risk of weed invasion andsoil erosion andleads to agreater production of ground andmid-strata vegetation andmay openupthecanopy. This increases and/or severe fire removes orinhibits thedevelopment of structurally complex leucadendra, andMelaleuca argentea andotherhabitat trees. Too frequent sensitive species such as river she-oak Casuarina cunninghamiana, Melaleuca Many riparian andfringing communities contain of ahighproportion fire- fringing communities Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into riparian, springs and area (2012). Lana Little, QPWS, Chillagoe communities. structure of these riparian fires can degrade the occasional fire, intense species can tolerate the watercourses. Whilethese are common along as Melaleuca leucadendra Melaleuca species such 1/05/13 2:30 PM

52 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Riparian, springs and fringing communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, springs and fringing communities DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 53 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Riparian, springs and fringing communities 53 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into riparian, springs and fringing communities Seasonal watercourses provide significant habitat as drought refuge, wildlife corridors Grant Anchen, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). margins will bereduced. woodlands, fire-severity inthese communities will remain low andthe scorching of their In someareas fires will trickle into riparian zones. By keeping fuel loads low in adjacent Justine Douglas, QPWS, (2011). Dalrymple and for arboreal animals. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 54 adapted communities. encroachment orscorching by undertaking low-severity burns inadjacent fire- used in vine thickets for specific weed control (refer to Chapter 6).Limit fire of late season dry fires impacting ontheir margins. Occasionally, fire is group is attritionof thefurther vine thickets dueto theincreasing number biodiversity status ‘of concern’. Akey conservation issue for this fire vegetation Most of the vine thicket communities intheEinasleigh Uplands have the lantana have established. disturbance orwhere invasive species such as high-biomass grasses and frequency). Scorching of margins may occur where it has beensubjected to edge effects including increased fuel loads andfires of greater intensity and of fire than larger undisturbed stands (as they have agreater exposure to Smaller isolated patches of vine thickets are more susceptible to theimpacts sensitive (QPWS 2007)—donot intentionally burn them. fire damage. The majority of vine thicket species are generally regarded as fire- plant species have thecapacity to propagate from roots andtrunks afterminor and lack of flammable grasses intheground layer. Although someindividual Vine thickets are generally protected from fire by theirposition inthe landscape Fire management issues sheltered sites onbasalt flows, granite outcrops andlimestone bluffs. This fire vegetation group occurs as vine thicket remnants in rocky gullies, Chapter 5: Vine thickets 1. Issues: 43 ha; Calcium Land,42ha; Mount Lewis National Park, 12ha; Kuranda State Forest, 1ha. Mingela State Forest, 100ha; Pinnacles National Park, 98ha; National Dalrymple Park, Range National Park, 183ha; Pinnacles -land adjacent to Mingela State Forest, 123ha; Mount Flagstone Forest Reserve,530ha; Mount Rosey Resources Reserve,296ha; Paluma Undara Volcanic National Park, 1483ha; Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, 775ha; 5 845ha; Forty Mile Scrub National Park, 2583ha; Girringun National Park, 1823ha; Examples of this Great FVG: Basalt Wall National Park, 33297ha; Kinrara National Park, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 136122ha, 1percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Limit fire encroachment into vine thickets. 1/05/13 2:30 PM 54 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Vine thickets DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 55 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Vine thickets 55 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into vine thickets Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 5),regarding fire management guidelines. burn away from theedges of the vine thicket. adjacent fire-adapted communities. Sometimes it may benecessary to back- The main strategy is to undertake early dry-season, low-intensity burns in Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into vine thickets Gary Wilson, Queensland Herbarium, Chillagoe National Park (2002). low-severity burns inadjacent fire-adapted communities. Isolated pockets of vine thickets are susceptible to scorching at theirmargins. Undertake 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 56 National Park (2009). Lana Little, QPWS, Undara into vinethickets. its encroachment communities to limit adjacent woodland Manage fire in on abasalt flow. A vinethicket Mile Scrub.Forty NickQPWS, Smith, established. lantana camara have weeds such as where invasive wildfire, particularly susceptible to vine thickets are conditions,dry hot, Under very (2010). South of Greenvale Mark Newton, DSITIA, landscape. and position inthe lack of surface fuels from fire by their generally protected communities are outcrop. These limestone vine thickets ona A semi-evergreen

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56 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Vine thickets Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into vine thickets DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 57

57 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Fire management issues vegetation group chapter. gathered inthis chapter andcross referenced where relevant ineach fire Rather than repeating theissues for each fire vegetation group, they are management approach is similar, irrespective of thefire vegetation group. In theEinasleigh Uplands bioregion there are someissues where thefire Chapter 6:Common issues

Cyclones andsevere storms. Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups. Manage rubber vine, lantana andotherwoody weeds. Manage invasive grasses. Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites. Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 58 (Not all of these indicators will apply to every fire vegetation group) Descriptive indicators of where fire management is required: Or • • • • • • • • • • 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 • Main indicators of where fire management is required

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 for afuel load estimation technique). Step 5of thesupportingguideline:How to assess if your burn is ready to go, elevated fuels andbark hazard) exceeds five tonnes perhectare (refer to The combined accumulation of all fuels (surface fuels, near-surface fuels, 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 The combined accumulation of all fuels (surface fuels, near-surface fuels, overall fuel moderate to fuel overall 1/05/13 2:30 PM

58 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 59 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 59 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns A build-up of continuous grass fuels. Extensive areas of continuous fuels increase therisk Justine Douglas, QPWS, National Dalrymple Park (2011). and/or with highsoil moisture. This will reduce thefire severity. Consider burning anarea that has acontinuous heavy fuel load under mild conditions Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Royal Arch National Park (2005). of large-scale fires with little burn patchiness. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 60 Mark Newton, DSITIA, Georgetown area (2009). protection of this fire-sensitive community. community. Retaining fuel loads inadjacent fire-adapted communities will ensure the A build-up of grasses, leaves, branches andlogs will carry afire inthis lancewood Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Forty Mile Scrub (2008). create are-ignition risk. that fallen timberis likely to smoulder for sometime afterthemain fire front has passed and A build-up of continuous surface fuels indicates theneedfor ahazard reduction burn. Note 1/05/13 2:30 PM

60 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 61 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 61 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns 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 Demonstration of thedifference betweenload 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. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 62 • • • • • • •

6), for fire management guidelines. smoulder for sometimecreating re-ignition risks. Refer to Chapter 6(Issue the ground which increases fuel loads. Dead orfallen trees will allow fires to Cyclones andsevere storms will leave branches andleaves accumulated on 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 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 1/05/13 2:30 PM

62 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 63 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 63 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns and afterfire, and by using counts where relevant. results. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before locations, walk around orif 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? tonnes/ha. <5 to load Reduce fuel Or or moderate. hazard to low fuel overall Reduce Very high Measurable Measurable Highest objectives 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 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). Assessment Guide(Hines et al. Post fire: use theOverall Fuel Hazard

How to beassessed Priority assessment is >5tonnes/ha. moderate Or fuel load reduced to low or hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel ha. reduced to <5tonnes/ fuel load has been low ormoderate Or has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 64 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. estimating thepercentage of through planned burn area burn area), walk 300mormore 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 vantage points,orfrom theair. vegetation burnt—from oneormore Visual estimation of percentage of 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 1/05/13 2:30 PM

