Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing Planned Burn Guidelines Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland

DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 1 30/04/13 4:22 PM Prepared by: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Enhanced Fire Management Team, Queensland Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR).

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

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

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Planned Burn Guidelines – Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland First edition Bibliography ISBN 978-1-7423-0932 1. Planned Burn – Guideline 2. Fire Management 3. Bioregion – Queensland

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

Acknowledgements The following people made substantial contributions to the intellectual content of these planned burn guidelines based on experience and/or expert knowledge with regard to fire management in the Channel Country bioregion. QPWS staff include: Chris Crafter, Alicia Whittington, Maree Rich, Steve Peck, David Akers and externally Steve Heggie (Bush Heritage, Australia). The following people made considerable efforts in ensuring the guidelines were supported by accurate and comprehensive photographs: Chris Crafter, Maree Rich, Alicia Whittington, Dale Richter, John Neldner, Bruce Wilson, David Akers, Rob Murphy, Dan Kelman and Steve Heggie (Bush Heritage, Australia). This guideline has been developed and produced by the QPWS Enhanced Fire Management Team: Mark Cant, David Shevill, Wayne Kington, Jenise Blaik, Troy Spinks, Justine Douglas, and Kerensa McCallie; 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 Wayne Kington, David Kington and Mark Burnham. Front cover photograph: Near Morney Station homestead, near Diamantina Development road. Dissected tableland scarp dominated by Acacia siberica with Acacia cambagei (gidgee) open woodland, Dale Richter, Queensland Herbarium (2010). Bp2016

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 2 30/04/13 4:22 PM Foreword The Channel County bioregion contains a diversity of landscapes including vast braided channels and associated floodplains, gibber plains and extensive dune fields. Areas of Mitchell grass, gidgee woodlands and low rocky ranges are also common. Whilst it is predominantly sparsely vegetated, significant wet seasons occasionally occur which can significantly increases vegetation cover and dramatically alters the fire landscape.

The ‘boom and bust’ nature of the Channel Country often results in long periods of reduced vegetation cover, limiting the potential for implementing planned burns. The dune fields of Munga-Thirri and Welford National Parks are typical examples of this cyclic nature.

Despite this, fire still plays a vital role in ecosystems. The main challenge in the Channel Country is to determine the most suitable fire regimes to ensure diverse and healthy ecosystems across the bioregion are maintained. Planned burns need to balance ecological burning with hazard reduction burning in times of high fuel loads. This planned burn guideline will be an important tool to provide guidance and understanding of fire in the Channel Country bioregion.

Alicia Whittington Senior Conservation Officer Central Region Queensland Park and Wildlife Service.

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 3 30/04/13 4:22 PM Table of contents Foreword...... iii

Purpose of this guideline...... vi

Scope...... vii

Fire and Climate in the Channel Country bioregion of Queensland...... ix

How to use this guideline...... xii

Chapter 1: Eucalypt woodlands...... 1 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands...... 3 Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into eucalypt communities...... 12 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses...... 13 Issue 4: Reduce woody weeds...... 14

Chapter 2: Grasslands...... 15 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands...... 17 Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities...... 30 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses...... 41

Chapter 3: Forbland and shrubland communities...... 42 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into forbland and shrubland communities...... 43

Chapter 4: Acacia dominated communities...... 46 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities...... 47 Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses...... 51

Chapter 5: Spring communities...... 52 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into spring communities...... 53

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 4 30/04/13 4:22 PM Chapter 6: Common issues...... 54 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns...... 55 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites...... 63 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups...... 73 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses...... 79 Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds...... 87

Glossary of fire terminology...... 97

References...... 105

Appendix 1: List of regional ecosystems...... 107

Appendix 2: Mosaic burning...... 112

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 5 30/04/13 4:22 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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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 6 30/04/13 4:22 PM Scope • This guideline applies to the Channel Country bioregion (refer to Figure 1) and covers the following fire vegetation groups: eucalypt woodlands, grasslands, forblands and shrublands, acacia dominated communities and springs (refer to Appendix 1 for regional ecosystems contained in each fire vegetation group). • It covers the most common fire management issues arising in the Channel Country. In some cases, there will be a need to include issues in burn proposals beyond the scope of this guideline (e.g. highly specific species management issues). • This guideline recognises and respects Traditional Owner traditional ecological knowledge and the importance of collaborative fire management. Consultation and involvement should be sought from local Traditional Owners in the preparation and implementation of planned burns and specific guidelines incorporated into fire strategies where relevant. • Development of the guideline has been by literature review and a knowledge- capturing exercise, using both scientific and practical sources. It will be reviewed as new information becomes available.

Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium (2009).

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 7 30/04/13 4:22 PM Figure 1: Map of Channel Country bioregion of Queensland.

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 8 30/04/13 4:22 PM Fire and Climate in the Channel Country bioregion of Queensland In the Channel Country is characterised by prolonged dry periods with infrequent wet seasons. The extensive dry phases result in very little fuel available to carry a fire across the landscape. What little vegetation does exist is critical fauna habitat and it is vital that ecosystems are maintained as dry-time refuge areas. So although planned burning occurs most years to create habitat diversity, it is important to retain good vegetation cover.

The infrequent wet seasons are ‘boom’ events changing the normally sparsely vegetated countryside into a network of braided channels with abundant ephemeral vegetation. Often channels and swales fill due to distant rain events. Water, often from hundreds of miles away, floods down the channels causing defined areas of flourishing vegetation adjacent to sparse open country. At other times widespread rainfall events soak the landscape, causing even the sand dunes to be vegetated with ephemeral grasses and forbs. Once the water starts to dissipate, the ephemeral grasses and other ground cover quickly dries to become highly flammable for a short period until they start to desiccate and disintegrate.

During these high fuel periods, wildfires can sweep across vast areas removing all vegetation, potentially devastating flora and fauna communities. Planned mosaic burning efforts are concentrated after good rain so that continuous fuel can be broken-up to impede wildfire runs and to ensure the rapid recovery of native species. Rapid recovery has the added benefit of reducing the risk of soil erosion and minimising the risk of weed invasion and establishment.

Planned burning within the Channel Country must remain flexible to allow for variation in the timing and length of climatic events which dictate fuel loads. Limited windows of opportunity to burn occur due to the rapid drying out of areas, lack of control lines and distances involved to conduct test burns. Vigilance is required in recognising prospects to burn and capitalising on these opportunities. It is also important to be aware of conditions prior to and following burns.

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 36ºC with low humidity (below 15 per cent) and sustained winds of more than 17 km/hr (refer to Figure 2). Data (Lucas 2010).

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

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 9 30/04/13 4:22 PM Birdsville Fire Danger Index (1972-2010) FFDI 25+ (VH+) GFDI 25+ (VH+) 25

20

15

10

Average days per month 5

0 JanFeb Mar Apr MayJuneJulyAug Sept Oct NovDec Month Figure 2: Fire weather risk in the Channel Country bioregion.

The likelihood of a fire weather day or sequence of days (FDI 25+) increases significantly after September and reduced during the winter season.

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 10 30/04/13 4:22 PM Swales provide a fire corridor when conditions are optimum. This wildfire often crossed over the dunes. Steven Heggie, Bush Heritage Australia, Ethabuka Reserve (2011).

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DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 11 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 12

xii Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline a 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 or fire vegetation groups with a 3. or fire vegetation groups with a 2.

tree branch foliage dying? Is there epicormic regrowth onbranches? a) s theground-layer have adiversity of species oris it dominated d) e shrubs looking healthy and vigorous? Are there dying crowns onthe c) there abuild-up of dead anddecaying matter associated with grasses, esence of grasses andgrass clumps. Dothegrasses look healthy b) a) there evidence of fire? What is theprevalence andheight of blackened at are themid-layer trees (young canopy trees, wattles, casuarinasb) or a) e there rainforest, scrub orriparian ecosystems nearby? e there habitat trees (e.g. trees with hollows)? c) b) observe where relevant: shrubs andgrasses but not yet inthecanopy) observe thefollowing: following: F F If

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? Doe Ar Is The pr Is Wh Ar Ar Is canopy is present (e.g. for openforests andwoodlands) observethe ground-layer of grasses, sedges orshrubs, mid-layer (trees above theheight of 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 13 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, 30/04/13 4:22 PM xiii Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 1

1 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands fire vegetation group. severity) andinfluence thepotential for frequent and damaging fires inthis Cenchrus grass as buffel ciliaris,can alter fuel characteristics (increasing fire severity fire to mitigate wildfire risk. Be aware that invasive grass species such In certain situations it may benecessary to deliberately target areas with low- the best strategy to mitigate thespread of wildfire into these communities. Maintaining appropriate mosaic burning insurrounding fire-adapted areas is being at risk of wildfire impacts. result inincreased fuel-loads insomeareas which may result inthewoodland but they are not usually burnt intentionally. Years of increased rainfall can occur. They may occasionally burn with surrounding fire-adapted vegetation, Fuel-loads are generally low inthis fire vegetation group andfires donotoften their understanding. guidelines must beconsidered provisional as practitioners continue to refine is limited information ordata on appropriate fire regimes. Therefore these A key fire management issue for all Channel Country fire vegetation groups Fire management issues eucalypt communities. (Issue 1),regarding information onfire management guidelines for spinifex are generally associated with aground layer of spinifex. Refer to Chapter 2 Eucalyptusnapunyah thozetiana anddesertbloodwood Corymbia terminalis Eucalypt communities with Normanton box Eucalyptus normantonensis, understoreys. shrub layer may bepresent. These communities generally have very sparse grasses with rushes and sedges present inwetter sites. Insomeareas a floodplains anddrainage lines. Theground layer is dominated by tussock Channel Country, eucalypt woodlands are mostly confined to watercourses, sometimes associated with paperbarks (Melaleuca spp.) andacacias. Inthe red gumEucalyptus camaldulensis, andcoolabah Eucalyptus coolabah, This fire vegetation group includes open woodland communities with river Chapter 1:Eucalypt woodlands 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 2 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: Goneaway National Park, 209ha; Astrebla Downs National Park, 14ha. 12 225ha; Welford National Park, 3936ha; Bladensburg National Park, 1203ha; Location of this Diamantina FVG: National Park, 39517ha; Munga-Thirri National Park, Appendix 1for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 556530hectares (ha), 2percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to

Reduce woody weeds. grasses invasive Manage Limit fire encroachment into eucalypt communities Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands 30/04/13 4:22 PM

2 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 3 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands 3 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands • • • woodlands: The following indicators may alert you that fire is required ineucalypt Awareness of theenvironment season orflooding event. group with low-severity fire to mitigate wildfire risk, especiallyafter a wet situations it may benecessary to deliberately target areas of this fire vegetation strategy to mitigate thespread of wildfire into these communities. In certain Maintaining mosaic burning insurrounding fire-adapted areas is thebest Issue 1:Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium, Diamantina River floodplain (2007). fire following good seasons should be considered to mitigate thepotential for wildfires. Healthy coolibah low openwoodland with grassy understorey. Occasional low-severity •

begun to appear above thegrass layer andare more than scattered. An abundance of native shrubs ortrees such as gidgee andmulga have a way that will carry fire. Grass tussocks are more orless continuous across theground layer, insuch fuel connectivity. a boost to thegrowth of grasses andtherefore anincrease infuel-loads and A very wet year orsuccession of wet years, oraflooding event, has provided especially afterhighrainfall events. parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata are abundant andemerging above grasses, Seedlings of woody weeds such as prickly acacia Vachellia nilotica, 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 4 Dale Richter, Queensland Herbarium, Carryana Station (2009). minimise impacts to fire- sensitive coolabah. Coolabah Eucalyptus coolabah onaseasonal waterhole. Manage fire carefully to Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium (2009). riparian areas. Planned burning can assist inbreaking-up fuel andmitigating wildfire impacting on Following anexceptional wet season, grassy fuel loads increase across thelandscape. 30/04/13 4:22 PM

4 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 5 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands 5 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands (2009). Goneaway National Park Rob Murphy, QPWS, birds. fauna species and hollows for arboreal provide habitat/ seasonal watercourse camaldulensis ona Eucalyptus River red gums Park (2007). of Munga-Thirri National Herbarium, north-east John Neldner, Queensland carry afire. sparse andwill rarely layer fuels are very communities ground In someeucalypt Howitt(2009). Station Herbarium, East of Mt Bruce Wilson,Queensland flood events. following increase will growth onfloodplains grass low, generally loadsare fuel Whilst on floodplains. are also scattered community and dominate this riparian Eucalypt spp., spp., 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 6 • • • • Discussion What is thepriority for this issue? •

