KAKADU NATIONAL PARK Arnhemland Plateau Fire Management Plan
KAKADU NATIONAL PARK and the TROPICAL SAVANNAS COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE Aaron Petty Jessie Alderson Rob Muller Ollie Scheibe Kathy Wilson Steve Winderlich
Kakadu National Park Arnhemland Plateau Draft Fire Management Plan
by Aaron Petty, Tropical Savannas CRC Jessie Alderson, Kakadu National Park Rob Muller, Kakadu National Park Ollie Scheibe, Kakadu National Park Kathy Wilson, Kakadu National Park Steve Winderlich, Kakadu National Park
KAKADU NATIONAL PARK PO Box 71 Jabiru, NT 0886 Australia
© Kakadu National Park, 2007.
Cover: Map of endemicity (the number of unique species not found anywhere else) for the Northern Territory. The red focus is the Arnhemland Plateau. Image is from Woinarski et al. (2006). Reprinted with the kind permission of CSIRO Publishing. Preface: Recommendations and acknowledgments As the image on the cover of this plan indicates, the Arnhemland Plateau is truly unique. In the past it has perhaps been under-appreciated because of its isolation and distance from our day to day lives. However, it is in many respects the Northern Territory’s Amazon: a region of unparalleled diversity and beauty that is worth protecting at all costs. The purpose of this management plan is to set a framework for monitoring and managing the Plateau that will hopefully prove useful for coordinating fire management and monitoring its success. A few of the techniques recommended, particularly increased emphasis on walking, and the introduction of fire suppression, have been talked about but perhaps not emphasized enough in the past. Integrating management of the Plateau as a whole unit rather than by district is an important development of this plan, to be sure. However, the overall strategy for managing the Plateau is not new, and has been within the collective wisdom of Park rangers and managers for at least the past decade. This begs the question of why fire continues to plague the Plateau, and why the state of the Plateau is of grave concern to scientists, land managers and traditional owners. Poor communication in the past and the difficulty of managing fire in such a fire-prone and remote environment certainly play a role. However, from discussions with rangers across the Park, it is clear that there are severe time and resource constraints on getting adequate fire breaks on the Plateau. Given the biological and cultural significance of the Plateau I would strongly encourage Park Management and the Board to make sure that adequate resources and funding are allocated to implementing the steps in this plan. If that means justifying more funding from Canberra, or even from external agencies, the background sections of this plan make a good start. I would also suggest that Kakadu model the success of the weeds management team in allocating a group of full-time employees who are committed to managing the Arnhemland Plateau. Again, given the significance of the Plateau I think the allocation of additional staff can be easily justified. Strong consideration should be given to employing most, if not all, of these employees from bininj/mungguy community as it is they who have expressed the most concern about appropriate management of the Plateau, and who have expressed a strong desire to revisit such an important part of their country. The ranger groups of Arnhemland, and in particular the WALFA program, may provide examples and lessons on how to implement such a program correctly, and this could become a great source of pride for the bininj/mungguy community. This plan benefited from the input of many people. I would like to thank Kym Brennan, Dave Liddle and John Woinarski of the Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts; Peter Cooke, Jeremy Russell- Smith, Stephen Sutton, and Felicity Watt of the Northern Territory Bushfires Council; Scott Laidlaw of the Department of Environment and Heritage; and Sally-Ann Atkins, Anne Ferguson, Terry Hill, Jason Koh, Jeff Lee, Suthida Nou, and Anna Pickworth of Kakadu National Park for their help and advice. The opinions expressed in this preface are my own, but the report is the work of myself and the Kakadu Plateau fire plan steering committee: Jessie Alderson, Rob Muller, Ollie Scheibe and Kathy Wilson. The process was implemented and driven by Steve Winderlich. It is intended that this plan will be reviewed every three years. This will ensure that management of fire on the Anrhenland Plateau is adaptive and incorporates any new research or operational developments. Aaron Petty Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre Charles Darwin University 28 April 2007