64 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 65 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 65 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns 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 • • • amount of fuel, good soil moisture is desirable to: Soil moisture: While theaimof hazard reduction burning is to reduce the Wind speed: <15km/hr DI (KBDI):<100for soil moisture FFDI: <11 Season: Late wet to early season dry 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? • •

group but generally towards thelower endof that range. undertaken within thefire frequency recommended for thefire vegetation Wildfire mitigation zones: Planned burns within wildfire mitigation zones are maintain arelatively low fuel hazard. are carried out as soonas possible afterthey can carry afire inorder to Protection zones: Fuel management planned burns within protection zones trunks). sufficient to reduce elevated fuels and bark hazard (i.e. allow fire to run up a regime that will promote low in amoderate highseverity. to Following this initial burn, aimto reinstate fuels (e.g. whenfirst establishing aprotection zone) theinitial fire may result Low fuel conditions. favour grasses over woody species as woody species will create undesirable reduce thelikelihood of athicket of woody species developing post fire reduce scorch height andlimit leaf drop post fire Wildfire mitigation zones: 60–80percent burnt. Protection zones: 90percent burnt. andoccasionally moderate. Where there is ahighfuel load orelevated severity planned burns. Severity should be 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 66 • • 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? • • •

desired severity with thechance of fire escaping through a spot-over. the two lit lines will converge, creating ahot junction zone andgreater than edge. Caution is required if thearea is small insize oranarrow strip and intensity, contain the smoky side first, thenspot light thewindward (clear) and beaware of environmental impacts that may result. To create higher intensity may berequired in discontinuous orelevated fuel.Use with caution While alow intensity backing fire is recommended, arunning fire of ahigher 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 etc. loads, throughout theburn dueto changes inweather conditions, topography, fuel will result inalower intensity fire. The spacing of the spots will regularly vary merge andcreate hot junction zones) while increased spacing between spots fuels. Spots closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots particularly where there is ahighaccumulation of available and volatile Spot ignitioncan beused effectively to alter thedesired intensity of afire communities). create areas of reduced fuel around fire-sensitive communities (e.g. acacia constructed firelines are present) aerial incendiary operations can be used to wet conditions). Undertheright conditions (where nonatural barriers or fuel reduction burning (particularly where vehicle access is limited dueto Aerial ignitioncan beused to support early dry-season andlate wet-season 1/05/13 2:30 PM

66 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 67 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 67 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns Burning downhill creates aslower-moving, low-intensity fire. Fuel loads are reduced and Mark Parsons, QPWS, Princess Hills National Park (2010). burning programs andreduce elevated fuels. A running fire can help reduce fuel hazard. This will protect boundaries, support annual Nick Smith, QPWS, Undara National Park (2005). scorching. ecosystem health is maintained. Ground ignitionfrom thebase of slopes can lead to 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 68 Key indicators of Indigenous cultural heritage sites: places, items andissues. heritage branch during fire strategy preparation will these help to identify Department of Environment andHeritage Protection (EHP)European cultural Multicultural Affairs (DATSIMA) Indigenous cultural heritage branch andthe Traditional Owners, theDepartment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and their location will not bespecifically identifiedin text oron maps). Consulting important to note that somelocations will beculturally sensitive andtherefore fire management. Thelocal fire strategy shouldthese locations identify (it is sites, items andplaces of Indigenous orEuropean heritage whenplanning It is important to have knowledge of thelocation of significant cultural heritage Issue 2:Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites • • • •

There are engravings ontrees orrock faces. material orbones inside are present. Rock shelters with rock paintings, stone tools, artefact bundles, wrapped exist. Trees that have beenscarred orcarved(e.g. ascar intheshape of acanoe) present. the ground (sometimes exposed following aplanned burn orwildfire) are Arrangements of stones, raised patterns earth orartefacts scattered on David Cameron, DNRM(2004). around theirbases. to fire if fuel builds up potentiallyare vulnerable or temporary shelters) make containers, canoes, as scarred trees (e.g. to Indigenous markings such 1/05/13 2:30 PM

68 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 69 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 69 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites 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 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 70 • • • • • Key indicators of European cultural heritage sites: Awareness of theenvironment •

The presence of historic fence-lines. Survey andtrigpoints exist. Military artefacts such as old equipment andused ammunition exist. exist. wagon) such as winders (timber tramways) andtimberjinkers (timberlifting Forestry artefacts including marked trees (shield trees) andold machinery corrugated iron orwood) are present. Quarries andold minesites (sometimes deepholes covered with dumps, old machinery andiron debris. stumps, old fence posts, old stock yards, tombstones, wells, graves, bottle 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 be vulnerable to fire on trees. These may plaques, andpaint sometimes left marks, European explorers Sometimes early 1/05/13 2:30 PM

70 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 71 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 71 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites 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. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 72 • • Discussion • • • • • •

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. 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 (DERM 2010a,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 1/05/13 2:30 PM

72 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 73 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 73 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof 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 What is thepriority for this issue? significant. 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 after fire. supporting photographs before and Visual inspection of site oritems with How to beassessed Priority assessment site oritem. was someimpact on Not Achieved: there on site oritem. Achieved: noimpact How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 74 Landscape mosaic Mosaic (mosaic of anindividual planned burn) Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Soil moisture: Ensure good soil moisture mitigate impacts Wind direction: Consider wind direction—choice of wind direction can help Wind speed: <15km/hr DI (KBDI):<160 FFDI: <7 Season: Favour early season burning andmoist conditions 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? •

protection to cultural heritage artefacts andsites. hazard andthereby limit thespread andseverity of wildfires, giving better A landscape proactively managed with mosaic burning will helpreduce fuel is to reduce fuel, inwhich case agood coverage of fire is recommended). heritage sites anditems (unless burning inadjacent areas where theobject If possible, apatchy fire will give greater overall protection to cultural Be guidedby therecommendations inthefire vegetation groups. Low Burn within theparameters recommended for thefire vegetation group. -severity fires will be less likely to impact cultural heritage sites. 1/05/13 2:30 PM

74 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 75 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 75 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites Using spot ignition andstill conditions kept smoke away from this rock site. art Mark Parsons, QPWS, Fishers Creek (2010). 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 76 • • issue. prescriptive; rather it is atoolkit of suggested tactics that may assist inthis tactics as required to achieve burn objectives. What is offered below is not and variations inthe vegetation. During theburn, regularly review andadjust implemented at thesame site dueto changes inthetopography, weather Tactics will besite specific andoftendifferent tactics will need to be What burn tactics should Iconsider? • •

preferable to leave thesite completely undisturbed. heat radiation. Only undertake manual fuel management if required—it is fuels away from thesite to limit thepotential impacts from smoke, flameand the raking, clearing (e.g. rake-hoe line),trimming orleaf blowing of surface sites),art assess theneedfor manual reduction of fuel. This may include planned burns near sites of cultural significance (e.g. scar trees and rock sufficient to protect cultural heritage items. However, prior to undertaking Manual fuel management. Burning inappropriate conditions will usually be chipped wet line. be necessary to secure theedge closest to thecultural heritage site with a to direct theactive fireline andsmoke away from the site of interest. It may Depending uponconditions ontheday, spot light thewindward (clear) edge fire severity and rate of spread and may reduce smoke particulates. A low-severity backing fire. Aslow-moving backing fire will helpminimise chances of highseverity junction zones developing. it will promote aslow moving andmanageable low severity fire andlimits the next to asite of interest. Widely spaced spots is preferred inthis instance as particularly where there is anaccumulation of available and volatile fuels Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire 1/05/13 2:30 PM