Priority Channel Country bioregion. and fauna species as compared to all otherfire vegetation groups inthe Eucalypt dominated riparian communities have a very highnumber of flora rainfall events andwill naturally thinout duringperiods. dry A flush of coolabah, Eucalyptus coolabah saplings may occur following major (refer to Chapter 6,Issue 3). florulenta should not beburnt.Limit fire encroachment into these areas Coolibah swamp associated with adense layer of lignum Muehlenbeckia recruitment of seedlings, kill young pants andalso somemature trees. are sensitive to too frequent and/or highseverity fire which can inhibit the River red gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis andcoolabah Eucalyptus coolabah fuel-loads). can provide aboost to thegrowth of grasses (andaconsequent increase in growth ineucalypt communities. A very wet year orsuccession of wet years Rainfall andassociated flooding events are the main factor influencing grass High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment 30/04/13 4:22 PM

6 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 7 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands 7 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands Select at least two of thefollowing as most appropriate for thesite: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes scorch. canopy Minimal patches. of burnt mosaic spatial 40–60 % Measurable Measurable objectives visual field. percentage of canopy scorch within within burn area), estimating variability of landform andecosystems locations (that take account of the drive past planned burn area inthree In thedays post fire, walk through/ 3. 2. 1. Choose oneof these options:

satellite imagery. percentage of vegetation burnt from Quantitative estimation of burnt. determine thepercentage of area with GPS, plot onGIS andthereby Map theboundaries of burnt areas air. more vantage points,orfrom the of vegetation burnt –from oneor Visual estimation of percentage How to beassessed burnt. < 30%or>75 Not Achieved: 60–75 %burnt. between 30–40%or Partially Achieved: 40–60 %burnt. Achieved: layer scorched. of thedominant tree > 25%of thecrown Not Achieved: layer scorched. of thedominant tree 10–25 %of thecrown Partially Achieved: scorched. dominant tree layer of thecrown of the Achieved: <10% How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 8 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable refer to thecompendium of planned Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Eyre Creek Adria Downs. requirements ineucalypt communities. Monitoring fuel loads following wet years is important to determining planned burn Monitoring theissue over time retained. trees) (habitat bearing trees live hollow- and standing dead trees standing > 95%of percentage retained afterfire. of habitat trees. Determine the fire intensity) and estimate number the variability of landform andlikely or more transects (taking into account Select oneormore sites orwalk one < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: 30/04/13 4:22 PM

8 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 9 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands 9 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands • 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 (in situations where this is becoming aproblem). severity fire helps to ensure emerging overabundant trees are managed Low class Low Fire (M) (L) , with theoccasional moderate-severity fire. Anoccasional 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 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 10 Other considerations Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) forests). Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–4,<23km/hr(ideally between 10–23km/hrin DI (KBDI):Ideally 60–90,but <120 FDI: <13 Soil Moisture: Goodsoil moisture at thetimeof burning is thecritical factor. implement burns at varying times of the year. Season: Autumn to early spring. To maximise species diversity, aimto wildfires. with burn planning. Drought conditions may also lead to poorresults and/or undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of conditions priorto andfollowing burns sothat What weather conditions should Iconsider? •

wildfire. aged fuel andhelpto reduce overabundant seedlings/saplings stimulated by This will assist inpreventing acycle of repeated wildfire promoted by single- areas of continuous fuel andre-establish amosaic of vegetation age-classes. Once anarea has recovered from wildfire, plan patchy burns to break up burnt within thesame year inamanagement area. In general, nomore than 10–30percent of eucalypt woodlands should be future wildfires. A mosaic of 40–60percent burnt to limit theseverity andextent of potential the maximum timeframe). to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through to Apply mosaic planned burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies events), fuel accumulation andtheneedfor burning to mitigate wildfire. Fire frequency will dependonseasonal conditions (rainfall orflooding 30/04/13 4:22 PM

10 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 11 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands 11 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt woodlands • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • offered below is not prescriptive, but rather atoolkit of suggested tactics. review andadjust thetactics as required to achieve theburn objectives. What is at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn regularly Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

higher-severity fire ignited inside the burn area. intensity backing fire into the burn area or create a containment edge for a Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can create alow- the burn dueto changes inweather conditions, topography andfuel loads. a lower-intensity fire. Note that the spacing of the spots may throughoutvary create high-intensity junction zones). Spots placed apartwill further result in will result inalineof fire that is of greater intensity (i.e. as spots merge they where there is anaccumulation of volatile fuels. Spots placed closer together Spot ignitioncan beused to alter thedesired intensity of afire particularly managed. Channel Country bioregion dueto thescale andinaccessibility of areas being Aerial ignitionfrom afixed wing aircraft orhelicopter is often used inthe self-extinguish inovernight conditions priorto joining. patchy fires in continuous fuel, as fire fronts created through spot ignition reduce environmental impacts. This is also auseful technique to create management is required, implementing afternoonornight ignitioncan Afternoon orevening ignition.If conditions are not ideal but fire and overabundant seedlings andsaplings. This tactic is also useful to reduce fine fuels such as grasses, leaf litter, twigs a minimum,thefire has agreater amount of time to burn fuels inthat area. reduction of available fuels. As theintensity andrate of spread are kept to will generally result inthemore complete coverage of anarea andabetter A low-intensity backing fire with good residence time.Aslow moving fire

30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 12 unplanned fires encroaching. communities to limit thefrequency andpotential impacts of damaging landscape mosaic of burnt andunburnt patches inadjacent fire-adapted To assist in theprotection of eucalypt communities, maintain a varied Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 2:Limit fire encroachment into eucalypt communities 30/04/13 4:22 PM

12 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into eucalypt communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 13 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands 13 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. communities. which gradually results intheoverall decline of health anddiversity of eucalypt fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of damaging high-severity fires Cenchrus grass Buffel ciliarisinparticular poses asignificant threat by altering upon vegetation communities. Invasive grasses are also promoted by fire. dramatically increase fire severity which results in significant damaging impacts It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses, as they can Issue 3:Manage invasive grasses 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 14 Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 5),regarding fire management guidelines. often highly fire-resistant and top kill mainly results in resprouting. manage theseedlings andsaplings of somewoody weeds, mature plants are an issue ineucalypt communities. While fire is known to beaneffective tool to parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata andmesquite Prosopis spp. are known to be Woody weeds, inparticular prickly acacia Vachellia nilotica, but also Issue 4:Reduce woody weeds 30/04/13 4:22 PM

14 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt woodlands Issue 4: Reduce woody weeds DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 15

15 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands connectivity may develop. remain discontinuous for many years, but afteraseason of highgrowth grass scattered emergent shrubs. The ground layer is not usually continuous andmay Astrebla spp., andwire grass Aristida On floodplains and clay plains common species include Mitchell grasses Tussock dominated grasslands years, but afteragood season of rain, spinifex connectivity may develop. ground layer is not usually continuous andmay remain discontinuous for many patches may also befound within thespaces between spinifex clumps. The and shrubs (e.g. Acacia spp.). Forbs, legumes, tussock grasses andsand Eucalyptusnapunyah thozetiana anddesertbloodwood Corymbia terminalis) scattered isolated trees (e.g. Normanton box Eucalyptus normantonensis , Sand dunes andsand plains tend to support spinifex Triodia spp. with some Spinifex grasslands There are two main types of grassland communities: plains andundulating dune fields throughout the bioregion. grasslands of theChannel Country bioregion occur onfloodplains, channels, Grasslands are openandtreeless orcontain scattered trees orshrubs. The Chapter 2:Grasslands spp.

Low trees (e.g. Acacia cambagei) and 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 16 community health andmay increase fire severity. Weed species such as buffel grass pose asignificant threat to grassland germination events associated with successive good growing seasons. to woody thickening. Often this is associated with along absence of fire or Overabundant acacia saplings intussock grassland communities can lead good season of rain, afterwhich burning effortsincrease. create habitat diversity, but significant areas may be left long unburnt until a therefore required. Planned burning can occur inmost years andthis will help habitat orprotect habitat features. Amosaic approach to planned burning is is still important to ensure significant grass cover where possible to provide habitats. Despite theneedto break upfuel continuity to mitigate wildfire, it the continuity of fuel andprovide arich age-class structure to support diverse danger. The main fire management strategy is to use mosaic burning to break up of inaccessible land, long dry-seasons andextended periods of very highfire fire-sensitive communities andproperty. This is exacerbated by large tracts connectivity to support wildfire. Wildfires impact on ecological values, nearby growth can beboosted leading to anincrease infuel load andsufficient fuel A very wet year orsuccession of wet years, oras aresult of floods, grass their understanding. guidelines must beconsidered provisional as practitioners continue to refine is limited information ordata onappropriate fire regimes. Therefore these A key fire management issue for all Channel Country fire vegetation groups Fire management issues 3. 2. 1. Issues: Goneaway National Park, 4662ha; Lark Conservation Quarry Park, 24ha. 155 628ha; Welford National Park, 24023ha; Bladensburg National Park, 13538ha; Location of this Munga-Thirri FVG: National Park, 982837ha; Diamantina National Park, 1 for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 9551637ha, 41percent;

Manage invasive grasses. Maintain tussock grass communities Maintain spinifex grasslands Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 30/04/13 4:22 PM 16 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 17 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 17 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands 4. 3. 2. 1. Key indicators of healthy Spinifex grasslands: Awareness of theenvironment impacts of wildfire. Use low-severity mosaic fires to maintain spinifex grasslands and reduce Issue 1:Maintain spinifex grasslands Alicia Whittington QPWS, Munga Thirri National Park (2010). Aerial view of spinifex dominated communities onsand dunes andswales.

which grow as hummocks that can vary greatly indiameter. Ground layer is characterised by thepresence of spinifex Triodia spp., may becommon. Scattered eucalypts, acacia oramix of shrubs including Eremophila spp. seasonal rains. Astrebla spp. andforbs are also present, particularly aftergood Other grasses including wiregrasses grasses Mitchell Astrida spp., ranging from young hummocks to old hummocks. Spinifex shows a variation intime-since-fire across the landscape with 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 18 (2010). Welford National Park Rob Murphy, QPWS, growth. seasons boosts successive wet carries fire until vegetation rarely Sparse dune Station (2010). Herbarium, Carryana Dale Richter, Queensland spinifex growth. factor influencing rainfall is themain fuel load with time, increases insize and trees. Whilespinifex plains with scattered grassland onsand Healthy spinifex (2010). Herbarium,Desert Simpson Dan Kelman, Queensland should beconsidered. indicate that planned fire can areas large over long unburnt spinifex however, abuild-up of healthy habitat features; grey spinifex) are spinifex (areas of dark dune crest. Long unburnt dominate this sand classes andshrubs Spinifex of varying age 30/04/13 4:22 PM

18 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 19 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 19 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands • • • • spinifex grasslands: The following indicators may alert you that fire is required to maintain Jenise Blaik, QPWS, D’Aguilar National Park (2012). considered anissue as it resulted from alocalised hotspot andis not widespread. A small thicket of casuarina saplings has germinated afteraplanned burn. This is not

spinifex, particularly afteragood wet season. common orseedlings are starting to become visible amongst the cassiasSenna spp., or Eremophila spp.Gidgee, are starting to become age-class). in theshrublayer, but are not healthy (e.g. are old ordying orof asingle Where they occur, obligate seeders (e.g. Acacia Grevillea spp., spp.) are fire across abroad area. Spinifex hummocks are contiguous andable to carry even low-severity (i.e. has nofresh growth, looks grey andold). are starting to collapse inthecentre. Long unburnt spinifex is moribund Over large areas, spinifex hummocks have expanded indiameter and 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 20 • • Discussion What is thepriority for this issue? • • • •