i ii 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 5
1.1 INTERPRETATION ...... 6 1.2 CLIMATE...... 7 1.3 GEOLOGY...... 8 1.4 GRASS AND FIRE ...... 9 1.5 HISTORY OF FIRE MANAGEMENT ...... 10 2 OBJECTIVES ...... 12
2.1 MANAGEMENT PLAN ...... 12 2.2 EPBC ACT REQUIREMENTS...... 13 2.3 NT BUSHFIRES GUIDELINES ...... 14 2.4 IMPACT ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES ...... 15 2.5 THRESHOLDS OF CONCERN...... 16 2.6 KEY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES ...... 16 3 TOURISM ...... 17 4 CULTURAL VALUES AND ASSETS ...... 18
4.1 FIRE AND CULTURE ...... 18 4.2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ...... 18 5 FLORA ...... 18
5.1 ESCARPMENT PLANT COMMUNITIES...... 20 5.2 RARE, THREATENED AND ENDEMIC FLORA...... 23 5.3 INVASIVE PLANTS (WEEDS) ...... 26 6 FAUNA ...... 27
6.1 RARE, THREATENED AND ENDEMIC FAUNA AND FIRE TOLERANCE ...... 28 6.2 EXOTIC FAUNA...... 30 7 FIRE MANAGEMENT ZONES ...... 31
7.1 INTRODUCTION ...... 31 7.2 PROTECTION ...... 31 7.3 MITIGATION...... 32 7.4 CONSERVATION ...... 33 8 UNPLANNED IGNITIONS AND NEIGHBOURING LANDS...... 33
8.1 BININJ IGNITIONS ...... 33 8.2 NEIGHBOURING LANDS ...... 33 9 TRAINING...... 34 10 FIRE PLANNING AND PROCEDURE...... 34
10.1 ASSET PROTECTION...... 36 10.2 GROUND BURNING ...... 36 10.3 AERIAL BURNING ...... 38 10.4 WET SEASON BURNING ...... 41 10.5 FIRE SUPPRESSION...... 41 11 MONITORING AND REVIEW OF FIRE PLAN...... 42
11.1 FIRE SEASON MONITORING AND REVIEW ...... 42 11.2 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ...... 42 11.3 GROUND BASED DATA COLLECTION DURING THE FIRE PROGRAM...... 44 11.4 VEGETATION MAPPING...... 46 11.5 ANNUAL MEETINGS...... 46 12 REFERENCES: ...... 46
iii APPENDIX 1: LIST OF ASSETS...... 50 APPENDIX 2: OPERATIONAL OUTLINE ...... 54 APPENDIX 3: DISTRICT FIRE PLAN MAP...... 58 APPENDIX 4: WALKING FIRE PLAN MAP...... 59
FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURE 1: THE ARNHEMLAND PLATEAU BIOREGION...... 6 FIGURE 2: VEGETATION CLASSES AND FIRE FREQUENCY THRESHOLD...... 22 FIGURE 3: KNOWN INFESTATIONS OF EXOTIC PLANTS IN THE PLATEAU REGION ...... 26 FIGURE 4: LOCATION OF FIRE PLOTS...... 43
TABLE 1: THE GUNDJHEIMI SEASONAL CALENDAR AND FIRE SEASONS...... 8 TABLE 2: PROPORTION OF VEGETATION THAT IS WITHIN FIRE FREQUENCY THRESHOLDS...... 16 TABLE 3: FIRE THRESHOLDS BY VEGETATION COMMUNITY...... 20 TABLE 4: FLORA OF CONSERVATION CONCERN IN THE PLATEAU REGION...... 24 TABLE 5: DATA DEFICIENT SPECIES...... 25 TABLE 6: FAUNAL SPECIES OF MENTION ON THE ARNHEMLAND PLATEAU...... 28 TABLE 7: FAUNA OF CONSERVATION CONCERN ON THE PLATEAU...... 28 TABLE 8: GUIDELINES FOR PRIORITISING FIRE MANAGEMENT...... 35
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1 Introduction The Arnhemland Plateau is a geologic feature unique in the world. Its 34,000 km2 contains the highest plant and animal endemism (species not found anywhere else) in the Northern Territory (Woinarski et al. 2006), and a collection of pre-historic and historic art sites that is the equal of any in the world (Jones and Negerevich 1985). One major plant community, Allosyncarpia forest, is found only on the Plateau. The sandstone heath vegetation of the Plateau is the most biodiverse plant community in the NT, and among the most biodiverse in tropical Australia. Its waterfalls and spectacular gorges provide unparalleled amenity value for Park visitors. Moreover, it is of immense cultural and spiritual value to Bininj/Munnguy who traditionally traded, hunted, walked and/or lived throughout the escarpment.