76 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural sites DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 77 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 77 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses during planned burn operations. easements. It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses tend to occur as aresult of disturbance andspread along firelines andutility time, invasive grasses bothpromote fire and many are promoted by fire. They Fire can beused as partof thecontrol for someexotic grasses. At thesame streams andreplace native vegetation, destroying waterbird breeding habitats. as acacia and vine thicket communities. Ponded pasture grasses can choke fragmentation andoverall decline intheextent of fire-sensitive vegetation such vegetation andresult inconsiderable damage which gradually results infurther has flow-on effects to species. Exotic grasses can firecarry into fire-sensitive of spread. Greater tree death andloss of habitat features oftenresult andthis spotting risk andflameheight which leads to increased fire intensity and rate more matter dry than native grasses. This increases fuel loads, fire intensity, Andropogon gayanus. Invasive grasses are generally much taller andproduce Cenchrusgrass ciliaris,grader grass Themeda quadrivalvis andgamba grass stands. Invasive grasses of concern intheEinasleigh Uplands are buffel Exotic grasses are capable of outcompeting native species to form dominant Issue 3:Manage invasive grasses • • • • • presence is detected early. Note: beonthelook out for newly forming stands. Control is much easier if their Key indicators: Awareness of theenvironment

Have alot more biomass and/ordead material. Generally taller than native species. areas. Typically first appear along fire-lines and roads and similarly highly disturbed Invasive grasses generally form single species dominated stands. The presence of invasive grasses, usually occurring inadense infestation. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 78 Fire can beused to manage thebalance between native grasses andstylo. grazing has lead to therapid regeneration of theintroduced pasture species at this site. QPWS, Chillagoe National Park (2007). Native grasses struggle to compete with thestylo (2011). Justine Douglas, QPWS, National Dalrymple Park woodland. themeda grass inthis grassy eucalypt Buffel grass is interspersed with native (2011). Justine Douglas, QPWS, National Dalrymple Park of afloodplain community. Buffel grass dominates theground-layer Stylosanthes spp. The removal of cattle 1/05/13 2:30 PM

78 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 79 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 79 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses Grader grass invading anOpenwoodland community. Grant Anchen, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). end of season, dry grader grass has matured andcollapsed. Grader grass is easily identifiable inthis grassy woodland community. Towards the Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Undara National Park (2006). 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 80 Buffel grass Cenchrus grass Buffel ciliaris • • • • Discussion • • • • •

to remain greener for longer periods of time. The curing rate for buffel grass differs from that of native grasses andit tends a low-severity burn. low en masse afterfire and rain. Any fire applied to buffel grass should be of a need to becontinued for sometimeas buffel grass will usually germinate herbicide control. Be aware that follow-up spraying of theaffected site will control measure, fire may assist in facilitating other control methods such as The use of fire to control buffel grass is oftendebated. While not adirect communities. establish ingidgee/lancewood woodlands increasing fuel loads inthese concern to fire sensitive communities. This species can penetrate and creating adisturbance which favours its spread. Buffel grass is of particular increases fuel loads andthus increasing fire severity at the same time Fire is not known to beaneffective tool to manage buffel grass. Buffel grass be important aspects of control. Specific information is offered below: For somespecies, theapplication of fire orthe exclusion of fire are known to planned fire is more desirable than allowing them to burn with wildfire. some situations, burning high-biomass grasses under mild conditions with wildfire later producing aneven higherseverity fire must be considered. In are likely to increase thefire severity andbepromoted by fire. The risk of In many cases, it is desirable to avoid burning invasive grasses as they along firelines—vehicles should be washed down after exposure. with high-biomass grasses. Fire vehicles andmachinery can aidseedspread Be aware of weed hygiene issues whenconducting planned burns inareas encouraged to record observations regarding these species’ response to fire. ability of these grasses to invade, which is still poorly understood. You are There is arelationship between fire timing, frequency andseverity andthe be avoided where these grasses are present. the spread of invasive grasses into noninvaded areas. This practice should roads, tracks andother disturbed areas may create conditions suitable for Invasive grasses thrive ondisturbance. Regular burning of these grasses off used inspecific ways mentioned below. be considered. Be aware that fire will usually promote these grasses unless potential to eitherpromote orcontrol them—theireffect onfire severity must Where invasive grasses are present, planned burn operations have the -severity. Using night burns whenmoisture is highmay assist inachieving 1/05/13 2:30 PM

80 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 81 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 81 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses Gamba grass Andropogon grass gayanus Gamba Other invasive grasses • • • • Themeda grass quadrivalvis Grader • • •

herbicide, fire exclusion orboth). grass infestations to determine themost suitable methodof control (through monitored carefully to assess theeffects of fire on its spread. Map grader promote thespread of grader grass. Grader grass infestations needto be Grader grass is aweed of disturbance. Too frequent orsevere fire will moisture as it will aidthere-establishment of native grass species. When fire is re-applied inthese infestations, ensure there is good soil seed orbefore theseedmatures (typically inMarch). When using fire, aim to timeits application prior to thegrader grass setting (if fire is applied while theseed is still viable, grader grass will bepromoted). encourage seedgermination. Fire should beexcluded for four to five years Fire is not considered to beaneffective tool to manage grader grass as it can three years. viability of theseedinsoil has beenobservedto drop off after two to Grader grass is anannual (its life cycle occurs within one year). However the to beimproved. introduced grasses/pasture species innative vegetation communities needs difficult for fire topenetrate. Knowledge of fire response of many of these dominating theground layer. Where dense stands occur however, it is of stylo. Regular fire regimes are also likely to keep this species from species inwoodland communities. Grazing reduces dense regeneration Stylosanthes that has replaced native grasses where heavy grazing has occurred. Stylo perennials. Indian couch Bothriochloa pertusa is oneintroduced species In heavily disturbed areas, invasive grasses have replaced native Many of theprotected areas inthis bioregion were once pastoral lands. remaining viable by thestart of thewet season (Setterfield et 2004). al. cured. Gamba grass seedlongevity is with only short, onepercent of seed fuel loads innative grasses andmaintains atall upright structure when Gamba grass produces flammable material up to five times greater than dealt with as amatter of priority. aware of newinfestations which can quickly take hold andensure they are Gamba grass is anemerging weed intheEinasleigh Uplands bioregion. Be spp. is apasture species that can outcompete native grass 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 82 • • Ponded pasture grasses •

from germinating (Anchen et 2006). al. para grass develops athick thatch underneath that prevents any otherplants used later inthe year orincombination with chemical control. If left unburnt, the para grass has Burning driedout. has beenfound to bemore effective if where it occurs inswamps anddrainage lines. Fire is more effective where Fire can beused with partial success for themanagement of para grass need to betreated by herbicide. stimulate germination of theburied seedandtheresulting seedlings would soil surface but will not destroy buried seed. The heat of thefire may even that can destroy native riparian vegetation. Fire will destroy seedonthe that hymenachne can create large fuel loads that promote intense, hot fires when plants have driedout sufficiently to provide suitable fuel. Be aware infestations. Burning can generally only bedoneduringseason thedry Fire can beused as acost effective means of reducing hymenachne stock exclusion. species requires anintegration of fire management, herbicide control and and dams andthewoodlands onbasalt. Successful control of all of theweed hymenachne Hymenachne amplexicaulis are oftenassociated with springs Ponded pasture species such as para grass Urochloa mutica and (2010). Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Wiaruna up waterways. native grasses andchoke- outcompete andsmother will asit wetlands to a significant threat Olive hymenachne is 1/05/13 2:30 PM