Priority wildfire crossed fire-scars of a similar age. be used to control early season wildfires. Later intheseason however, the in spinifex country (that mostly burnt during drought periods) were able to It was noted during the2011wildfire season that even ten-year-old fire-scars much more likely to carry between swales. and have ahigherfuel load than most. Be aware that inthese areas, fire is Desert region that tend to have good spinifex cover right to thedune crest There is adistinct typeof sand dune vegetation inthenorthern Simpson long unburnt woodlands. since-fire. Conversely, thenumberof adult anddead shrubs increases in very Shrub species diversity inspinifex dominated woodlands declines over time- spinifex clumps. resprouting perennials, annuals and ephemeral forbs scattered amongst the Recently burnt spinifex communities tend to have agreater diversity of extensive wildfires the following season. dry growth of spinifex (andaconsequent increase infuel-load). This can result in growth. A very wet year orsuccession of wet years can provide aboost to the size andfuel-load with time,rainfall is themain factor influencing spinifex It is important to note that while spinifex tends to continue to increase in wildfires. Good spinifex cover is desirable but not somuch as to cause risk of extensive the landscape will assist inmaintaining sufficient areas of mature spinifex. (DERM 2010c).Maintaining amosaic of ages of spinifex communities across food, breeding habitat andcover from predators including foxes andcats Amytornis striatus. These species rely onmature spinifex communities for cristicauda, brush-tailed mulgaraDasycercus blythi andstriated grasswren fires, can threaten species such as the crest-tailed mulgara Dasycercus Fire intensity, frequency andtiming, particularly extensive andwidespread High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment 30/04/13 4:22 PM

20 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 21 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 21 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands 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 is achieved. areas unburnt burnt and a mosaic of burn areas, individual Within infrastructure. resources and cultural natural/ wildfire on impacts of prevented burning has planned Proactive Measurable Measurable objectives • • • Choose oneof these options: annual basis. planned burns against wildfire onan (e.g. NAFI),estimate thearea of Using fire scar remote sensing data

(e.g. NAFI),estimate thearea burnt. Using fire scar remote sensing data visual field. range of fire-age-classes within percentage of ground burnt; and planned burn area estimating walk 300ormore metres through and ecosystems within burn area), account the variability of landform In three locations (taking into more vantage points,orfrom theair. Visual assessments from oneor How to beassessed burnt ground. < 15%and>75of Not Achieved: burnt ground. 15–30 %or60–75 Partially Achieved: burnt ground. Achieved: 20–60% impact. has asignificant Not Achieved: Wildfire wildfire. prevents impacts of area of planned burn Achieved: Annual How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 22 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable refer to thecompendium of planned • • ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS photographs andasmall amount of recorded data. Instructions for establishing points beestablished. Observation points are usually supportedby keep observing theland. To support this it is recommended that observation Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important to Monitoring theissue over time landscape. across the fire recovery time-since- of stages different Spinifex at

and set seed(ideally afew times) prior to being exposed to fire again. unburnt. Obligate seeders are killed by fire, these species need to mature in ensuring fires are sufficiently patchy and that some areas remain long Monitoring of shrubs andobligate seedregenerating species can assist loads) across thelandscape is thebest indicator of whenafire is required. Monitoring spinifex cover (i.e. continuity of cover, ground layer diversity, fuel • •

visual field. range of fire-age-classes within percentage of ground burnt; and planned burn area estimating walk 300ormore metres through and ecosystems within burn area), account the variability of landform In three locations (taking into more vantage points,orfrom theair. Visual assessments from oneor similar age-class. with most areas of a is little diversity Not Achieved: There hummocks. hummocks to old since-fire from young diversity intime- has considerable Achieved: Spinifex 30/04/13 4:22 PM

22 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 23 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 23 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands Firescars from awildfire are still evident eight years on.Landscape mosaic burning is a Steven Heggie, Bush Heritage Australia, Ethabuka Reserve(2011). patterns that limit vegetation removal ondune slopes, as these areas are prone to erosion. Dune vegetation removed during awildfire event.It may bedesirable to use ignition Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Munga Thirri National Park (2010). high priority to reduce fuel loads andminimise therisk of repeat extensive wildfire. 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 24 Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Munga Thirri National Park (2010). matured anddied. These are indicators of theneedfor mosaic burning. that theground layer is more orless continuous lived andsomeshort shrubs have Spinifex andshrublayers can beused to helpdetermine suitable fire frequency. Note 30/04/13 4:22 PM

24 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 25 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 25 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands • 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 Patchy Patchy create arisk of extensive wildfire. Ensure areas are left long unburnt (>25 years) provided that they donot frequencies. wet season and thetimesince previous fire to helpguide suitable fire and frequency inspinifex dominated woodlands. Use thestrength of the Seasonal rainfall andthefuel it generates are thekey drivers of fire extent a landscape mosaic can beachieved by applying small burns every year. mosaic. Because of theissue of scale, andtimebefore anarea will re-burn, It is important to maintain anactive fire program to achieve a landscape four to ten years for spinifex dominated communities. 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 class Low Fire (M) (P) (L)

to low to 100–500 intensity 50–100 (kWm < 50 (during thefire) Fire andwith theoccasional moderate severity fire. Fire intensity -1 )

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

Complete removed. standing biomass biomass Average height scorch scorch ≤ 1.5 ≤ 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) fuels. fuels (litter) andnear surface Does not remove all thesurface High percentage of patchiness. have burnt. Stubble still evident. surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness. Most of the blackened remnants. fuels burnt. Stubble burnt to All surface andnear surface (loss of biomass) Description 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 26 help thefire in carry spinifex communities. Wind speed: Beaufort 1–2, < 23km/hr. Sometimes wind will berequired to DI (KBDI):<100 GFDI: <7 Other considerations Landscape mosaic • • • Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • Season: wildfires. with burn planning. Drought conditions may also lead to poorresults and/or undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of conditions priorto andfollowing burns sothat What weather conditions should Iconsider? • •

opportunity for encroachment of weeds andwind erosion of dunes. may result inpatches of bare ground for longer periods andprovide the Be aware that grass growth andrecovery post fire is slower in winter which later season inthedry (Crowley 2003). good rainfall. Storm season fires will limit the chance of extensive wildfires Wet season to early season dry andstorm burns. Concentrate effortsafter season. Wildfires resulting from lightning strikes are common during the storm results inloss of fauna habitat andcan lead to erosion insomeareas. useful to promote spinifex. Decreased spinifex growth season afterdry fires Due to highsoil moisture with summer rainfall, wet season fires may be burning. During drierperiods it may benecessary to minimise theamount of planned may be very high,andit may bebeneficial to burn more than twenty per cent. exceptional rainfall orwidespread flooding, fuel loads across the landscape fifteen per cent of spinifex communities within the same year. In years with In general, within themanagement area, donot burn more than ten to a landscape mosaic can beachieved by applying small burns every year. mosaic. Because of theissue of scale, andtimebefore anarea will re-burn, It is important to maintain anactive fire program to achieve a landscape creating amosaic. Use appropriate tactics andburning with good soil moisture to assist in 30/04/13 4:22 PM

26 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 27 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 27 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands A 2011wildfire burnt ina continuous line over swales anddunefields. This followed two Steven Heggie, Bush Heritage Australia, Ethabuka Reserve (2011). consecutive wet seasons which resulted inagood cover of ground fuels. (1993). QPWS, Welford National Park low wind conditions. desired burn coverage in may bedifficult to get the spinifex hummocks, it In areas of discontinuous 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 28 Aerial ignition • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • • • • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

combination of both. prevailing wind ontheday this may require eitherspot orstrip lighting ora promote alow-severity backing fire. Depending onavailable fuels andthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge to contain thefire and species. with thewind), may helpinaddressing theissue of encroachment of woody Creating arunning fire (through closely spaced spot ignitionorline from thenon-target community. lighting patterns along themargin to promote abacking away burns fire that riparian communities can occur adjacent to grasslands. Use appropriate Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities. Insomecases, topography andfuel loads. spots may vary throughout theburn dueto changes inweather conditions, including driptorches, matches andincendiaries. The spacing of the of burnt andunburnt areas. This can beachieved using arange of methods Spot ignitionis oftenused to alter theintensity of afire and create amosaic path onto amap oraerial photograph. understanding of terrain) andit is good practice to plot theincendiary drop is recommended (stereoscopic images are particularly useful to gain an drop patterns achieve thedesired burn objectives. Use of aerial photographs It is recommended that anaerial incendiary plan is developed to ensure and creates alandscape mosaic andpatchiness within individual burns. (as opposed to repetitive lighting of main burn operations from firebreaks), Aerial incendiary operations allows for variations inignitionpoints inaccessible terrain. Aerial ignitionis useful intheChannel Country bioregion dueto theremote manage thescale of burns. the landscape. Natural boundaries andpreviously burnt areas can beused to undertaken inthese communities every year, varying ignitionpoints across annual patchwork of burns across thelandscape. Ideally burning should be Strategic annual burn planning, to manage fire size andintensity, to plan an

30/04/13 4:22 PM

28 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 29 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 29 Issue 1: Maintain spinifex grasslands Proactive planned burning has reduced spinifex fuels inthis grassland community. Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Munga Thirri National Park (2010). patterns, including random placement andgridpatterns. Aerial incendiaries targeting dune swales. Be aware of different methods for drop QPWS, Welford National Park (1993). 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 30 • • • • Key indicators of healthy tussock grass communities: Awareness of theenvironment Use low-severity mosaic burning to maintain tussock grass communities. Issue 2:Maintain tussock grass communities

to carry afire. In someareas tussock grasses are sosparse there is rarely enoughfuel viminalis, particularly ondrainage lines. Acacia spp., whitewoodAtalaya hemiglauca and vine treeventilago Scattered low trees andshrubs may occur including Eucalypts legumes present (particularly aftergood seasonal rains). Often there is a very diverse mix of otherspecies of grasses, forbs and Aristida spp. Ground layer is dominated by Mitchell grass Astreblawiregrass or spp. spp., spp., 30/04/13 4:22 PM

30 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 31 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 31 Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities Whittingham, QPWS (2012). Astrebla Downs National Park: Chris Crafter, QPWS (2009),Peter McRae, QPWS (2010and2011),Alicia in 2011illustrating rapid grass growth. Grass cover begins to decline again in2012. taken in2009afteralongperiod,followed dry by awet season in2010andthenagain illustrate theeffects of awet season on grass fuel loads andconnectivity. From top left: Although from aneighbouring bioregion, these images from Astrebla Downs National Park 2011 2009 2012 2010 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 32 Maree Rich, QPWS, Diamantina National Park, Bilby monitoring site North (2008,2010,2011,2012). years andin2012,thesite was beginning to return to mostly bare ground. good rain. The 2008photo was taken afteralongperiod,2010and2011were dry wet of theChannel Country bioregion. Inthis area, grasses are still fairly sparse even after This area inDiamantina National Park is anexample of theboomandbust cycle typical 2011 2008 2012 2010 30/04/13 4:22 PM

32 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 33 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 33 Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities targeted for burning. is rarely enoughfuel to carry afire into these communities andthey are generally not Wiregrass Wiregrass • • • • • grass communities: The following indicators may alert you that fire is required to maintain tussock Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium, Diamantina National Park (2008).

and emerging above grasses, especially afterhighrainfall events. parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata andmesquiteProsopis spp. are abundant Seedlings of woody weeds such as prickly acacia Vachellia nilotica, appear above thegrass layer andare more than scattered. Saplings of native shrubs or trees such as gidgee andmulga have begun to abundant afterwet periods). declined (but not dueto seasonal variation —they are more diverse and The diversity andabundance of herbs andforbs between tussocks have formed grass clumps are present. An accumulation of dead material intussocks, collapsing grass andpoorly allowing thepassage of fire. Grass tussocks have become more continuous across theground layer Aristida spp. oftenreplaces Mitchell grasses onstoney pavements. There 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 34 • • • Discussion What is thepriority for this issue? • •

Very high Medium Priority (e.g. gidgee andmulga). Fire can beused to push back encroachment of woody stemmed plants species. establishment andgive acompetitive advantage to weeds andwoody Burning without soil moisture will oftenkill thegrasses, slow theseedling the death of sub-soil grass bases/roots andslow post-fire recovery time. Fires that are too severe andoccur without sufficient soil moisture result in the needfor fire management to restore balance. 1983). Anabundance of othergrass species such as feathertop, may indicate tussocks andstimulates seedproduction (Wilson 1992b, Scanlan 1980, communities. Fire also promotes newtillers (fresh growth) in Mitchell grass Fire is required to maintain thedominance of Mitchell grass inthese and reflects soil type,soil moisture anddisturbance history. ofThe proportion perennial andannual grasses varies across thelandscape predator numbers. pest control programs may needto beconsidered in years of extremely high to retain areas of good grass cover andmitigate predation effects. Enhanced feral cats. Mosaic planned burning with arelatively small patch size is useful against predation. Be aware that fires can attract aflush of predators such as retain areas of grass cover where possible is important to shelter such fauna within thecracking clay soils oringrasses. Designing burn programs to planigale Planigale gilesi inhabit Mitchell grasslands, sheltering increvices Fauna such as thefat-tailed dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata andGiles’ High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation Priority assessment 30/04/13 4:22 PM