Gradually, from 1974 to 1987, the westernmost section (15%) of the Arnhemland Plateau was incorporated into Kakadu National Park. Today the Plateau is jointly managed between Park Staff and the Bininj/Munnguy residents of Kakadu. Fire management is a key component of the land management of the Plateau. The goals of fire management are to:
Use fire to break up continuous layers of fuel into smaller patches (create a fire mosaic).
Maintain vegetation communities within acceptable fire regime thresholds.
Reduce the incidence of late dry season fires, which are more damaging to vegetation than early dry season fires (Yates and Russell-Smith 2003; Russell- Smith et al. 1998).
Coordinate between neighbouring groups to manage the Plateau as an entire bioregion.
Protect archaeological and art sites from damage or destruction from fire.
Maintain the biodiversity of the Plateau.
Otherwise comply with the Kakadu Management Plan, the EPBC Act and Commonwealth Law regarding management of the Plateau.
Continually monitor fire management practices and update fire strategy with the best available information.
Two major fires that occurred in 2004 and 2006 burnt substantial areas of the plateau and necessitated a revisit of Park management of the Plateau. This plan is a result of that, and is intended as a tool to aid in management of the Plateau. We recognise that fire is an inherently dynamic ecological process and that an overly prescriptive plan would be doomed to failure. Therefore we have incorporated significant flexibility with regard to the implementation of this plan.
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Figure 1: The Arnhemland Plateau Bioregion. KNP = Kakadu National Park; WAL = West Arnhemland Fire Abatement Region; Nitmiluk = Nitmiluk National Park
1.1 Interpretation For this fire plan we follow the terminology of section 2.3 of the 2006 Kakadu Management Plan. Additionally, this document uses the following terminology:
Arnhemland Plateau, alternately the Escarpment, or the Plateau – the sandstone massif that dominates the landscape of south-eastern Kakadu (described in section 1.3).
Early Dry Season (EDS) fires – fires occurring after the cessation of wet season rains and before 1 August.
Late Dry Season (LDS) fires – fires occurring after 1 August but before regular wet season rains commence (usually in November or December).
Fire Mosaic – a difficult and contentious scientific concept, but for the purposes of this plan, a desirable state where adjacent patches of vegetation have different fire histories.
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Specifically, differences in the mean time between fires over the past 27 years (mean interval between burns) and differences in the last fire free interval (time since last burnt). An appropriate scale for these vegetation patches is not well defined, but on the order of 500 m (0.25 km2) is probably optimal for most small mammals (Woinarski, Milne, and Wanganeen 2001).
Sorghum – an annual fire-tolerant and fire promoting grass. Named by the NT herbarium as Sorghum intrans, but renamed by some as Sarga intrans.
Spinifex – several species of perennial clumped grass with very stiff blades. Not true Spinifex spp. but Triodia spp.
Wet season fires – fires that are carried primarily by old growth in areas that didn’t burn in the previous dry season. This allows the fire to carry through new growth formed from the start of regular rains.
1.2 Climate As with all of Kakadu, rainfall on the Arnhemland Plateau is highly seasonal, with 90% of the annual rainfall falling between the months of November and March. Zero rainfall during June, July and August is common. The average annual rainfall in Jabiru is 1485 mm (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014198.shtml). Temperatures are warm throughout the year with a slight drop in night time temperatures during the dry season.
Wind direction and humidity are also highly seasonal. Dry season winds typically come from the southeast, and tend to be slightly stronger and more persistent than wet season winds. Mean afternoon humidity likewise drops during the dry season (Gill, Moore, and Williams 1996).
This combination of vigorous wet season growth followed by a long seasonal drought, low humidity and consistent winds create conditions that readily support fire. The 3 PM Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) for Jabiru increases from 3 in January to over 20 from September to October (Gill, Moore, and Williams 1996). Additionally, the south- easterly winds predominant during the dry season tend to bring fires from the Katherine/Bulman region towards the plateau region of Kakadu (see Fig. 1).