82 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 83 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 83 Issue 3: 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 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 of 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) 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 84 Management System, orconsider formulating your own. of planned burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecomplete compendium Monitoring theissue over time original density. been achieved andwill ensure theinvasive grasses donot recover to their continue to monitor thesite. This will ensure theobjectives of theburn have When using fire to reduce thedensity of invasive grasses, it is important to 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 to low.to communities non-target adjacent to of fuels Reduction 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 reduced to low. hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel low. has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard 1/05/13 2:30 PM

84 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 85 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 85 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses Roadside disturbance has led to this grader grass infestation (above) Grader grass was QPWS, Photo monitoring plot (10),Princess Hills (1996and2007). be less than three years. and herbicide control (below). Where grader grass is present, fire frequencies should not progressively replaced by native themeda grasses through acombination of fire exclusion 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 86 Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Mosaic (mosaic of anindividual planned burn) • • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • • • issue. prescriptive; rather it is atoolkit of suggested tactics that may assist inthis tactics as required to achieve burn objectives. What is offered below is not and variations inthe vegetation. During theburn, regularly review andadjust implemented at thesame site due to changes inthetopography, weather Tactics will besite specific andoftendifferent tactics will need to be What burn tactics should Iconsider? •

grass). opportunity for native grasses to outcompete invasive grasses (e.g. grader Fire exclusion. Fire exclusion from aninfested area may provide the to aminimum. particularly fine fuels, while ensuring fire intensity and rate of spread is kept ensures thefire has agreater residence timeand reduction of available fuels, coverage of anarea andabetter consumption of available fuels. This tactic (against thewind ordown slope) will generally result inamore complete A low intensity backing fire. Aslow moving, low intensity backing fire particularly where there is ahigh-biomass grass infestation. Spot ignition.Can beused to effectively alter thedesired intensity of afire, method of control. Similarly, grazing can also reduce fuel loads. grasses, followed by thechemical control of newshoots can beaneffective As partof acontrol program. Aninitial fire to reduce the biomass of invasive Dependant uponspecies andobjective of burn, seediscussion above. Dependant uponspecies andobjective of burn, refer to discussion above. grass that is starting to become abundant inwetlands andswamps). severity fire may be required for specific objectives (e.g. when targeting para invasive grasses should beburnt inways that minimise fire severity. Ahigh- This will dependonthespecies of invasive grass being targeted. Ingeneral, 1/05/13 2:30 PM

86 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 87 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 87 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds • • Key indicators where woody weeds can bemanaged with fire: Awareness of theenvironment application. weeds bothaloneandincombination with othertreatments such as herbicide or onbasalt flows. Fire is known to beanaffective control method for woody In theEinasleigh Uplands lantana mainly occurs to theeast of thebioregion creek beds. Lantana is amajor threat to vine thickets andriparian communities. to apply. It is usually found inriverine areas, floodplain communities anddry ability to smothertrees andshrubs andshade out grasses making fire difficult weeds found within theEinasleigh Uplands bioregion. Rubber vine has the Rubber vine weeds Issue 4:Manage rubber vine, lantana andotherwoody • •

woody weeds). Grass fuels are continuous enoughto carry fire (despite theoccurrence of plant inopenwoodland communities. Lantana/rubber vine andotherwoody weeds occur as ascattered understory as acontrol methodwhere infestations have become dense. Bio control orherbicide control effortsmay increase theeffectiveness of fire vegetation (e.g. riparian, vine thickets). Control with fire is limited where woody weeds are growing infire-sensitive Cryptostegia grandiflora andlantana Lantana camara are woody 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 88 • • • Lantana Discussion •

native grasses andat least reduce thelantana back to root stock. backing fire inmoist conditions may be required to favour the recruitment of margins). If lantana has beenpromoted, afollow-up low to moderate-severity fire-sensitive communities (particularly where lantana occurs along rainforest The use of fire ininappropriate conditions may promote lantana or scorch on its own may prove sufficient. approach combining fire andherbicide becomes more practical, thoughfire In areas where lantana has become adense infestation of alimited size, an be sufficient to control lantana and favour the native grasses. beneath it,theintroduction of alow to moderate-severity fire onits own may In areas where lantana density is highbut where some native grasses remain occurrence of lantana where it is scattered as anunderstorey plant. the fire vegetation group is effective inthe management of thedensity and where lantana is widespread. Implementing therecommended fire regime for ground covers can compete. Fire may betheonly practical methodof control and density of lantana, orcan reduce thesize of individual plants sonative as asole management method. This can beeffective to reduce abundance A series of fires (with increased fire frequency) canbe used to control lantana 1/05/13 2:30 PM

88 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 89 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 89 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds A lantana infestation inwhat was once a vine thicket community, previously subject to Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Forty Mile Scrub National Park (1995). wildfire disturbance. Scrub National Park (2006). Nick Smith, QPWS, Forty Mile management is required. different approach to fire of grass orfine fuels, a and there is anabsence thickets are fire-sensitive thicket.Because vine A lantana infested vine 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 90 Other woody weed species • • • Rubber vine • • • •

The examples above might beuseful as astarting point. Einasleigh Uplands are not yet established andwill require experimentation. Successful fire management techniques for other woody weed species inthe communities. control methodfor this species. Monitor for infestations infire-adapted competition from otherground covers. Fire is therefore not likely to bea prolifically afterfire and is known to spread rapidly unless there is woodlands, monsoonal forests andwatercourses. This species resprouts Giant milkweed Calotropis procera is awoody weed that invades open vine rust occurs orwhere herbicide has beenpreviously applied. Using fire to control rubber vine is more successful inareas where rubber very successful but mixed results inotherareas have beenreported. cause thesap to boil andkill theplant. Insomeareas this methodhas been the moisture content of rubber vine which needs to behighto effectively or ininaccessible areas. The success of this methodis generally reliant upon A helitorch can beused to control rubber vine infire-sensitive communities the area requiring chemical treatment orincrease accessibility. grasses abut aninfestation. Arunning fire into therubber vine may reduce A combination of fire andherbicide control could also be useful where material at thebase of theplant. kill mature rubber vine plants—they are able to re-grow from undamaged which will kill the plant. Insufficient residence timeorfire severity will not mature plants require increased residence timeto allow thesap to boil, Plants should bescorched to thetiporall leaves completely browned. More remaining seedlings orplants. native grass recruitment. Afollow-up fire may thenbe required to treat any seedlings andplants where sufficient fuel is available. It may also promote A single fire can oftenbe useful to reduce oreliminate rubber vine seeds, 1/05/13 2:30 PM