34 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 35 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 35 Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities 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 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 infrastructure. resources and cultural natural/ wildfire on impacts of prevented burning has planned Proactive the tip. scorched to height are < 1min seedlings saplings/ of woody > 75% fire. remain after bases grass > 95%of Measurable Measurable objectives infrastructure. natural/cultural resources and prevented impacts of wildfire on Proactive planned burning has of saplings/ seedlings scorched. severity), andestimate thepercentage variability of landform andlikely fire more transects (taking into account the Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor months afterfire. of grasses that recover oneto three fire intensity) and estimate cover the variability of landform andlikely or more sites (taking into account Before andafterfire, select three How to beassessed impact. has asignificant Not Achieved: Wildfire wildfire. prevents impacts of area of planned burns Achieved: Annual Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75%. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. < 90%recover. Not Achieved: 90–95% recover. Partially Achieved: > 95%recover. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 36 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 Patchy Patchy seedlings are kept low intheground stratum. moderate-severity fire helps to ensure emerging overabundant saplings/ class Low Fire (M) (P) (L)

to Low to intensity 50–100 (kWm 100– 1500 < 50 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity with theoccasional moderate-severity fire. Anoccasional -1 )

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

Complete removed. standing biomass biomass Average height scorch scorch ≤ 1.5 ≤ 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) fuels. fuels (litter) andnear surface Does not remove all thesurface High percentage of patchiness. have burnt. Stubble still evident. surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness. Most of the blackened remnants. fuels burnt. Stubble burnt to All surface andnear surface (loss of biomass) Description 30/04/13 4:22 PM

36 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 37 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 37 Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities Other issues Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) •

be necessary to minimise theamount of planned burning. beneficial to burn more than twenty per cent andin poorseasonsvery it may of grasslands within thesame year. Inparticularly good seasons, it may be In general, within themanagement area, donot burn more than 20percent than five hectares) of burnt and unburnt areas. this inmind,where possible, attempt to create asmall patch size (e.g. less (like widely spaced spot ignition)andburning with good soil moisture. With tactics below). Mosaics are best achieved by applying appropriate tactics essential to avoid large tracts burning inoneevent (seeconditions and Where fuels are continuous, use of appropriate tactics andconditions are between ten to fifteen years. For Mitchell grass communities consider abroad fire interval range of and seasonal conditions. burning based onfuel accumulation, maintaining adiversity of age-classes to themaximum timeframe). Fire frequency will dependontheneedfor to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through Apply mosaic planned burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies of burning to avoid favouring woody species. are starting to become overabundant. Ensure good soil moisture at thetime A moderate-severity fire may be required when targeting woody species that 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 38 help thefire ingrasslands.carry Wind speed: Beaufort 2–3,or<20km/hr. Often somewind will berequired to for encroachment of weeds result inpatches of bare ground for longer periods andprovide theopportunity Temperature: Grass growth andrecovery post fire is slower in winter which may DI (KBDI):<100 GFDI: <9 • • Season: 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?

Winter fires may reduce burn severity and extent due to mild conditions season oraftergood spring rains Late wet andearly season dry when there is good soil moisture orearly storm 30/04/13 4:22 PM

38 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 39 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 39 Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • • • Aerial ignition suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

path onto amap oraerial photograph. understanding of terrain) andit is good practice to plot theincendiary drop is recommended (stereoscopic images are particularly useful to gain an drop patterns achieve thedesired burn objectives. Use of aerial photographs It is recommended that anaerial incendiary plan is developed to ensure and creates alandscape mosaic andpatchiness within individual burns. (as opposed to repetitive lighting of main burn operations from firebreaks), Aerial incendiary operations allows for variations inignitionpoints inaccessible terrain. Aerial ignitionis useful intheChannel Country bioregion dueto remote likelihood of rain inthedays post burn. Aim for times when there is visible surface water andwhenthere is ahigh ensure good soil moisture throughout thesite (including drainage lines). Storm burning. It is beneficial to conduct planned burns following rain to species. with thewind) may helpinaddressing theissue of encroachment of woody Creating arunning fire (through closely spaced spot ignitionorline from thenon-target community. lighting patterns along themargin to promote abacking away burns fire that riparian communities can occur adjacent to grasslands. Use appropriate Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities. Insomecases, combination of both. prevailing wind ontheday this may require eitherspot orstrip lighting ora promote alow-severity backing fire. Depending onavailable fuels andthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge to contain thefire and greatly varied mosaic of unburnt andburnt patches. alternatively asingle spot ignitionwill result inalower intensity fire and and create hot junction zones) while increased spacing between spots or closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots merge a range of methods including driptorches, matches andincendiaries. Spots the desired mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas. This can beachieved using Spot ignitionis oftenused to alter thedesired intensity of afire and create

30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 40 Paul Williams, Vegetation Management Science PtyLtd (2004). grass grasslands. Some wind may berequired to ensure thefire will carry. Strip lighting every50to 100meters can beuseful to create apatchy mosaic inMitchell 30/04/13 4:22 PM

40 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands Issue 2: Maintain tussock grass communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 41 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­—Grasslands 41 Issue 3: Manage invasive grasses Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. also promoted by fire. upon the vegetation community inwhich it has invaded. Invasive grasses are dramatically increase fire severity which results in significant damaging impacts It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses, as they can Issue 3:Manage invasive grasses 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 42 required to break-up continuous fuel. suitable tactics. Occasionally, burning within these communities may be limit fire encroachment by burning under suitable conditions and/or using impacts of unplanned fire. When burning adjacent fire-adapted communities, Proactive fire management in surrounding fire-adapted areas will mitigate more vulnerable to fire. season orseasons of rainfall, they may develop acover of fuel andbecome burn. Most areas will not carry fire due to sparse fuels. However, aftera good Most of the species in these communities are fire sensitive—do not intentionally their understanding. guidelines must beconsidered provisional as practitioners continue to refine is limited information ordata on appropriate fire regimes. Therefore these A key fire management issue for all Channel Country fire vegetation groups Fire management issues herbfields, claypans and saltpan scald areas. This fire vegetation group includes forblands, shrublands, vegetated swamps, Chapter 3:Forbland andshrubland communities 1. Issue: Astrebla Downs National Park, 672ha; Goneaway National Park, 266ha. 11 479ha, Munga-Thirri National Park, 8069ha; Bladensburg National Park, 4738ha; Location of this Diamantina FVG: National Park, 129876ha; Welford National Park, 1 for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 6842484ha, 29percent;

Limit fire encroachment into forbland andshrubland communities. Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 30/04/13 4:22 PM 42 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Forbland and shrubland communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 43 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Forbland and shrubland communities 43 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into forbland and shrubland communities controlled). seasons (whenthere is good soil moisture) orinwinter (whenfire is easily impacts of wildfire. These fires should beimplementedafter storms, in wet swamps may occasionally benecessary to reduce fuel loads andmitigate Patchy to low-severity burns intheforblands, shrublands and vegetated Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines of severe, unplanned fires in forbland andshrubland communities. communities is thebest strategy to limit thefrequency andpotential impacts Maintaining appropriate landscape mosaic burning inadjacent fire-adapted shrubland communities Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into forbland and Dale Richter, Queensland Herbarium,140 kmsouth-west of Windorah (2010). A cover of forbs develops rapidly afterrainfall. 30/04/13 4:22 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 44 Dale Richter, Queensland Herbarium, 140kmsouth-west off Windorah (2010). Salt-pan with sparse vegetation that will not carry afire. Robert Ashdown, QPWS, Currawinya National Park (2006). Samphire andotherwetland plants out dry once water recedes. 30/04/13 4:23 PM

44 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Forbland and shrubland communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into forbland and shrubland communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 45 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3—Forbland and shrubland communities 45 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into forbland and shrubland communities QPWS, Diamantina National Park (2005). Maree Rich QPWS, Diamantina National Park (2012). Queensland bluebush, river cooba andcreek wilga shrubland. 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 46 vegetation group within theChannel Country bioregion. communities. Acacia dominated communities are thethird largest fire and false sandalwood Eremophila mitchellii are oftenassociated with acacia Fire-sensitive species such as western dead finish Acacia tetragonophylla grasses, spinifex andshrubs. ground layer is generally sparse (but not always) andmay include tussock may occur as pure stands orinassociation with eucalypts orgrasslands. The Acacia shirleyi andwaddy wood Acacia peuce also occur. Acacia communities georginae, andmulga Acacia aneura. However scattered areas of lancewood The main canopy trees are gidgee Acacia cambagei, Georgina gidgee Acacia This fire vegetation group consists of acacia woodlands andshrublands. Chapter 4:Acacia dominated communities 2. 1. Issues: them from late-season wildfire or to promote ground layer diversity. Open grassy acacia communities may require infrequent patchy burns to protect into these areas). community (as these grasses increase theseverity andability of fire to encroach become established along themargin orhave beenable to penetrate into the communities. This is of particular importance where invasive grasses have frequency, intensity andextent of unplanned fires impacting uponacacia to create alandscape mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas that mitigate the communities; rather, surrounding fire-adapted communities are managed In most instances, fire is not applied directly to acacia dominated their understanding. guidelines must beconsidered provisional as practitioners continue to refine is limited information ordata on appropriate fire regimes. Therefore these A key fire management issue for all Channel Country fire vegetation groups Fire management issues Park, 902ha. Thirri National Park, 10836ha; Lark Conservation Quarry Park, 1223ha; Lochern National 43 355ha; Goneaway National Park, 20 572ha; Welford National Park, 19219ha; Munga- Location of this Diamantina FVG: National Park, 70867ha; Bladensburg National Park, 1 for complete list. Extent within bioregion:

Manage invasive grasses. Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities 6 095786ha, 26percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 30/04/13 4:23 PM 46 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Acacia dominated communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 47 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Acacia dominated communities 47 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia 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 Most acacia communities are fire sensitive. To assist intheirprotection Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities Maree Rich, QPWS, Diamantina National Park (2011). unlikely ever to carry. Mulga, horse mulga, mineritchie andghost gum.Even afteragood season, fire is 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 48 sparse fuels. Maree Rich, QPWS, Diamantina National Park (2011). fire at their base. These Acacia shirleyi are very fire sensitive. These trees were killed by asmall spinifex Maree Rich, QPWS, Diamantina National Park (2011). Mulga and Eremophila dalyana. This community is also unlikely to ever burn dueto 30/04/13 4:23 PM

48 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 49 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Acacia dominated communities 49 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities low- severity fire may occasionally be required to protect it from high-severity wildfire. herbs andmixed shrubs. While fire plays no role inthe recruitment of these species a Bastard mulga, mulga, Bastard Maree Rich, QPWS, Diamantina National Park (2012). recovering from grazing. Fire is undesirable andunlikely to carry inmost years. Gundabluie andwhitewood woodland is just visible inthebackground of this photo. It is Dale Richter, Queensland Herbarium, Flodden Hills Station (2011). Acacia stowardii andmulga Acacia aneura with aground layer of grasses, 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 50 • • • Discussion • • •

for aseedbank to bereplenished inthesoil (DERM2002). required to allow theacacia regrowth sufficient time to recover, mature and proactive fire management approach inthe surrounding areas will oftenbe Be aware that following afire that has affected anacacia community, amore trees are becoming established. it may beimportant to ensure fire does not impact these areas while young years. As recruitment only occurs following occasional highrainfall events, germination which is very occasional andgenerally follows highrainfall and susceptible to frequent and/orintense fire. Fire plays no role intheir Acacias such as gidgee, mulga andwaddy wood Acacia peuce are long-lived fire andthepresence of invasive grasses. is important to beaware of thedominant acacia species, theirresponse to When conducting planned burns inareas adjacent to acacia communities it trees are not damaged by canopy scorch. reduce fuel loads. However, fire severity needs to below to ensure acacia diverse grass layer that requires fire to maintain ground layer diversity and After good seasons, someacacia communities can develop adense and seedlings become established. mitchellii.), implement burns soonafterhighrainfall events, before woody Where woody thickening is anissue (e.g. Acacia cambagei, Eremophila communities to close andbecome amore self-protecting community. Alternatively, along-absence of fire may cause the canopy of acacia fire will retain openacacia communities and control woody thickening. objectives of fire management within that community. Introducing occasional manager needs to beclear about how fire will shape the community andthe Prior to undertaking planned burns inopenacacia communities, theland 30/04/13 4:23 PM

50 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Acacia dominated communities Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into acacia communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 51 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Acacia dominated communities 51 Issue 2: Manage invasive grasses Refer to Chapter 6(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. health anddiversity of acacia communities. damaging high-severity fires that gradually results inthe overall decline of a significant threat by altering fuel characteristics andpromoting acycle of are also promoted by fire. Buffel grass Cenchrus inparticular ciliaris poses upon the vegetation community inwhich it has invaded. Invasive grasses dramatically increase fire severity which results in significant damaging impacts It is important to beaware of thepresence of invasive grasses, as they can Issue 2:Manage invasive grasses 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 52 plains rats anddunnarts that expand out from these areas ingood years. a refuge for In many areas of theChannel Country Bioregion these spring communities are associated with these communities. endangeredof andanumberof rare andthreatened flora/fauna species are burn. IntheChannel Country bioregion, springs have abiodiversity status Most of thespecies inthese communities are fire sensitive. Donot intentionally Fire management issues Artesian Basin discharge areas andassociated vegetated swamps. This fire vegetation group includes mound springs associated with theGreat Chapter 5: Spring communities 1. Issue: important to mitigate potential wildfire impacts. increased, appropriate mosaic burning insurrounding fire-adapted areas is when surrounded by scalded ground. However, where fuel connectivity has Spring communities of theChannel Country bioregion are oftenself-protecting impacts ontheecological functioning of thesprings andrefuge populations.