Fire severity tends to increase as the dry season progresses. Research on lowland savannas in Kapalga show that fire intensity and fire risk increase gradually through August and peak in September and October (Williams, Gill, and Moore 1998; Gill, Moore, and Williams 1996). Williams et al. (2002) report a fourfold increase in fire intensity from fires occurring in early June to those occurring in late September, although intense fires can occur at any time of the year. As a result of this and other research, the date of 1 August has been widely used for management purposes as the cut-off date between early dry season (EDS) and late dry season (LDS) fires.
Russell-Smith and Edwards (2006) used char height as a proxy for fire severity and found that Plateau vegetation in particular was highly affected by seasonality. However, there is a risk with over-reliance on seasonality as a rule-of-thumb indicator
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of severity; other factors, particularly fuel type, time since last fire, time of day, and wind strength, are as important (Bowman, Walsh, and Prior 2004).
The Gundjheimi recognise six seasons that neatly capture the changing fire weather conditions, and are a useful guide for planning contemporary fire management (Table 1).
Table 1: The Gundjheimi seasonal calendar and fire seasons. All columns except “contemporary management” are derived from Russell-Smith et al. (1997).
Season Typical Gregorian Traditional fire season Contemporary Months management Gudjeuk Jan. – Mar. Heavy monsoon rains Wet season burning make fires difficult. time. Banggerreng Mar. – Apr. Sorghum dies and dries Burning program up –fires are possible on begins. dry days. Yegge May – June Dry southern winds make Widespread early widespread fires possible season burns are “Burning grass time.” concentrated at this time. Wurrgeng June – Aug. Very dry conditions lead Strategic fire program to widespread fires focuses on most during the day. However, vulnerable areas. dew during cool nights extinguishes most fires. Most perennial grasses have cured. Gurrung Aug. – Oct. Hot, dry time – fire Period of greatest risk intensity and spread of hot late season fires increases. More care is from the south and taken with fires. southeast. Gunumeleng Oct. – Dec. Lightning fires are Continued risk of hot common. Rain will bring late season fires “green-pick” and attract declines as rainfall and game after fires. humidity increase. Wet season burning may begin.
1.3 Geology The Arnhemland Plateau is the dominant landscape feature of the southern and eastern portions of Kakadu. It is formed of quartzite sandstone deposited 1700 million years ago (the Kambolgie formation). Twenty-five to 10 million years ago these deposits uplifted to 200 – 300 + metres above sea level. Where the underlying rocks are weak, the Plateau has collapsed, creating numerous steep cliffs and fissures (Russell-Smith, Needham, and Brock 1995).
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Soils are often absent on the Plateau. Where they do occur they are often thin veneers of sand no more than 150 cm thick. Of note are the sandsheet plains where erosion of the plateau has filled basins adjacent to the Plateau. These sheets are extremely laterized, or leached of nutrients, and form unique savanna communities that can be very sensitive and slow to recover from intense fires (Russell-Smith, Needham, and Brock 1995).
The ruggedness, poor soils and isolation of the Plateau are probably responsible for its high biodiversity and endemism. The plants of some communities, particularly sandstone heath, are adapted to the unique conditions of the Plateau. The high number of obligate seeder species (sandstone heath, as well as Callitris intratropica woodlands) indicate that fire frequencies on the Plateau were historically much lower than in the lowlands. Additionally, the numerous fissures and cliffs of the Plateau provide natural fire breaks within which we find fire sensitive vegetation communities that do not persist on the lowlands (e.g. Allosyncarpia ternata and other rainforest communities).
Also of note to fire management are the scree slopes lying along the Escarpment wall. These patches of broken rubble and sand support sufficient savanna vegetation to create “wicks” that carry fire up to the Plateau from the lowlands. However, they also contain numerous sensitive and threatened plant species (e.g. boronias) and communities (particularly Allosyncarpia) and must be managed with great care.
1.4 Grass and fire Fire is carried by vegetation and the type of vegetation determines the type of fire. In the tropical savannas of north Australia, virtually all fires are ground fires and are carried by grasses. On the Plateau, there are two principal grass species of note, sorghum and spinifex. These grasses have very different life histories which result in very different fire characteristics.