90 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 91 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 91 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds A rubber vine infested woodland. Rubber vine is relatively fire-sensitive as long as the Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Undara National Park (2004). successful inreducing alarge percentage of adult rubber vine plants. A highmortality of adult rubber vine plants. Inthis instance afire of high-severity was Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Undara National Park (2004). base of thestem of each plant is heated. 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 92 Mike Ahmet,QPWS, Royal Arch National Park. new infestations. almost removed from this site (June, 2009). The area will needmonitoring to prevent community. Below acombination of fire andherbicide control, rubber vine has been Above (June, 2006)shows rubber vine starting to invade anopengrassy woodland 1/05/13 2:30 PM

92 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 93 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 93 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds 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? plants. or mature and young saplings seedlings, number of reduction in >90 % Measurable Measurable Medium objectives Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem rubber vine plants killed. estimate thepercentage of mature the flight path inthree locations and If using the‘heli-torch’ method,retrace Or saplings have beenkilled. after fire, estimate what percentage of density within burn area) one year the variability of landform andweed three locations (that take account of conditions, oragrowing season): In suitable germination/ establishment Before andafter theburn (after How to beassessed Priority assessment too severe. and yet thefire was the rubber vine plants have killed most of good outcome if you *It is not necessarily a plants killed*. Not Achieved: <75% killed*. 75–90 %plants Partially Achieved: plants killed*. Achieved: >90% How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 94 Management System, orconsider formulating your own. of planned burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecomplete compendium 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 weeds. of woody abundance reduction in Significant • • • • • [Parks Victoria1995]): criteria (from Parks Victoria Protocol of theinfestation using thefollowing growing season): definethedensity conditions andif using cover— a 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

(or nearly so)of target weed. Dense (>75%)=monoculture cover proportions of native to ¾weed Medium-Dense (51–75%)=equal of weed to native species weed cover to equal proportions Medium (25–50%cover) =1/4 abundance than target weed. species have much greater Light (5–24%cover) =Native plantsrare very Rare (0–4%cover) = Target weed density gets worse. category orweed change indensity Not Achieved: No category’. ‘drops’ one‘density Weed infestation Partially Achieved: the fire). the fire to light after medium-dense before (e.g. goes from ‘density categories’ infestation ‘drops’ two Achieved: Weed 1/05/13 2:30 PM

94 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 95 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 95 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Fire severity • • • • Key factors What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • •

vegetation group. Continue monitoring theissue over time. Once resolved re-instate therecommended fire regime for thefire cases athird fire may be required to completely remove theinfestation. follow-up burn inthefollowing year (orwithin two to three years). Insome plants have re-sprouted orseedlings emerged from theseedbank) apply a If theobservations indicate that theissue is not under control (e.g. mature control. assist the issue. Increasing thefire frequency for aperiodof time may further vegetation group inwhich woody weeds occur may besufficient to control In somecases, applying therecommended fire frequency for thefire burning should beconducted as soonas aninfestation is detected. that is most vulnerable to fire. To increase its effectiveness, planned The seeds, seedlings andsaplings of most woody weeds are thelife stage also important. fire. Slow moving fire is required to kill mature trees althoughintensity is The principal factor insuccessful control is residence timeandrepetitive (e.g. vine thickets and riparian communities). required. Be aware of thepotential damage to sensitive vegetation For adense infestation, moderate high-severity to fire may initially be woody weed occurs. within therecommendations for thefire vegetation group inwhich the combination with highsoil moisture. Fire severity should generally remain moving backing fire with good residence timeat the base of the plant in Low assist control. Monitor thesituation. which it occurs. Inany case, increasing fire frequency for periodof time will the standard recommended fire frequency for thefire vegetation group in Where lantana is ascattered understorey plant, it may besufficient to apply to moderate to . Best results have beenachieved using aslow- 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 96 some fanning by thewind for the fire to carry) objectives andthedensity of theinfestation (denser infestation may require Wind speed: <23km/hr. The wind speed is variable anddepends onthe DI (KBDI):80–120 FDI: <12andoccasionally upto 18for higherseverity fires conditionsdry with good moisture orprogressive burning to secure alate season burn under Season: Different approaches are possible andinclude burning early inthe year 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? 1/05/13 2:30 PM

96 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 97 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 97 Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds • • issue. prescriptive; rather it is atoolkit of suggested tactics that may assist inthis tactics as required to achieve burn objectives. What is offered below is not and variations inthe vegetation. During theburn, regularly review andadjust implemented at thesame site dueto changes inthetopography, weather Tactics will besite specific andoftendifferent tactics will need to be What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • •

in killing seeds, seedlings, young andsomemature rubber vine plants. greater residence time at ground level. This tactic has proven to be successful with good soil moisture (andpresence of sufficient surface fuels) ensures a in theunderstorey, aslow-moving, low to moderate-severity backing fire A low to moderate-severity backing fire. Where rubber vine is scattered sufficient orthere are minimal surface fuels available (e.g. grasses). rubber vine infestation is of such adensity that spot ignitionwill not be conditions andinconsistent fuels). This tactic may berequired where the higher-severity (generally dueto factors such as moist fuels, mild weather Line orstrip ignitionis used whentheobjective is to implement afire of fire doesn’t spread. directly. The surrounding vegetation needs to bemoist to wet, to ensure the This involves aerial incendiary using gelled gasoline to ignite therubber vine are fire sensitive, applying fire using aheli-torch may help control the issue. communities where fire is eithernot required ordesired, such as those which Aerial incendiary using a‘heli-torch’. Inareas where rubber vine has invaded (beneath it)to increase sothat fire can beapplied. own. Rubber vine rust can defoliate therubber vine andallow thefuel loads fuels. The biological control rubber vine rust rarely kills mature plants onits vine plants which remain hanging inthecanopy as they can act as elevated available for fire. Care should be taken whenapplying fire to dead rubber in areas where dense rubber vine shades-out grasses andlimits thefuel As partof acontrol program. Aninitial herbicide treatment can beused the infestation to beburnt insections to manage fire severity andbehaviour. hand orwith heavy equipment can improve access andaeration andallowing Subdividing rubber vine infestations. Dividing aninfestation into sections by 1/05/13 2:30 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 98 Justine Douglas, QPWS, National Dalrymple Park (2011). particular weed control issues, if used with caution. Fire should beavoided in fire-sensitive communities. However, might beappropriate for 1/05/13 2:30 PM