Limit fire encroachment into spring communities.

small mammal populations such as long-haired rats, leggadina,

Fire 30/04/13 4:23 PM 52 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Spring communities DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 53 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Spring communities 53 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into spring communities spring areas, seeChapter 6(Issue 3),regarding fire management guidelines. In situations where planned burning nearby may potentially encroach into Issue 1:Limit fire encroachment into spring communities Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium (2008). conditions that limit fire encroachment. Springs should not beintentionally burnt.Burn adjacent fire- adapted ecosystems under 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 54 4. 3. 2. 1. Fire management issues: vegetation group chapter. gathered inthis chapter andcross-referenced where relevant ineach fire Rather than repeating these issues for each fire vegetation group, they are management approach is similar irrespective of thefire vegetation group. In theChannel Country bioregion there are someissues where thefire Chapter 6:Common issues 5.

Reduce woody weeds. grasses invasive Manage Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns 30/04/13 4:23 PM 54 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 55 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 55 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns 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 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 56 (Not all of these indicators will apply to everyfire vegetation group) Descriptive indicators of where fire management is required or • • Main indicators of where fire management is required Awareness of theenvironment • • • • •

Shrub branches have 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 firelines within protection zones. Containment hazards (e.g. stumps, logs andstags) are present along fuel load estimation technique). of thesupportingguideline:How to assess if your burn is ready to go, for a elevated fuels andbark hazard) exceeds five tonnes perhectare (see Step 5 The combined accumulation of all fuels (surface fuels, near-surface fuels, 2010b). Note that this is thepreferred assessment method. hazard as pertheOverall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide(Hines et al. elevated fuels andbark hazard) exceeds alow to moderate overall fuel The combined accumulation of all fuels (surface fuels, near-surface fuels, 30/04/13 4:23 PM

56 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 57 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 57 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns Demonstration of thedifference betweenload fuel fuel is arranged norits state orstructure” (Hines et 2010a). al. as tonnes perhectare. Aquantification of fuel load does not describe how the Fuel load weight –“thedry of combustible materials perarea, usually expressed suppression if fuel should beignited” (Wilson 1992a). 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 fuel load (eighteen • • • Discussion Troy Spinks, QPWS (2010). Photo 1a:

Photos 1aand1bbelow) andcan 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: use theOverall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide(Hines et 2010b). al. To estimate fuel hazard (recommended for use inopenforests andwoodlands) The two samples above Troy Spinks, QPWS (2010). fuel hazard. contributes to thedifference in Photo 1b: The fuel arrangement andfuel hazard. 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 58 • • • • What is thepriority for this issue? • •

Very high Highest Priority 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. orchards, apiarysites, major 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. Co-operative 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 structure, usually within wildfire mitigation zones. Planned burn required to mitigate hazard orsimplify vegetation within protection zones. Planned burn required to protect life and/orproperty, usually Priority assessment 30/04/13 4:23 PM

58 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 59 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 59 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns estimations. to thesame location andrecord counts before andaftertheburn to support the walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. Return 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 low. hazard to fuel overall Reduce Measurable Measurable objectives locations. the remaining fuel inat least three assess visually to Go, to isReady Burn Burn guidelines: How to Assess if Your 2010b), or Step 5of theQPWS Planned Assessment Guide(Hines et al. Post fire: use theOverall Fuel Hazard How to beassessed reduced to low. hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel low. has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 60 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 3. 2. 1. There are three options:

burnt within visual field. estimate thepercentage of ground and down oneormore ridges and Walk into oneormore gully heads, visual field. percentage of ground burnt within planned burn area estimating the 300 ormore metres through landform within burn area), walk account of the variability of In three locations (that take burnt. estimate aerial extent of ground From oneormore vantage points, sufficiently limited). wildfire would not be of any subsequent and rate of spread area (theextent extend across the unburnt corridors ofHigh proportion Mosaic <50%. Not Achieved: Mosaic 50–60%. Partially Achieved: 60–80 %. Achieved: Mosaic Zone Wildfire Mitigation sufficiently limited). wildfire would not be of any subsequent and rate of spread area (theextent extend across the unburnt corridors ofHigh proportion Mosaic <80%. Not Achieved: would still belimited. subsequent wildfire of spread of any the extent andrate Mosaic 80–90%, Partially Achieved: Mosaic >90%. Achieved: Protection Zone 30/04/13 4:23 PM

60 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 61 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 61 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Fire frequency /interval • • • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • • • • fuel, good soil moisture is desirable to: Moisture: While theaimof hazard reduction burning is to reduce theamount of Wind speed: Beaufort 1–4,<23km/hr where relights are likely Season: Where possible Autumn-Winter. Avoid periods of increasing fire danger DI (KBDI):<120 FDI: <12 planning. undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto helpwith burn It is important to beaware of conditions priorto andfollowing burns sothat What weather conditions should Iconsider?

but generally towards thelower endof that range. undertaken within therecommended fire interval for thefire vegetation group Wildfire Mitigation Zones: Planned burns within wildfire mitigation zones are relatively low fuel hazard. carried out as soonas possible afterthey can carry a fire inorder to maintain a Protection Zones: reduce elevated fuels andbark hazard i.e. allow fire to run uptrunks. that will promote low a moderate highseverity. to Following this initial burn, aimto reinstate aregime fuels (e.g. whenfirst establishing aprotection zone) theinitial fire may result in Low fuel conditions. favour grasses over woody species as woody species will create undesirable reduce thelikelihood of athicket of woody species developing post fire minimise impact upon habitat trees, soils and otherenvironmental values reduce scorch height andlimit leaf drop post fire for Wildfire Mitigation Zones. Fire coverage of >90percent for Protection Zones orbetween 60–80percent andoccasionally moderate. Where there is ahighfuel load orelevated Fuel management planned burns within protection zones are severity planned burns. Severity should besufficient to 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 62 • • offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of suggested tactics. review andadjust tactics as required to achieve theburn objectives. What is at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During your burn regularly Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? • •

than desired severity with thechance of fire escaping through a spot-over. and thetwo lit lines will converge, creating ahot junction zone andgreater (clear) edge. Caution is required if thearea is small insize oranarrow strip impacts that may result. To create higherintensity, spot light thewindward intensity may berequired. Use with caution andbeaware of environmental 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 consumption of fuel. This tactic ensures thefire has agreater amount of will generally result inamore complete coverage of anarea andabetter A low intensity backing fire. Aslow moving, low intensity backing fire 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 topography, fuel loads etc. regularly vary throughout theburn dueto changes in weather conditions, spots will result inalower intensity fire. The spacing of the spots will merge andcreate hot junction zones), while increased spacing between fuels. Spots closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots particularly where there is ahighaccumulation of available and volatile Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire 30/04/13 4:23 PM

62 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 63 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 63 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites • • Key indicators of Indigenous cultural heritage sites: Awareness of theenvironment during fire strategy preparation will these help to identify places, items and issues. Environment andHeritage Protection (EHP)European cultural heritage branch Affairs (DATSIMA) Indigenous cultural heritage branch andtheDepartment of Owners, theDepartment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander andMulticultural will not bespecifically identifiedin text oron maps). Consulting Traditional to note that somelocations will beculturally sensitive andtherefore theirlocation management. The local fire strategy shouldthese locations identify (it is important sites, items andplaces of Indigenous orEuropean heritage whenplanning fire It is important to have knowledge of thelocation of significant cultural heritage Issue 2:Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites David Cameron, DNRM(2004). their bases. vulnerable to fire if fuel builds uparound shelters. These trees are potentially to make canoes, containers ortemporary Indigenous people scarred trees inorder • • • •

bundles, wrapped material orbones inside. Rock shelters, especially if they have rock paintings, stone tools, artefact debris scattered ontheground can indicate thepresence of shell middens. Raised mounds (especially with visible shell debris), orthepresence of shell of acanoe). The presence of trees that have beenscarred orcarved(e.g. ascar intheshape scattered ontheground. Arrangements of stones orraised patterns earth ontheground, orartefacts Grave sites. Engravings ontrees orrock faces. QPWS, Carnarvon Gorge. radiant heat andsmoke impacts. This rock site art is potentially vulnerable to 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 64 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 (2010). Herbarium, Channel country Dale Richter, Queensland control operations. disturbance during fire be vulnerable to site Aboriginal wells could 30/04/13 4:23 PM

64 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 65 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 65 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites • • • • Key indicators of European cultural heritage sites: Brett Roberts,QPWS, Idalia National Park (2011). fire- vulnerable assets. Some cultural sites may require mechanical removal of fuel priorto aburn to protect

lifting wagon). machinery such as winders (timbertramways), andtimberjinkers (timber (stumps ortrees with axe notches cut into it to support boards), andold Forestry artefacts including marked trees (shield trees), springboard trees Plane wreckage. corrugated iron orwood. Quarries andold mines sites, deepholes sometimes covered with significant site. old machinery andiron debris, may all indicate thepresence of a fence posts, old stock yards, tomb stones, wells, graves, bottle dumps, Ruined buildings, corrugated iron shacks, wooden house stumps, old 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 66 Dale Richter, Queensland Herbarium, Channel country (2010). Old abandoned European artefacts can become overgrown and vulnerable to fire damage. dig tree, Coopers Creek (2009). Bruce Wilson, Queensland Herbarium, adjacent to built uparound thebase of thetree. are vulnerable to fire especially if fuel has Early explorer scar trees ormemorial trees Rob Murphy, QPWS, Poeppels Corner (2009). the fire hazard. protection if vegetation growth increases Iconic structures sometimes need 30/04/13 4:23 PM

66 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 67 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 67 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage 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. 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 68 • • Discussion • • • • • •

shelters) use wind to direct smoke away from thesite. For sites that may beimpacted by smoke (e.g. rock paintings androck to broader-scale planned burns. burnt edge by backing fire away from these locations. Use this tactic prior 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 the site levels thoughmanual, mechanical, orherbicide means oracombination To manage impacts from flameand radiant heat, consider reducing fuel smoke can damage paintings). exfoliate thesurface of rock sites, art flame can crack or burn items and contact with flames, radiant heat andsmoke (e.g. radiant heat can The key risks to cultural heritage sites andartefacts from fire are direct artefacts andsites. spread andseverity of wildfires giving better protection to cultural heritage landscape proactively managed with mosaic burning will helplimit the Large scale wildfires are known to damage cultural heritage values. A 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 coordination units. appropriate people are, refer to theDATSIMA and/orEHPcultural heritage historical societies andcultural heritage If experts. you are unsure whothe Appropriate people may include Traditional Owners, indigenous rangers, places there is aduty of care to ensure appropriate people are involved. When planning burns inandadjacent to sensitive cultural heritage 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 30/04/13 4:23 PM