Sorghum is an annual grass that rapidly grows in the wet season, then dies and drops its seeds late in the wet season (usually March and April). Areas that are dominated by sorghum can form nearly homogenous beds of fuel very rapidly; fuel load (which increases fire intensity) increases to up to 4 tonnes/ha one year after a fire (Andrew and Mott 1983). If left unburnt fuel loads will increase to a maximum of 6 tonnes/ha after two years, but decline thereafter (Russell-Smith et al. 1998). Critically, with frequent fires sorghum readily outcompetes other grasses, particularly perennial grasses. Sites in Munmarlary that had annual fires were dominated by sorghum after five years. Sites that had biennial fires were not dominated by sorghum, although sorghum abundance would increase the year following a fire (Russell-Smith et al. 2003).
Spinifex, by contrast, is a perennial grass that grows more slowly than sorghum, but fuel loads will increase the longer it is left unburnt. Hence the fuel load in stands of spinifex will be about 4 tonnes/ha two years after a fire, but if left unburnt for ten years will reach 10 – 20 tonnes/ha. Also, spinifex grows in clumps (“hummocks”) and does not form the continuous bed of fuel that sorghum forms. This makes patches of spinifex less likely to carry fire than sorghum even when fuel loads are equal.
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The growth pattern of spinifex results in relatively infrequent fires because it takes some time for sufficient fuel to develop to carry a fire. By contrast, sorghum promotes frequent fires, and does quite well under an annual fire regime. Spinifex is associated with sandstone heath vegetation that requires infrequent fires (at least 3-5 years) to reproduce (section 5.1). It is reasonable to expect that sandstone heath co-exists with spinifex because their fire characteristics are complementary. Sorghum, however, poses a significant threat to sandstone heaths. There is some concern that sorghum has expanded into some heath communities, particularly on deeper soils.
1.5 History of fire management Globally, tropical savannas are highly fire prone and fire dependent. Fire regimes (the frequency and seasonality of fires) are highly variable in savannas and highly susceptible to human modification and, hence, historical change. No where is this more true than northern Australia. On most other continents, particularly in Africa, fire patterns are mitigated by grazing from large herbivores (McNaughton 1985). By contrast, Australia has had no large grazers since the Pleistocene (Mulvaney and Kamminga 1999).
For simplicity, we discuss two major historical shifts in the fire regimes of the Top End. The first was the arrival of humans in the Pleistocene 50,000 years ago. Although there were probably many shifts in the intervening years, the second well-known shift occurred with the arrival of European settlers and concurrent feral animals in the mid- 1800s.
Pre-contact Humans first arrived in Kakadu at least 50 thousand years ago (Mulvaney and Kamminga 1999). Prior to their arrival, all landscape fires would have occurred late in the dry season (October to December) with the arrival of early wet season convection storms. We expect that fires were much more intense at this time, and the patch size of individual fires would have been much greater.
It is likely that the arrival of humans significantly shifted the fire regime towards more frequent fires, earlier in the dry season. The number of fires almost certainly increased substantially. However, the size of individual fires decreased such that the overall fire regime was much more heterogeneous (Lewis 1994; Russell-Smith et al. 1997; Haynes 1985).
As in the lowlands, ignition sources, particularly in the early dry season, were probably concentrated along walking routes and campsites. Fires were also lit late in the dry season for large “fire drives” that concentrated kangaroo and other game animals and released new herbaceous growth after early wet season rains. Frequent fires along these routes probably created consistent fire breaks that prevented the spread of fires later in the dry season.
Post-contact Following the European colonisation of the Top End, the biggest change to fire management of the Plateau was Aboriginal depopulation. Aboriginal peoples
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conducted widespread burning throughout the Plateau region until 1900, when the Aboriginal population had declined significantly throughout the Alligator Rivers Region. Although some people remained on the Plateau, this left significant areas unburnt early in the dry season and vulnerable to widespread and severe fires late in the dry season.
Cattle and buffalo both came to the Plateau in the early Twentieth Century, and would have reduced the abundance of grasses, and probably reduced the frequency and intensity of fires. In 1915 and 1934 respectively the southern section of the Plateau was divided into two grazing leases: Goodparla (3300 km2) and Gimbat (2700 km2). The combination of Jawoyn moving off country and changes in grass composition likely dramatically changed the fire regime in these regions.