98 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage rubber vine, lantana and other woody weeds DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 99 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 99 Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups • • Indicators of fire encroachment risk: Awareness of theenvironment fire vegetation groups which are not ready to burn. to limit fire encroachment include communities containing buffel grass orother sensitive communities under these conditions. Otherareas where you may wish self-protecting communities. Care should betaken to manage fuel around fire- them. Asuccession of years of highrainfall can promote fuels inotherwise Tactics such as burning away from these communities can beused to protect if fire is used under appropriately mild conditions, ordue to low fuel loads. acacia dominated communities. These communities are oftenself-protecting Non-target fire vegetation groups include riparian, spring, vine thicket and vegetation groups Issue 5:Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire Justine Douglas, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). on this community (e.g. scorching of edges). Burn adjacent fire tolerant ecosystems under conditions that limit thepotential impacts River she-oak is common along rivers andseasonal streams. This species is fire-sensitive. • •

Invasive grasses orwoody weeds are invading fire-sensitive communities. extinguishes ontheedge of thefire vegetation group. Conditions are not mild enoughorfuels sufficiently sparse to ensure thefire planned burn area. Riparian communities orotherfire-sensitive communities are adjacent to a The non-target community is upslope of aplanned burn area. 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 100 Bulleringa National Park (1991). Peter Stanton, Environmental Consultant Pty Ltd, estate: formally Bulleringa Pastoral Holdings PtyLtd, now intense fire may enter anddegrade vegetation structure. Marsh communities are generally self-protecting, however under drought conditions; Justine Douglas, QPWS, Toomba Nature Refuge (2011). severity burns enter these communities. surrounding fire-adapted community inthe recommended season will ensure only low- Wetland with fringing eucalypt /melaleuca woodland. Implementing planned burns inthe 1/05/13 2:31 PM 100 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 101 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 101 Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups from fire by theirposition inthe landscape. Fire-sensitive Hooppine Ltd, now Bulleringa National Park (1991). estate: formally Bulleringa Pastoral Holdings Pty Peter Stanton, Environmental Consultant PtyLtd, species. Lancewood forests and vine thicket Russel Best, QPWS, Return Creek (2012). Araucaria cunninghamii communities are generally protected Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium (2006). communities. fuel loads low inadjacent fire-adapted fire entering or scorching the margins keep generally self-protecting. However, to avoid Fire-sensitive communities like this oneare 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 102 • • • Discussion • • •

(Issue 3):Manage invasive grasses). invasive grasses are present, use fire with caution (refer to Chapter 6 contribute to thecontraction of vine thickets andacacia communities. If The presence of invasive grasses increases theseverity of afire and may mid-strata vegetation and retain mature habitat trees. riparian communities inorder to promote structurally complex ground and to exclude fire orat least minimise thefrequency andintensity of fire in many (mainly grass) andhence anincrease inthefire hazard. It is highly desirable of weed invasion andsoil erosion andlead to greater production of fine fuel vegetation andmay openupthe canopy. This inturn may increase therisk or inhibits thedevelopment of structurally complex ground andmid-strata species and/orhabitat trees. Too frequent and/ortoo severe fire removes Many riparian communities contain of ahighproportion fire-sensitive Chapter 6(Issue 4):Manage lantana, rubber vine andotherwoody weeds). reduce biomass andavoid scorching rainforest orriparian edges (refer to communities. Reduction of lantana may beadvisable priorto burning to Sometimes lantana forms athicket that can draw fire into vine thicket of this chapter. protect thenon-target vegetation groups. See thetactics sectionat theend If suitable conditions can not beachieved, specific tactics may be required to upslope even inideal conditions. community occurs at thetop of aslope, it is necessary to avoid running fires protective tactics may not berequired. Sometimes where afire-sensitive Most fire-sensitive communities tend to beself-protecting and additional non-target communities. burning is oneof thebest ways to reduce theimpacts of unplanned fire on broad-scale management of thesurrounding fire-adapted areas with mosaic to damage non-target andfire-sensitive vegetation communities. Proactive (e.g. highfuel loads dueto successive highrainfall years) it has thepotential Because wildfire oftenoccurs orotherwiseunder dry unsuitable conditions 1/05/13 2:31 PM 102 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 103 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 103 Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups 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? group. vegetation target fire of non- of margin No scorch Very high Measurable Measurable objectives Priority important to avoid encroachment of fire. For burn proposals inareas with non-target communities, it is scorched. estimate thepercentage of margin of themargin inthree locations) and sections (e.g. a100metre long section target community orrepresentative soon after): walk the margin of the non- After theburn (immediately or very Or the air. one ormore vantage points,orfrom percentage of margins scorched from soon after): visual estimation of After theburn (immediately or very How to beassessed Priority assessment > 5%scorched. Not Achieved: < 5%scorched. Partially Achieved: Achieved: noscorch. How to bereported (in fire report) 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 104 Landscape mosaic Mosaic (mosaic of individual 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 Soil moisture: Refer to relevant fire vegetation group Wind speed: <15km/hr DI (KBDI):Refer to relevant fire vegetation group FFDI: Refer to therelevant fire vegetation group 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? • •

fire onnon-target andfire-sensitive communities. mosaic burning is oneof thebest ways to reduce theimpacts of unplanned Proactive broad-scale management of surrounding fire-adapted areas with the movement of fire into fire-sensitive communities. Aim for thehigherendof therecommended mosaic, as this will helpmitigate Consult therecommended mosaic for thefire vegetation group being burnt. areas. tactics andmoisture conditions will helpto limit thescorch of non-target being burnt, ahigher-severity fire may be required, inwhich case appropriate help ensure good coverage. If there are overabundant saplings inthearea the objective of limited fire encroachment is achieved. A backing fire will A low -severity fire inthe adjacent fire-adapted community will help ensure 1/05/13 2:31 PM 104 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 105 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 105 Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups • • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • assist in this issue. this in assist below is not prescriptive; rather it is atoolkit of suggested tactics that may review andadjust tactics as required to achieve burn objectives. What is offered at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn, regularly Tactics will besite specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

moisture differentials. generally self-extinguish dueto milder conditions overnight orhigher severity fire that may trickle along theedge of these communities and communities late intheafternoon. This will assist with promoting alow- Afternoon ignition.Planned burn inareas adjacent to non-target spot orstrip lighting oracombination of both. available fuels andtheprevailing wind ontheday, this may require either vegetation group to promote alow-intensity backing fire. Depending onthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge of thenon-target fire communities. edge of low lying communities to protect margins when burning inadjacent Do not create arunning fire. Use low intensity perimeter burns from the Test burn communities). reduced fuel around fire-sensitive communities (e.g. acacia and vine thicket topographical features such as peaks, ridges andspurs. This creates areas of incendiary operations by also provide theopportunity to directly target fuel reduction burning, particularly where vehicle access is limited. Aerial Aerial ignitioncan beused to support early season dry andlate wet season theinterface to ensure thenon-target areas donot burn.