68 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 69 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 69 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage 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 whole burn area. Return to thesame locations before andafterfire. As required choose three ormore locations that will begood indicators for the Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring section of theQPWS photographs and asmall amount of recorded data. Instructions for establishing points beestablished. Observation points are usually supportedby keep observing theland. To support this it is recommended that observation Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important to Monitoring theissue over time significance. heritage cultural of item orsite No impact on Very high Measurable Measurable Highest objectives Priority conservation significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation values. burns within Protection Zones to protect life, property, and Fuel management through theimplementation of planned photographs before andafterfire. Visual inspection of site oritems taking How to beassessed Priority assessment on site oritem. was significant impact Not Achieved: There Minimal impact. Partially Achieved: on site oritem. Achieved: Noimpact How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 70 Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Fire frequency /interval • • • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Soil Moisture: Ensure good soil moisture Wind speed: <15km/hr and/or radiant heat coming into contact with sensitive cultural heritage sites. Wind Direction: Closely monitor thewind direction to avoid smoke, flame DI (KBDI):<100for areas where there are combustible historic sites. FDI: <11 Season: Favour early season burning andmoist conditions can beavoided to andfollowing burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes When planning aburn it is important to beaware of weather predictions prior What weather conditions should Iconsider? •

overall better protection to cultural heritage artefacts andsites. fuel hazard andthereby limit thespread andseverity of wildfires, giving A landscape proactively managed with mosaic burning will helpreduce heritage sites anditems. If possible, apatchy fire will give greater overall protection to cultural fire vegetation group within the planned burn area. Be guidedby thefire zoning plan and recommendations for the specific Low Burn within theparameters recommended for thefire vegetation group. severity fires will be less likely to impact on cultural heritage sites. 30/04/13 4:23 PM

70 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 71 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 71 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites • • • toolkit of suggested tactics. to achieve theobjectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather a During theplanned burn, tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required same location (e.g. dueto changes intopography, weather and vegetation). Tactics will besite-specific anda range of burn tactics may beneededat the What burn tactics should Iconsider? •

ensure fire severity and rate of spread are kept to aminimum. A low-severity backing fire. Aslow moving, low-severity backing fire can help severity fire, limit the chances of ahigh-severity junction zones developing. cultural heritage sites as it will promote aslow moving andmanageable low- next to asite of interest. Widely spaced spot ignitionis preferred around particularly where there is anaccumulation of available and volatile fuels Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire preferable to leave thesite completely undisturbed. potential impacts. If it is not necessary to manually reduce thefuel level, it is line), trimming orleaf blowing thesurface fuels away from thesite to limit fuel may berequired. This may include theraking, clearing (e.g. rake-hoe cultural significance (e.g. scar trees and rock art sites), manual reduction of Manual fuel management. Priorto undertaking planned burns near sites of extinguished orself-extinguish at thechipped orwet line. chipped orwet linearound thesite sotheresulting backing fire can be the active fireline andsmoke away from the cultural heritage site. Use a Depending ontheconditions, spot light thewindward (clear) edge to direct 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 72 Mark Cant, QPWS (2002). railroad bridge. Manual removal and burning of flooddebris from around the posts of ahistorical Mark Parsons, QPWS, Fishers Creek (2010). Smoke directed away from rock site art during aplanned burn. 30/04/13 4:23 PM

72 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 73 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 73 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups • • Indicators of fire encroachment risk: Awareness of theenvironment where they require additional protection. Tactics such as burning away from these communities can beused insituations to manage fuel around fire-sensitive communities under these conditions. promote fuels inotherwise self-protecting communities. Care should betaken to low fuel loads. Asuccession of highrainfall years orinvasive grasses can be self-protecting if fire is used under appropriately mild conditions ordue and fire-sensitive acacia communities. Whenhealthy these communities may Non-target fire vegetation groups include forblands andshrublands, springs vegetation groups Issue 3:Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire What is thepriority for this issue? • • Discussion • •

Priority within thenon-target fire vegetation group. There is anaccumulation of continuous surface fuels that will carry afire ensure fire extinguishes ontheedge of fire vegetation group. Conditions are not mild enoughand/orfuels are not sufficiently sparse to present, use fire with caution. contribute to thecontraction of acacia communities. If invasive grasses are The presence of invasive grasses increases theseverity of afire and may target andfire-sensitive communities. burning is oneof thebest ways to reduce impacts of unplanned fire onnon- broad scale management of surrounding fire-adapted areas with mosaic to damage non-target andfire-sensitive fire vegetation groups. Proactive (high fuel loads dueto asuccessive highrainfall years), it has thepotential Because wildfire oftenoccurs orotherwiseunder dry unsuitable conditions The non-target community is upslope of aplanned burn area. Invasive grasses are invading fire-sensitive communities. High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas whereecosystem Priority assessment 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 74 Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Bladensburg National Park (2010). burnt andunburnt riparian woodlands. Eucalypt woodland along watercourses are vulnerable to intense fires. Note thepictured David Akers, EHP, Simpson Desert. Adult acacia killed by wildfire. 30/04/13 4:23 PM

74 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 75 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 75 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups or consider formulating your own. objectives found inthe monitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management System If theabove objectives are not suitable refer to thecompendium of planned burn and record counts before andaftertheburn to support theestimations. if visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. Return to thesame location will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations walk around and or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three locations that Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, understorey Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes edge). well-defined (if there is a the edge than 1minto no further penetrates Fire group. vegetation target fire of non- of margin No scorch Measurable Measurable objectives into theedge. fire has penetrated than 1m further locations) anddetermine whetherthe long sectionof themargin inthree representative sections (e.g. a100m of thenon-target community, or very soonafter):walk themargin After theburn (immediately or Or the air. one ormore vantage points,orfrom soon after): visual assessment from After theburn (immediately or very of margin scorched. locations) andestimate thepercentage long sectionof themargin inthree representative sections (e.g. a100m of thenon-target community or very soonafter):walk themargin After theburn (immediately or Or the air. one ormore vantage points,orfrom percentage of margins scorched from soon after): visual estimation of After theburn (immediately or very How to beassessed edge. than 1minto the Fire penetrates further Not Achieved: the edge. thanfurther 1minto Fire penetrates no Achieved: >5%scorched. Not Achieved: < 5%scorched. Partially Achieved: Achieved: noscorch. How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 76 Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • • • Fire severity vegetation group. The below characteristics apply to fires inareas adjacent to thenon-target fire What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS photographs andasmall amount of recorded data. Instructions for establishing points beestablished. Observation points are usually supportedby keep observing theland. To support this it is recommended that observation Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important to Monitoring theissue over time

on non-target fire vegetation groups andfire-sensitive communities. mosaic burning is oneof the best ways to reduce impacts of unplanned fire Proactive broad-scale management of surrounding fire-adapted areas using the movement of wildfire into fire-sensitive communities. Aim for thehigherendof therecommended mosaic, as this will helpmitigate Consult therecommended mosaic for thefire vegetation group being burnt. scorch of thenon-target areas). (in which case, appropriate tactics andmoisture conditions will helplimit saplings inthearea being burnt ahigherseverity fire may be required good coverage (refer to the mosaic sectionbelow). If there are overabundant the objective of limited fire encroachment. A backing fire will help ensure A Low -severity fire in adjacent fire-adapted communities will help achieve 30/04/13 4:23 PM

76 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 77 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 77 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups consider using tactics outlinedbelow. Soil Moisture: If fuel moisture within afire-sensitive community is insufficient, Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–3,or<15km/hr DI (KBDI):Refer to relevant fire vegetation group FDI: Refer to relevant 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? (1995). QPWS, Mariala National Park riparian communities. limit potential impacts to adapted communities will low inadjacent fire- fires. Keeping fuel loads vulnerable to intense Riparian habitats are 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 78 • • • What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of suggested tactics. review andadjust tactics as required to achieve theburn objectives. What is at thesame site (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During your burn regularly Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed

have safe refuges whenundertaking this typeof burning. conditions that can draw fire away from non-target areas. It is important to edge. When more than onelineof ignitionis used it can create micro wind Use Strip ignitionto draw fire away from thenon-target community’s the edge andgenerally self-extinguish, particularly during winter. during this periodwill assist inpromoting low-severity fires that trickle along communities can beundertaken late intheafternoon. The milder conditions Afternoon ignition.Planned burning inareas adjacent to non-target combination of both. prevailing wind ontheday, this may require eitherspot orstrip lighting ora promote alow-intensity backing fire. Depending onavailable fuels andthe Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge to establish thefire and perimeter burn from theedge of non-target community to protect its margins. during conditions dry orwhere there is continuous fuel, use alow-intensity Do not create arunning-fire. When burning inadjacent fire-adapted areas Test burn thesite to ensure non-target communities will not beaffected.

30/04/13 4:23 PM

78 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 79 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 79 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses • • • • • • • • • much easier if theirpresence is detected early. Key indicators: Note: beonthelookout for newly forming stands; control is Awareness of theenvironment presence of highbiomass grasses during planned burn operations. where cattle orkangaroos camp under trees. It is important to beaware of the result of disturbance andspread along firelines, roads andutility easements or leading to increased fire severity and rate of spread. They tend to occur as a matter than native grasses, increasing fuel-loads, spotting andflameheight— Cenchrus grass is buffel ciliaris.Invasive grasses generally produce more dry stands. The main invasive grass of concern intheChannel Country bioregion Exotic grasses are capable of out-competing native species to form dominant Issue 4:Manage invasive grasses

dominated stands). High biomass grasses generally form amonoculture (single species infestation. The presence of highbiomass grasses, usually occurring inadense 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 prevent theencroachment andestablishment of invasive grasses. The closed canopy of healthy, mature acacia stands will oftensuppress and communities. and fragmentation of theextent, and/or loss of apopulation of fire-sensitive and causing theloss of mature trees. This contributes to thegradual decline also increase therisk of wildfires carrying into the canopy of the community Invasive grasses cause the progressive loss of fire-sensitive communities and which may favour its andfurther spread. or killed) andotherfactors such as fire severity and weather conditions become familiar with theresponse of this grass to fire (e.g. if it is promoted Prior to undertaking planned burns inareas where invasive grasses occur, established. if theirpresence is detected andaddressed early before it has become biomass grass infestations (Melzer andPorter2002).Control is ofteneasier (e.g. roadsides) andareas adjacent to ordownstream from existing high in disturbed areas, particularly those where disturbance is ongoing Be onthelook out for newly forming stands andbeespecially vigilant Have alot of mass and/ordead material. Generally taller than native species. 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 80 Buffel grass Cenchrus grass Buffel ciliaris • • • • • • • •

burns whenconditions are mild, may assist inachieving alow rain. Any fire applied to buffel should beof alow severity. Using night time for sometimeas buffel grass will usually germinate enmasse afterfire and aware that follow-up spraying of theaffected site will needto becontinued assist infacilitating othercontrol methods such as spraying orgrazing. Be recommended as atool onits own for reducing buffel grass, but fire may The use of fire to control buffel grass is oftendebated. Fire is not poses athreat by altering fuel dynamics (connectivity, biomass and height). Where buffel grass occurs within oradjacent to fire-sensitive communities, it 2010). to carry afire at much intervals shorter than native grasses (Miller et al. suitable for germination (e.g. good soil moisture). Buffel grass has theability advantage over native grasses which lived are andrely shorter onconditions The regenerative traits of buffel grass means that it has acompetitive to thecontinuous flammable cover in spinifex communities. Buffel grass has adeeproot system andcan expand into bare areas adding et 2010). al. conditions (e.g. consecutive years of above average summer rainfall) (Miller It may beslow to establish but will spread quickly afterfavourable seasonal live upto 15–20 years), that has become widespread intheChannel Country. Buffel grass is along-lived perennial invasive grass (individual tussocks may and Fairfax 2003). with herbicide andinsomeinstances grazing (Melzer andPorter2002;Butler margin. Othertechniques which may beeffective include slashing, spraying to burn away from thenon-target community andlimit edge effects onthe within thesite andinsurrounding areas by implementing appropriate tactics of fuel management. This may involve implementing mild or‘cool’ fires both fire-sensitive communities) theaimof the land manager oftenbecomes one Once anarea has beenimpacted by invasive grasses (inparticular within with wildfire. conditions with planned fire is more desirable than allowing them to burn be considered. Insomesituations, burning highbiomass grasses under mild however therisk of wildfire later producing aneven higherseverity fire must due to thelikely increase infire severity andthepotential to promote them; In many cases, it is desirable to avoid burning high-biomass invasive grasses firelines and roads andshould be washed down after exposure. biomass grasses. Fire vehicles andmachinery can aidseedspread along Be aware of weed hygiene issues whenplanned burning inareas with high -severity burn. 30/04/13 4:23 PM