Fire was used by the pastoralists as a tool to aid mustering. By reducing fuel loads it was easier to ride and/or drive over the land. Some burning was done to entice animals to areas for muster; for example, Goodparla had a 1 in 3 yr mustering cycle for areas away from the South Alligator River. By contrast areas near the South Alligator River probably burnt annually.
From 1979 to 1987 Gimbat was not actively managed for fuel reduction and consequently Gimbat was exposed to widespread hot fires, although these were potentially mitigated by the impact of grazing (section 6.2). Points of ignition of these fires were primarily from adjoining leases to the south and southeast.
When these leases were incorporated into Stage 3 of Kakadu, the unmanaged Arnhem Plateau was a source of significant concern. Several scientific studies documented damage to vegetation communities due to changes in fire management, including monsoon rain forests (Russell-Smith and Bowman 1992; Russell-Smith 1984), Allosyncarpia forests (Russell-Smith et al. 1993; Bowman 1994) and Callitris woodlands (Bowman et al. 2001; Price and Bowman 1994).
There is a consensus that fire frequencies should be reduced on the Plateau. Sandstone heath and Callitris communities are burning at frequencies that are unsustainable in the long term, and should be reduced to less than once every five years. Savanna vegetation is approaching an annual burning regime – now exceeding two out of three years on average in the lowlands, and likely exceeding that in areas that are used as fire breaks. Such fire frequencies promote annual spear grass, inhibit annual grasses (including spinifex) that benefit many animal species, and cause the decline of woody vegetation, particularly obligate seeders such as sandstone heath and callitris. The key objective of this fire plan is to reduce fire frequencies, particularly on sandstone heath and savanna vegetation (section 2.6).
Today fire management of the Plateau is primarily done by helicopter. There is a growing awareness, particularly among bininj, of the need to resume ground based burns on the Plateau and several walking trips are planned for the near future. The perception is that helicopter burning has shifted fire regimes on the Plateau towards earlier, smaller, and more heterogeneous fire regimes. However, the evidence that this has been successful is scant. Russell-Smith et al (1997) show a shift towards more
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early season fires for two years: 1991 and 1992, but fire patterns shift again towards more late season fires in 1993 and 1994. Price et al (2005) do show an increase in heterogeneity, but for the Park as a whole. They give no indication if patterns were the same for the Plateau. Edwards et al. 2003 show a slight decline but no significant change in the percentage of Plateau vegetation burned from 1980-2005. Nevertheless, in 2004 and 2006 late season fires burnt over 80% of the Plateau and it is clear that no fire management of the Plateau would be disastrous. For the foreseeable future, helicopters will remain an important tool to ensure that sufficient fire breaks are in place on the Plateau.
2 Objectives
2.1 Management Plan Section 5.7 of the Kakadu Management Plan sets the broad goals for fire management in the Park. These goals are summarized below:
Planning
Unplanned, large late season fires on the Plateau are to be prevented through proactive management.
Fire management must be considered in a wider regional context. Closer liaising with neighbouring communities and regional organisations is essential.
Traditional burning practices are recognized in fire management programs and should be incorporated into Park fire programs. Bininj are to be actively consulted and involved in the development, implementation and monitoring of any fire program.
Aboriginal sites and sites of historic significance need to be protected from fire.
The interaction of exotic grasses and fire needs to be considered.
Long term fire strategies will be prepared by each district or identified area. Plans are to consider the impact of fire on different vegetation communities and include desired cultural and biodiversity aims identified by Bininj and Park Staff.
Protection of cultural and environmental assets, including rock art sites and rare and threatened species and vegetation, will be a priority.
Implementation
Fire programs are to be implemented safely and include emergency response and fire protection plans for all Park assets.
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All staff are to be appropriately trained in the use of equipment, incendiaries, GIS and database management, monitoring techniques and OHS requirements relevant to fire.
Fire management will be carried out in a manner consistent with the Bushfires Act (NT) so far as practicable.
Ignition points are to be documented.
Continued communication with neighbouring landholders and the Bushfires Council is essential.
Monitoring
Fire programs are to be reviewed annually and lessons learned incorporated into next year’s burning program.
Research and long-term monitoring programs are essential in assessing the efficacy of fire management programs.
Improved understanding of the effects of weeds on fire regimes and the effects of fire on weed distribution is needed.
Public relations
Tour operators and visitors need to understand the role of fire in land management.