1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 106 lead to: lead to: Once dry, thechanged fuel conditions following acyclone orsevere storm may Fire management issues melaleuca communities. forests andwoodlands, vegetation communities onhilltops andridges and may increase thefire severity insomeecosystems particularly heavily-wooded impeding fireline access. IntheEinasleigh Uplands, cyclones andsevere storms fallen tree damage can also beexpected, increasing heavy fuel loads and limbs can beleft hanging in the canopy creating ladder fuel.Ahighlevel of suspended above theground as leaves, fine leaf-shred andbranches. Snapped event, thecanopy of trees andshrubs may bestripped, accumulating onor In theevent of asevere tropical cyclone (Category 3orhigher) severe storm Issue 6:Cyclones andsevere storms • • • • • •

into aclosed forest the opportunity to re-introduce fire into areas that have beentransitioning certain periods dry fire-sensitive communities becoming vulnerable to fire encroachment during scorch) the needto restore canopy health stress priorto further (e.g. avoid canopy following acyclone altered fire behaviour during planned burning operations inthetwo years an increased fuel hazard near assets andinfrastructure the potential for extensive orhigh-severity wildfires l Mount Is a Longreac h l Ca To irns wnsville l l Ma Ro ck ck ay hampto l n Bundaber l BRISBANE Gympie g l l l David Clark, QPWS (2011). bioregion. the Einasleigh Uplands area continued well into the destructive winds in February 2011.Note Coast Cassowary the Yasi which devastated caused by tropical cyclone region of wind damage Illustrating theextensive 1/05/13 2:31 PM 106 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 6: Cyclones and severe storms DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 107 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 107 Issue 6: Cyclones and severe storms Fires can burn into thecanopy from broken branches that hang down. Justine Douglas, QPWS, Blackbraes National Park (2011). with extensive damage to vegetation as shown inthese photographs. The impacts of cyclone Yasi (February 2011)were felt hundreds of kilometres inland Leasie Felderhof, Firescape PtyLtd, Greenvale area (2011). 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 108 Leasie Felderhof, Firescape PtyLtd, Blackbraes National Park (2011). timber still remains aftertheburn. A low-intensity burn (five months post cyclone) at Blackbraes National Park. Heavy Leasie Felderhof, Firescape PtyLtd, Blackbraes National Park (2011). Open woodland damage by cyclonic winds. 1/05/13 2:31 PM 108 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 6: Cyclones and severe storms DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 109 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 109 Issue 6: Cyclones and severe storms • • • • Discussion • • •

season can beused as thenext most opportune timeto burn. These fires are also less likely to stress the canopy. The following storm to control andallow disoriented anddistressed fauna to find refuge areas. time. Such fires have good fuel consumption, are of low-severity, are easy and humidconditions create slow-moving, trickling fires with good residence The best timeto act onpost-cyclone fuel reduction is soonafterrain. Moist chances of anintense fire front developing (Felderhof and Poon 2011). is likely to behigherthan opencountry where wider spacing reduces the In tall orheavily timbered areas, thewildfire hazard following cyclonic events canopy should beavoided. the health of thecanopy is completely restored, fires which may impact the impactsto further (such as canopy scorch) andmay lead to tree death. Until The canopy of trees damaged by severe cyclones are particularly susceptible impact onanalready stressed canopy. of extensive wildfires inthe following season dry andarisk of fires that will planned burning. However, without afuel reduction strategy, there is arisk After asevere tropical cyclone, people may not naturally think about and thus halt orslow thetransitioning process. burning may allow seedlings of canopy trees (such as eucalypts) to establish bare soil to establish. Temporarily reducing theunderstory through planned found ineucalypt forest and woodland inparticular needabundant light and closed forest communities (through shruband vine forest invasion). Species into openforests andwoodlands which are inthelate stages of transition to In somelocations cyclones may provide arare opportunity to reintroduce fire wetlands). it would not normally (e.g. over gullies, over streams, over firelines and over change theway fire behaves. Fire will bemore severe and may wherecarry suspended andaerated fuel, opencanopies andcontinuous fuel will areas. Be aware that increased finer fuels, native orinvasive grass cover, management can continue, but only afterre-assessment of planned burn post-cyclone oreven afterasevere storm. It is likely that programmed fire Expectations of how fire behaves inanormal year must be reconsidered the other(Felderhof andPoon 2011). wildfire ontheone hand; andmore intense fires to remove woody debris on is required between fires of low-severity to reduce fuel to protect against necessary however to reduce thespread of late season wildfires. Atrade-off a numberof years for thefallen timberto beremoved. These burns are Early, low-severity burns may not ‘clean upthecountry’ andit will take 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 110 Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd, Mount Garnett area (2011). cyclone Yasi. Ironbarks on basalt were particularly susceptible to damage from cyclonic winds during Leasie Felderhof, Firescape PtyLtd, near Goshen Station (2011). Extensive tree damage has increased fuel loads inthis melaleuca shrubland. 1/05/13 2:31 PM 110 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 6: Cyclones and severe storms DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 111

111 Einasleigh Uplands 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 1/05/13 2:31 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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113 Einasleigh Uplands 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 1/05/13 2:31 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 DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 114 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 1/05/13 2:31 PM 114

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115 Einasleigh Uplands 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 1/05/13 2:31 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 DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 116 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 1/05/13 2:31 PM 116

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117 Einasleigh Uplands 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 1/05/13 2:31 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 DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 118 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 1/05/13 2:31 PM 118

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119 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: References Northern Territory,Northern Tropical SavannasCRC. Johnson A2001,NorthAustralian grassland fuel guide , Bushfires Council 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 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 Firescape Science,Atherton. Felderhof L andPoon L 2011, Post-cyclone Yasi wildfire mitigationproject, 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, Communities, Attorney Conservation Act 1999, Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Commonwealth of Australia 1999,Environment Protection and Biodiversity Department of theEnvironment and Water Resources, Canberra. and co-dominant” endangered ecological community (draft of1May 2007) Butler DW 2007,Recovery plan for the “Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant terminology, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, Canberra. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) 2012,Glossary ofrural fire Government, Brisbane. National Park fire strategy, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Anchen G,Collins E,Kimlin S, Williams PandGoughR2006,White Mountains References ‑ Gener al’s Canberra. Department, ,

1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 120 Environment, Victoria. report no. 82.Fire Management Branch, Department of Sustainability and assessment guide,1st editionApril 2010,Fire and adaptive management Victoria. In:Hines F, Tolhurst K, Wilson AandMcCarthy G2010a,Fuel hazard 31, Fire Management Branch, Department of Conservation andEnvironment, management needs and practical research objectives, research reportno. Wilson AAG1992,Assessing the fire hazard onpublic lands in Victoria: fire WildlifeBrisbane. Service, landscapes onQueensland parks, internal Queensland report, Parks and Williams Pand Tran C 2009,Evaluating fire management in sandstone Government, Brisbane, unpublished works. National Park fire strategy, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Williams P, Collins E,Anchen G,Christie S andCrafter C 2009,Draft—Blackbraes Wales,New South Sydney,555–557. pp. Proceedings of the 14thAustralia Weeds ConferenceWeed, Science Societyof dynamics of two exotic grass species inAustralia’s savannas’, northern Setterfield SA, Bellairs S,Douglas MMand Calnan T(2004),‘Seed bank bioregional ecosystems, Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland. Sattler Pand Williams R(eds.) 1999,Theconservation status ofQueensland’s gov.au/register/p02186aa.pdf>. Brigalow Belt bioregion -anoverview’, viewed 6June 2011,