80 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 81 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 81 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses Buffel grass, ahigh-biomass invasive grass is outcompeting native grasses inthe Justine Douglas, QPWS (2011). Buffel grass can recover quickly afterfire. Note old clumps and regrowth post fire. Leasie Felderhof, Firescape PtyLtd (2010). grassland community. 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 82 Jenny Milson, DAFF (2010). The flowers and clumping form of the buffel grass tussock. 30/04/13 4:23 PM

82 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 83 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 83 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses Choose from below as appropriate: estimations. to thesame location andrecord counts before andaftertheburn to support the walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. Return locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? the burn. the result of increased as hasnot grass invasive of Distribution Measurable Measurable objectives Priority High potential of control can beconsidered. grasses sothat theirnegative effects can bemanaged andthe It is important to beaware of thepresence of high-biomass species. post burn distribution of theweed photographs. Compare thepre and the invasive grass inthearea 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) 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 84 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable refer to thecompendium of planned grasses. invasive of in density reduction Significant to low.to communities non-target adjacent to of fuels Reduction • • • • Victoria Protocol [Parks Victoria 1995]): using thefollowing criteria (from Parks define thedensity of theinfestation conditions andgrowing season): suitable germination/establishment Before andafter theburn (after option is given here. Protocol (Parks Victoria 1995).One Pest Plant Mapping andMonitoring publications such as theParks Victoria Seek advice from resource staff and/or locations. the remaining fuel inat least three assess visually to Go, to isReady Burn Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your 2010b), or Step 5of theQPWS Planned Assessment Guide(Hines et al. Post fire: use theOverall Fuel Hazard

nearly so)of target weed. Dense (>75%)=monoculture (or and native species. equal proportions of target weed Medium (25–75%cover) =roughly abundance than target weed. species have much greater Light (5–24%cover) =Native plantsrare. very Rare (0–4%cover) = Target weed reduced to low. hazard has not been Not Achieved: Fuel low. has beenreduced to Achieved: Fuel hazard density gets worse. category orweed change indensity Not Achieved: No fire). fire to light afterthe from dense before the category’ (e.g. goes ‘drops’ one‘density Weed infestation Partially Achieved: after thefire). before thefire to light (e.g. goes from dense ‘density categories’ infestation ‘drops’ two Achieved: Weed 30/04/13 4:23 PM

84 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 85 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 85 Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses Dependant uponobjective of burn, seediscussion above. Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Dependant uponobjectives of burn, seediscussion above. Fire frequency /interval invasive grasses should beburnt inways that minimise fire severity. This will dependonthespecies of invasive grass being targeted. Ingeneral Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters achieved andto ensure invasive grasses donot re-establish at thesite. continue to monitor thesite to ensure theobjectives of theburn have been When using fire to reduce thedensity of invasive grasses, it is important to ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS photographs andasmall amount of recorded data. Instructions for establishing points beestablished. Observation points are usually supportedby keep observing theland. To support this it is recommended that observation Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important to Monitoring theissue over time tactics below). Wind speed: Beaufort 1–2,or < 10km/hr(unless arunning fire is desirable, see DI (KBDI):<100 FDI: <7,low to moderate Season: Winter burning may provide conditions that limit fire severity. wildfires. with burn planning. Drought conditions may also lead to poorresults and/or undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of conditions priorto andfollowing burns sothat What weather conditions should Iconsider? 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 86 • issue. this with assist may that tactics suggested of toolkit achieve burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive; rather it is a tactics being used will beongoing andwill needto beadjusted as required to and variations inthe vegetation. During theplanned burn, thereview of the implemented at thesame site dueto changes inthetopography, theweather Tactics will besite specific andoftendifferent tactics will need to be What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • • •

or alternatively using lineorstrip ignition. sufficiently cured. This can beachieved by the shortening spacing of lit spots though theinfestation if weather conditions are too mild orgrasses are not the season. Conditions which favour arunning fire will help thefirecarry Running fire. For many invasive grasses it is recommended to burn early in of spread is kept to aminimum. available fuels, particularly fine fuels, while ensuring fire intensity and rate ensures thefire has agreater amount of residence timeand reduction of coverage of anarea andabetter consumption of available fuels. This tactic (e.g. against thewind orslope) will generally result inamore complete A low-severity backing fire. Aslow moving, low-severity backing fire loadsetc. fuel vary throughout theburn dueto changes inweather conditions, topography, between spots will result inalower intensity. The spacing of thespots may particularly where there is aninvasive grass infestation. Increased spacing Spot ignition.Can beused effectively to alter the desired intensity of afire successful andthebuffel does not re-establish. will require monitoring to ensure control activities have beencompletely to bedoneanumberof times). The successful treatment of these grasses apply herbicide to theseedlings orrecovering grass clumps (this may need As partof acontrol program. Apply alow severity burn inbuffel grass and may have devastating impacts uponthenon-target community. the area affected by buffel resulting inahigh-severity fire that potentially fire management in surrounding areas to limit the chance of fire carryinginto out anddisadvantage buffel grass. Be aware that this tactic will still require would remain unburnt long enoughto form aclosed canopy that may shade other acacias to out-compete buffel grass. Ideally theacacia community area may provide theopportunity for species such as mulga, brigalow or Fire exclusion. With regards to buffel grass, fire exclusion from aninfested 30/04/13 4:23 PM

86 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 4: Manage invasive grasses DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 87 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 87 Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds spreading into theChannel southandfurther Country bioregion. in the Thompson River as far as Jundah. Andhas the potential to continue shrubland/woodlands inwhich fires become difficult to reintroduce. It occurs native species, form dense thickets andeventually replace grasslands with Prickly acacia is particularly damaging to grasslands where it can shade out occurs west of Winton ontheopenflood plains of theDiamantina River. stands. Trees are scattered, but occur inlarge infestations where found. It parkinsonia but can also invade opengrasslands dry andis able to form dense Prickly mimosa Vachellia farnesiana grows insimilar circumstances to has potential spread. for further Isolated but dense infestations occur below Windorah ontheCooper creek. It through displacement of native species, erosion andclogging of watercourses. and inwetlands, endangering many threatened species andcommunities Parkinsonia forms dense thickets particularly along water courses, floodplains of somespecies. Prosopis spp. are also found but are less common. Fire may assist in thecontrol of these have thepotential to spread. Otherwoody weeds such as mesquite scattered distribution within theChannel Country bioregion; however, most parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata andprickly acacia Vachellia nilotica have a Vachellia farnesiana (sometimes known as prickly mimosa, mimosa bush), Issue 5:Reduce woody weeds 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 88 using fire orfire alone would be insufficient: Key indicators of woody weeds insituations where care should betaken in • • • • Key indicators of where woody weeds can bemanaged with fire: Awareness of theenvironment Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, 30kmeast of Hughenden(2011). on mature plants. be auseful tool to control saplings andseedlings; however it is much less effective Prickly acacia is of particular concern to native grasslands. If detected early, fire can • • • •

of control methods is required. Control of woody weeds cannot beachieved using fire alone.A combination be limited. Woody weeds occur infire-sensitive vegetation and/orfire spread cannot Soil moisture is low. Woody weeds occur inareas of insufficient fuel to sustain fire. control method(e.g. parkinsonia is affected with parkinsonia dieback). biocontrol agents are present which increase theeffectiveness of fire as a grass fuel crumbles inthehand meaning it is sufficiently cured to firecarry occurrence of woody weeds grass orforbland fuels are sufficiently continuous to firecarry despite the in fire-sensitive vegetation woody weeds occur infire-adapted vegetation orfire extent canbelimited 30/04/13 4:23 PM

88 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 89 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 89 Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds Moorinya National Park. Eleanor Collins, QPWS, Mature parkinsonia. Moorinya National Park. Eleanor Collins, QPWS, Parkinsonia flowers 30/04/13 4:23 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 90 Jenny Milson, DAFF (2009). invaded by mesquite Country have been Areas of theChannel Jenny Milson, DAFF (2012). saplings andseedlings. be used to control the detected early, fire can native grasslands. If particular concern to Prickly acacia is of 30/04/13 4:24 PM

90 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 91 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 91 Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds Parkinsonia • • • • • • Discussion • • • • •

increase accessibility. into thewoody weeds may reduce thearea requiring chemical treatment or control could also beuseful where grasses abut aninfestation. Abacking fire or chemical control may benecessary. Acombination of fire and chemical In areas where woody weeds have shaded out native grasses, mechanical chance of re-establishing. soil is moist to allow native species, especially grasses andforbs, thebest Planned burning inareas with woody weeds is best conducted whenthe Young plants/seedlings of woody weeds are more easily controlled with fire. Care needs to betaken newinfestations to identify of weeds as they emerge. emerge orplants resprout. is dependant onspecies). Follow upfires may be required should seedlings plants of somewoody weeds where sufficient fuel is available (success rate A single fire can be used to reduce oreliminate seeds, seedlings and young do socould result inworsening theexisting infestation. ensure accurate identification before trialing any control method. Failure to Many species of woody weeds appear similar andcare should betaken to information used to guidefuture fire management. Any results of fire use on parkinsonia should be recorded andthis through thesoil infecting nearby trees. of dieback. Inwell established areas of dieback, thefungus will spread Brown staining within thestems andbranches may also beagood indicator the tips of thebranches, with dead leaves remaining attached to theplant. Parkinsonia affected with thedieback will appear to bedying back from promote therapid spread of this pathogen amongst thesurviving plants. Where ‘parkinsonia dieback’ (asoil-borne fungus) is present, fire seems to the viability of seeds remaining suspended ontheplant. Fire will kill seeds onorclose to theground andhas beenshown to reduce tracks, andshould bewashed down afterexposure. Fire vehicles andmachinery can aidseedspread along firelines roads and Be aware of weed hygiene issues whenburning inareas with woody weeds. fire in to these communities. sensitive communities. Dead plant material orhigh-severity fire could draw Care should betaken using fire where fire-adapted communities abut fire- 30/04/13 4:24 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 92 Mesquite Mimosa bush orprickly mimosa • • Prickly acacia What is thepriority for this issue? • • •

Medium Priority fires inmesquite with ahigh fuel load remaining have beeneffective. Fires needto beof ahighseverity. DNRM(2003)found that late season dry and follow-up control may berequired. of 2cm; however seedlings from undamaged seeds may appear afterthefire Fire can also assist indepleting thesoil seedbank by killing seeds to adepth out. dry fire to carry, orinareas that have first been chain pulled and allowed time to mesquite is at low andmediumdensities where sufficient fuel remains for also beused to control someshrub-form species. It is more effective when Fire is most effective onthetree-form of mesquite Prosopis pallida, but can information is available onits distribution. response to fire. Vachellia farnesiana is found within thebioregion but little layer andprevent dense infestations. Record observations of this species observations suggest repeated fire may keep this species low intheground from thebase, however few published studies are available. Anecdotal Fire may not beauseful control methodfor this species as it resprout’s management as seedlings andsaplings are much more susceptible to fire. from thebase. Early detection of aninfestation is thekey to successful particularly fire resistant. Where top kill has occurred they tend to resprout Prickly acacia seedlings are known to be fire killed however mature plants are High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment 30/04/13 4:24 PM

92 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 93 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 93 Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds Choose from below as appropriate: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes plants. or mature and young saplings seedlings, number of reduction in > 60% Measurable Measurable objectives been killed. saplings/seedlings/mature tree have after fire estimate what percentage of density within burn area), 1 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 fire was too severe. the plants and yet the have killed most of good outcome if you *It is not necessarily a < 40%plants killed*. Not Achieved: killed*. 40–60 %plants Partially Achieved: > 60%plants killed*. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 30/04/13 4:24 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 94 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time 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

nearly so)of target weed. Dense (>75%)=monoculture (or cover. proportions of native to ¾weed Medium-Dense (51–75%)=equal weed to native species. weed cover to equal proportions of 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 30/04/13 4:24 PM