2.2 EPBC Act requirements The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act provides for the protection of matters of National Environmental Significance (NES – see below for a partial list of NES matters that apply to Kakadu). Activities that are deemed to impact on NES matters are termed “controlled” actions and are subject to regulation under the EPBC act. Additionally, under section 28 of EPBC Act, the Commonwealth must not take an action that has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. The definition of environment under the Act includes:
a. Ecosystems and their consistent parts, including people and communities; and
b. Natural and physical resources; and
c. The qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas; and
d. Heritage values of places; and
e. The social, economic and cultural aspects of a thing mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
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Fire is a large scale ecological management tool and can have an impact on all of these matters. Any deviation from this fire plan that has the potential to impact on any NES or Commonwealth matter should be treated as a controlled action and one should consult the impact assessment guidelines (section 2.4). Further details on the EPBC act and impact assessment procedures can be found in the KNP internal document Guidelines for Assessment of Activities/Proposals.
NES matters Ramsar Wetlands and listed migratory species–the Ramsar listed wetlands of Kakadu are found in the lowlands, however the Plateau also consists of numerous wetland areas in its own right, and contains the sources for most of the rivers that feed lowland floodplains. Thus, impacts upstream in the Escarpment will carry downstream to the floodplains. This was evident during the 1980s, when buffalo-caused erosion on the Plateau carried sediment into the lowland billabongs, including Jim Jim Billabong near Yellow Water (D. Linder, pers. comm.). Both the Plateau and the floodplains are a significant habitat for migratory bird species.
World Heritage – all of Kakadu National Park is listed as a UN World Heritage site of internationally significant biological and cultural values. The Arnhemland Plateau is particularly noteworthy in containing high biodiversity, high endemism and a large number of archaeological and art sites (see sections 4 through 6).
National Heritage – at present there are no National Heritage Listed sites in Kakadu, although some sites are listed “for consideration.”
Nationally listed endangered species and communities – The nationally listed endangered species and communities that occur on the Plateau are listed in sections 5.2 and 6.1.
2.3 NT Bushfires guidelines
Provisions for Kakadu The Bushfires Council of the NT bushfires management strategy adopts policies and principles that are complementary to Kakadu’s Plan of Management. These include the recognition that traditional burning is still practised on Aboriginal land, including KNP. It is the responsibility of individual landholders to manage fire on their land, provide for the maintenance of natural ecosystems, and ensure the protection of life and property.
Kakadu lies in the Arnhem Fire Control Area. Fires may be legally lit without a permit by landowners and managers of Kakadu except when the the Park is declared by the relevant NT Minister a Fire Danger Area. Kakadu is generally a Fire Danger Area from the start of July and until the end of December. Fires may be lit during this time but only with a permit and in accordance with the conditions of that permit. Permits are issued by appointed Fire Wardens. There are currently two appointed Fire Wardens in Kakadu.
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Provisions for Kakadu and Adjacent Lands Neighbouring landholders, both within and adjacent to Kakadu are responsible for fire management on their land. Landholders should establish firebreaks and/or reduce flammable fuels on their land. Establishment of a firebreak or fuel reduction can be enforced under the Bushfires Act.
Under the Bushfire Act (NT) any landholder who lights a fire must give all neighbours of adjoining parcels of land at least 48 hours notice of their intention to burn. They must also stay with their fire until that fire is extinguished. The Bushfires Act also says that a person must not set fire to or cause a fire to be set to another persons land or property. This is the case regardless of whether a firebreak exists or not.
The Bushfires Act also places legal responsibility upon the landholder and user of a fire to notify the Bushfires Council and affected neighbouring landholders as soon as they become aware that their fire is likely to spread to other land.
2.4 Impact assessment guidelines The implementation of fire plans should be considered a “routine action” under the plan of management “Guide to Decision Making” (Plan of Management: Table1 , Section 4.1). All changes to the plan, including annual strategic planning should be considered “non-routine.” When developing annual plans, staff should consider the potential impacts using the following guidelines:
Does the district have the latest fire history information?
Does the plan include adequate safeguards for protecting life and assets?
Will the fire program result in vegetation exceeding acceptable fire thresholds (section 2.5)?
Is there a risk of fire impacting on archaeological or art sites?
Is there a risk of fire impacting on the known locations of threatened flora or fauna?