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121 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems 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 TOTAL Non-remnant andother Other bioregion Vine thickets Riparian, springs andfringing communities Acacia dominated communities Melaleuca communities Eucalypt communities Fire vegetationgroup Hectares within Einasleigh bioregion 10233539 11756278 Uplands Uplands 282081 512585 131051 268 288 192 613 136 122 Percentage 100 87 1/05/13 2:31 PM 2 4 1 3 2 1 DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 122

1 Chapter 2 1 Issues

Eucalypt communities Fire vegetation group

Eucalypt communities (shrubby) Eucalypt communities (grassy) Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 9.12.35, 9.12.4a,9.12.4b,9.12.4c,9.12.41,9.12.42,9.12.5. 9.12.14, 9.12.20,9.12.25,9.12.29,9.12.3,9.12.30a, 9.11.2, 9.11.2a,9.11.2b,9.11.2c,9.11.2d,9.11.2e,9.12.1e, 9.10.7a, 9.10.7b,9.10.7c,9.10.8,9.11.1a,9.11.1b,9.11.10, 9.7.6, 9.10.1a,9.10.1b,9.10.1c,9.10.4,9.10.5,9.10.6, 9.3.26, 9.3.26a,9.3.26b,9.3.27,9.3.27a,9.3.27b. 9.12.6e, 9.12.7a,9.12.7b,9.12.7c,9.3.25,9.3.25a,9.3.25b, 9.12.33a, 9.12.33b,9.12.33c,9.12.6a,9.12.6b,9.12.6d, 9.12.27, 9.12.28,9.12.31a,9.12.31b,9.12.32,9.12.32x1, 9.12.22, 9.12.23,9.12.24a,9.12.24b,9.12.24c,9.12.26, 9.12.15, 9.12.16,9.12.17,9.12.18,9.12.19,9.12.2,9.12.21, 9.12.10, 9.12.11,9.12.12,9.12.13a,9.12.13b,9.12.13c, 9.11.7a, 9.11.7b,9.12.1a,9.12.1b,9.12.1c,9.12.1d,9.12.1f, 9.11.3d, 9.11.3e,9.11.3f, 9.11.32,9.11.4a,9.11.4b,9.11.5, 9.11.26a, 9.11.26b,9.11.29,9.11.3a,9.11.3b,9.11.3c, 9.11.23c, 9.11.23d,9.11.24a,9.11.24b,9.11.24c,9.11.25, 9.11.18, 9.11.19,9.11.21,9.11.22,9.11.23a,9.11.23b, 9.11.13, 9.11.14,9.11.15a,9.11.15b,9.11.16,9.11.17, 9.8.4a, 9.8.4b,9.8.4c,9.8.5a,9.8.5b,9.8.9,9.8.10,9.11.12, 9.8.1b, 9.8.1c,9.8.11,9.8.12,9.8.13,9.8.2a,9.8.2b,9.8.2c, 9.5.9c, 9.7.1a,9.7.1c,9.7.3a,9.7.3b,9.7.3c,9.7.5,9.8.1a, 9.5.11, 9.5.12,9.5.15,9.5.15x1,9.5.8,9.5.9a,9.5.9b, 9.5.6b, 9.5.7a,9.5.7b,9.5.1,9.5.10a,9.5.10b,9.5.10c, 9.5.5a, 9.5.5b,9.5.5c,9.5.5d,9.5.5e,9.5.5f, 9.5.5g,9.5.6a, 9.3.6b, 9.3.8,9.4.1,9.4.2,9.5.16,9.5.3a,9.5.3b,9.5.4, 9.3.22b, 9.3.3a,9.3.3b,9.3.3c,9.3.3d,9.3.3e,9.3.5,9.3.6a, 9.3.16, 9.3.19a,9.3.19b,9.3.2,9.3.20,9.3.21,9.3.22a, (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 1/05/13 2:31 PM 122

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123 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems 2 3 Chapter 2 1 1 Issues

Acacia dominated communities Melaleuca communities Fire vegetation group

Acacia woodlands Melaleuca wetland and fringing communities Melaleuca woodlands Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 9.3.11b. 9.3.4, 9.3.7,9.3.10,9.3.10a,9.3.10b,9.3.11,9.3.11a, 9.7.1b, 9.12.39,9.12.40,9.12.6c. 9.3.24, 9.5.13a,9.5.13b,9.5.13c,9.5.14,9.5.15a,9.5.15b, 9.3.9, 9.4.3,9.7.2a,9.7.2b,9.7.4,9.8.6. 9.12.36c, 9.12.37,9.12.38a,9.12.38b,9.12.9,9.3.23, 9.11.30a, 9.11.30b,9.12.30b,9.12.36a,9.12.36b, 9.10.3a, 9.10.3b,9.10.9,9.11.28a,9.11.28b,9.11.28c, (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 124 4 5 Chapter 1 1 1 Issues

Vine thickets Riparian spring and fringing communities Fire vegetation group

Vine thickets Springs Fringing woodland Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 9.8.8, 9.10.2. 9.3.15b, 9.3.17a,9.3.17b,9.3.17c,9.3.18. 9.3.1, 9.3.12a,9.3.12b,9.3.13,9.3.14a,9.3.14b,9.3.15a, 9.12.8b. 9.11.8b, 9.11.9,9.12.34,9.12.43a,9.12.43b,9.12.8a, 9.5.2, 9.8.3,9.8.7,9.8.7a,9.8.7b,9.11.31,9.11.8a, (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 1/05/13 2:31 PM 124

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125 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems Queensland spatial layer (16 September 2011). Mapping of 2006Remnant Vegetation Communities andRegional Ecosystems of above that donot have any matching records in version 6.1of the Survey and been moved. The RE’s listed below are those REs from theclassifications listed the comments sectionindicates if theRE is not of amappable size orif it has been mapped. Intheregional ecosystem description database (REDD)system, exists only as asub-dominant RE within thespatial data ortheRE has not yet “has beenmoved” (i.e. it has beenreclassified into anewRE code), theRE spatial data. This may bebecause theRE is ‘not of amappable size’, theRE 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 regional ecosystems Unmatched 9.12.25, 9.12.36c,9.12.6c 9.5.5e, 9.5.5f, 9.5.5g,9.8.7a,9.8.7b,9.8.8,9.10.8,9.11.2e, 9.3.25a, 9.3.25b,9.3.26b,9.5.15a,9.5.15x1,9.5.5d, 1/05/13 2:31 PM DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 126 1/05/13 2:31 PM 126

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127 Einasleigh Uplands 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 1/05/13 2:31 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 DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 128 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 1/05/13 2:31 PM 128

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129 Einasleigh Uplands 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

1/05/13 2:31 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

DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 130 Figure 4:Planned mosaic burn—year 28. Figure 3:Planned mosaic burn—year 20. 1/05/13 2:31 PM 130

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131 Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning Wildfire andmosaic burn patterns overlaid (with years since last burnt). Figure 5:Fire history summary—year 28. 1/05/13 2:31 PM Wildfire andmosaic burn patterns overlaid (with years since last burnt). Figure 5:Fire history summary—year 28. DEPNP10062_bp2010_EINASLEIGH UPLANDS PBG D6.indd 132 1/05/13 2:31 PM 132

Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

www.nprsr.qld.gov.au

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