94 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 95 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues 95 Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds Fire severity Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • • Key factors What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • •

regime for thefire vegetation group. Continue Monitoring the issue over time. remove theinfestation. Once resolved, re-instate therecommended fire the seedbank). Insomecases fires further may be required to completely control (e.g. mature plants have re-sprouted orseedlings emerged from Apply afollow upburn if theobservations indicate that theissue is not under the issue. vegetation group inwhich woody weeds occur may besufficient to control In somecases, applying therecommended fire frequency for thefire increase its effectiveness. should beconducted as soonas possible once aninfestation is detected to Seeds, seedlings andsaplings are most vulnerable to fire. Planned burning weed occurs. within therecommendations for thefire vegetation group inwhich the woody in combination with highsoil moisture. Fire severity should generally remain a slow moving backing fire with good residence timeat the base of the plant, Low the canopy is scorched. For somespecies, amoderate high-severity to fire may be required to ensure to moderate to . Inotherspecies best results have beenachieved utilising 30/04/13 4:24 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 96 and 30ºC). achieved using low humidity andhightemperatures (e.g. 20percent humidity Other considerations: Insomewestern areas, better outcomes have been fire will carry). infestation (denser infestation may require somefanning by wind sothat the Wind speed: <23km/hr. Variable depending onobjective anddensity of the DI (KBDI):80–180 GFDI: <20 Season: Early toandoccasionally mid-dry late-dry season. with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider? • • • • suggested tactics. burn objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of burn tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve the at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). Also, during the Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider?

mechanical methods could beused. out grasses limiting fuel available for fire, initial herbicide treatment or As partof acontrol program. Inareas where dense woody weeds shade killing seeds, seedlings, young andsomemature plants. a greater residence timeat ground level andhas proven to besuccessful in with good soil moisture (andpresence of sufficient surface fuels), ensures in theunderstorey, aslow moving, low to moderate severity backing fire A low to moderate-severity backing fire. Where woody weeds are scattered of low fuel ordense thickets orincrease scorch of trees. A running fire of ahigherseverity may berequired to carry fire through areas follow-up moisture to encourage grass re-establishment. Storm burning may provide suitable conditions for woody weed control with 30/04/13 4:24 PM

96 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Common issues Issue 5: Reduce woody weeds DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 97

97 Channel Country 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 30/04/13 4:24 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

99 Channel Country 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 30/04/13 4:24 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 DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 100 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 30/04/13 4:24 PM 100

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101 Channel Country 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 30/04/13 4:24 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 DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 102 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 30/04/13 4:24 PM 102

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103 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Glossary of fire terminology spread (ROS) Rate of burning Progressive Planned burn plants Perennial Patchiness species) regenerating seed (obligate seeders Obligate Mosaic burn Terminology hour. specified partof thefi re perimeter, defi ned as metres per The forward progress perunit timeof thehead fire or another behaves differently indifferent seasons. 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 afine 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 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 30/04/13 4:24 PM Testfi re Strip burning Scorch height humidity (RH) Relative 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, Definition spread (ROS) Rate of burning Progressive Planned burn plants Perennial Patchiness species) regenerating seed (obligate seeders Obligate Mosaic burn Terminology hour. specified partof thefi re perimeter, defi ned as metres per The forward progress perunit timeof thehead fire or another behaves differently indifferent seasons. 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 afine 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 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 DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 104 Testfi re Strip burning Scorch height humidity (RH) Relative 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, Definition 30/04/13 4:24 PM 104

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105 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: References Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal, vol. 60,pp. 1–14. Lucas C 2010,‘Ondeveloping ahistorical fire weather data-set for Australia’, 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 Management Branch, Department of Sustainability andEnvironment, Victoria. guide, 1st editionApril 2010,Fire andadaptive management reportno. 82.Fire Hines F, Tolhurst K, Wilson AandMcCarthy G2010a,Fuel hazard assessment spp. manual mesquite: control and management options for mesquite (Prosopis Department of Natural Resources andMines (DNRM),2003,Best practice Brisbane. to priority species of the desert channels NRMregion. Queensland Government, Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2010c,Threats Queensland Government, Brisbane. Procedural guide–Management ofcultural heritage places onQPWSestate, Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2010b, Queensland Government, Brisbane. Operational policy –Management ofcultural heritage places onQPWSestate, Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2010a, Currawinya National Park fire strategy, Queensland Government, Brisbane. Department of Environment andResource Management (DERM) 2002,Draft- and Wildlife, Queensland Government, Brisbane, unpublished works. management based regional ecosystems -draft for comment, Queensland Parks Crowley G2003,Brigalow belt northrecommendations for ecological fire Communities, Attorney Conservation Act 1999, Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Commonwealth of Australia 1999,Environment Protection and Biodiversity Restoration, vol. 4,pp. 120–125. woodland: acase study from central Queensland’. Ecological Management and Butler DW andFairfax RJ2003, ‘Buffel grass andfire inagidgee andbrigalow terminology, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, Canberra. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) 2012,Glossary ofrural fire References ) inAustralia, Queensland Government, Cloncurry. ‑ General’s Canberra. Department, 30/04/13 4:24 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 106 Parks Victoria1995, vol. 5,pp.13–19. appacea (Curly Mitchell grass) afterburning’, Australian Rangelands Journal, Scanlan JC 1983,‘Changes intiller andtussock characteristics of Astrebla l Australian Rangelands Journal , vol. 2,pp. 162–168. in north-west Queensland under varying levels of growing season rainfall’, Scanlan JC 1980,‘Effects of spring wildfires grasslands onAstrebla Grass) (Mitchell bioregional ecosystems, Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland. Sattler Pand Williams R(eds.) 1999,Theconservation status ofQueensland’s layer,6.1, Queensland version Government, Brisbane. remnant vegetation communities and regional ecosystems ofQueensland spatial Queensland Herbarium 2011b(16 September), Survey and mapping of2006 version 6.0b,Department of Environment andResource Management, Brisbane. Queensland Herbarium 2011a,Regional ecosystem description database (REDD), Brisbane. communities and regional ecosystems spatial layer, Queensland Government, Queensland Herbarium 2010(20August), Draftpre-clearing vegetation Government, Brisbane. Queensland Government 2004,Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, Queensland 2003 fire-invasion feedback?’ TheRangeland Journal, vol. 32,pp. 353–365. (Cenchrus ciliaris L.)invasion incentral Australia –does field evidence support a Miller G,Friedel M,Adam PandChewing V 2010,‘Ecological impacts of buffel grass unpublished work. on conservation reserves, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane, Melzer RandPorterG2002,Guidelines for the management ofbuffel grass Wildlife Service, Brisbane, pp. 52–58. Queensland Fire Research Workshop, Charleville, Queensland National Parks and conservation reserves inthearidandsemi-arid regions of Queensland’, Fifth Wilson BA 1992b, ‘Theecological background to thefire management of Management Branch, Department of Sustainability andEnvironment, Victoria. guide, 1st editionApril 2010,Fire andadaptive management reportno. 82. Fire In: Hines F, Tolhurst K, Wilson AandMcCarthy G2010a,Fuel hazard assessment Management Branch, Department of Conservation andEnvironment, Victoria. management needs and practical research objectives, research reportno. 31,Fire Wilson AAG1992,Assessing the fire hazard onpublic lands in Victoria: fire Parks Victoria. Parks Victoria pest plant mapping and monitoring protocol , 30/04/13 4:24 PM 106

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107 Channel Country 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 Non-remnant Acacia dominated communities Grand Total Other Bioregion Grasslands Forbland andshrubland communities Eucalypt woodlands Fire vegetationgroup Hectares within the Channel bioregion Country 23 293392 6 095787 9 551637 6 842485 209 040 556 530 37 804 Percentage 26.17 41.01 29.38 0.16 0.90 2.39 100 30/04/13 4:24 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 108 1 3 2 Chapter 2 1 1 1 Issues Forbland and shrubland Grasslands Eucalypt woodlands communities Fire vegetation group

Forblands and shrublands Tussock grasslands Spinifex grasslands Eucalypt woodlands Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 5.9.3x1, 5.7.10,5.7.9,5.9.3,5.9.3a,5.9.3b,5.9.4,5.9.4x1. 5.6.8b, 5.7.3,5.7.4. 5.6.5, 5.6.5b,5.6.6,5.6.6a,5.6.6b,5.6.7,5.6.8,5.6.8a, 5.3.8b, 5.3.8c,5.3.20,5.3.20a,5.3.20b,5.3.20c. 5.3.1, 5.3.2,5.3.3,5.3.4,5.3.5,5.3.6,5.3.7,5.3.8,5.3.8a, 5.3.17a, 5.3.18,5.3.18a,5.3.18b, 5.3.19,5.9.5. 5.3.15, 5.3.15a,5.3.15b,5.3.16,5.3.16a,5.3.16b,5.3.17, 5.3.12, 5.3.12a,5.3.12b,5.3.13,5.3.13a,5.3.13b,5.3.14, 5.3.21, 5.3.22,5.3.22a,5.3.22b,5.3.22c,5.6.1,5.7.11, (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 30/04/13 4:24 PM 108

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109 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems 4 5 Chapter 1 1 Issues Acacia dominated Springs communities Fire vegetation group

Springs Acacia communities Fire regime group

Map label (if required) 5.3.23. 5.7.5, 5.7.6,5.9.3c,5.7.8,5.9.1,5.9.1x1,5.9.2. 5.6.4a, 5.7.1,5.7.7,5.7.7x1,5.7.12,5.7.13,5.7.14,5.7.2, 5.5.3, 5.5.4,5.5.5,5.5.6,5.5.6a,5.5.6b,5.6.2,5.6.3,5.6.4, 5.3.9, 5.3.9a,5.3.9b,5.3.9x1,5.3.10,5.3.11,5.5.1,5.5.2, (Sattler and Williams 1999; Queensland Herbarium Regional ecosystems 2011a; 2011b). 30/04/13 4:24 PM DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 110 (20 August 2010). the Draft Pre-clearing Vegetation Communities andRegional Ecosystems layer and Regional Ecosystems of Queensland spatial layer (16 September 2011)and version 6.1of the Survey andMapping of 2006Remnant Vegetation Communities The RE’s listed below donot have any matching records inthespatial data of section indicates if theRE is not of amappable size orif it has beenmoved. In theRegional Ecosystems Description Database (REDD)system, thecomments as asub-dominant RE within thespatial data ortheRE has not yet beenmapped. been moved’ (i.e. it has beenreclassified into anewRE code), theRE exists only spatial data. This may bebecause theRE is ‘not of amappable size’, theRE ‘has Some of theregional ecosystems (RE)listed above will not bematched inthe Ecosystems” layer (20August 2010)(refer to Figure 1). Cover 2006”layer (16 September 2011)andthe“Draft Pre-clearing with Regional The spatial data is based on version 6.1of the“Queensland Remnant Vegetation Unmatched regional ecosystems 5.6.8a, 5.6.8b,5.9.3b,5.9.3c,5.9.4x1,5.3.15b,5.7.10. 5.3.1, 5.3.17a,5.3.23,5.3.9a,5.3.9b,5.3.9x1,5.5.6b,5.6.5b, 30/04/13 4:24 PM 110

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111 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 1–List of regional ecosystems pr Figur oduc e 1: e thes M ap of p ati Queen al fi

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produce thespatial fire vegetation group mapping product. Figure 1:Map of Queensland indicating thedifferent GIS data sources used to DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 112 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 30/04/13 4:24 PM 112

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113 Channel Country 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

30/04/13 4:24 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

DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 114 Figure 4:Planned mosaic burn—year 28. Figure 3:Planned mosaic burn—year 20. 30/04/13 4:24 PM 114

Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 115

115 Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning Alicia Whittington, QPWS, Bladensburg National Park (2010). 60 percent coverage across thelandscape. Mosaic burn onBladensburg National Park (spinifex community) showing ~ Wildfire andmosaic burn patterns overlaid (with years since last burnt). Figure 5:Fire history summary—year 28. 30/04/13 4:24 PM Wildfire andmosaic burn patterns overlaid (with years since last burnt). Figure 5:Fire history summary—year 28. DEPNP10068_bp2016_CHANNEL COUNTRY PBG D4.indd 116 30/04/13 4:24 PM 116

Channel Country Bioregion of Queensland: Appendix 2–Mosaic burning 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

www.nprsr.qld.gov.au

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