What is the risk of unplanned fire resulting in vegetation exceeding acceptable fire thresholds, and does the plan mitigate against that risk?
What is the risk of unplanned fire resulting in damage or destruction of archaeological or art sites and does the plan mitigate against that risk?
Does the plan coordinate with neighbouring landholders under the Arnhemland Plateau coordinated management program (section 8.2)?
What are the resources required to implement the plan? Is the plan achievable?
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2.5 Thresholds of concern The establishment of ecological management thresholds (or “thresholds of concern”) will be the key means of operationalising the requirements of the management plan and EPBC act with regards to protection of natural and cultural resources in the Park.
For this plan, thresholds of concern will be set as the minimum acceptable fire intervals to maintain specific vegetation community types (see section 5.1). Although fire is important for maintaining most plant communities in Kakadu, we do not set maximum fire interval thresholds because the highly fire prone environment makes very long fire- free intervals unlikely. Where they occur, localised patches of long-unburnt vegetation are generally beneficial for increasing the overall mosaic of vegetation states. It is not always the case that vegetation that is long unburnt is a fire risk. In particular, long-unburnt sorghum will often develop an understory that is less flammable over time. Also, long unburnt patches are an integral part of the mosaic that maintains biodiversity in Kakadu. Rangers should carefully assess the degree to which a long unburnt vegetation patch poses a fire risk before burning.
These thresholds are set using the best available scientific information combined with the most up to date information on fire history. As part of the monitoring and review process thresholds may be updated to reflect changes in current thinking on vegetation community dynamics. Fire histories will be updated annually.
2.6 Key management objectives
Table 2: Proportion of vegetation that is within fire frequency thresholds. Count indicates the total number of 250m2 pixels. Section 5.1 provides details on the derivation of community types and fire frequency thresholds. Severely overburnt vegetation is vegetation that has exceeded the median range for overburnt vegetation within a given class.
Fire sensitive All veg Fire tolerant (inc. heath) Heath only Within threshold 55% 60% 38% 39% Overburnt 44% 39% 59% 58% Severely Overburnt 1% 1% 3% 3% Total Count 123,195 95,235 27,960 17,531
There are substantial areas of the Arnhemland Plateau where the fire frequency over the past 17 years is unsustainable. Of particular concern are heaths and other fire sensitive vegetation where almost 60% of the vegetation is overburnt (Table 2; section 5.1 provides a full description of vegetation communities and fire frequency tolerances). The key objective of this fire plan is to reduce the fire frequency on the Arnhemland Plateau, particularly for fire sensitive vegetation. To that end there are two key indicators of success which focus on reducing the proportion of sandstone heath that are overburnt, and the overall frequency of overburnt communities on the Plateau:
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Reduce the proportion of sandstone heath that are overburnt or severely overburnt from the present total of 58%.
Reduce the overall proportion of overburnt vegetation from the present total of 44%.
Meeting this objective will be challenging, and may require a re-think of some Park practices of the past, including:
Ground burning: Increased use of ground-based burning is an effective means of filling in gaps from aerial burns, is the only means of monitoring vegetation condition, and is more subtle than helicopter burning for breaking up vegetation with high fuel loads. Greater sophistication and flexibility in burning also facilitates burning of small patches through the LDS.
Fire seasonality: There are no indications that traditional Aboriginal management relied on burning only in the EDS. Rather, the creation of a fine- scale mosaic reduced the extent and destructive capacity of LDS fires. Proper application of LDS fires, particularly by extending ground-based burning through August will ease time constraints on implementing the management plan and will result in more small-scale burns that will prevent large-scale burns in September and October and reduce overall fire frequency.
Fire suppression: When a fire threatens to burn a large proportion of the Plateau, fire suppression may be the only means of prevention, and should be considered as a viable alternative to the “let it burn” policies of the past. In conjunction with wet season burning, this may be a viable means of reducing fire frequency on savannas and restoring the balance of perennial grasses and sorghum. A budget will be allocated for fire suppression and areas to concentrate fire suppression should be identified in August (see sections 10.5, 11.1 and Appendix 2).
3 Tourism In concordance with the Kakadu Management Plan, the threat of fire on the amenity value of the park should be mitigated through public relations, particularly expanded information about the rationale, means, and outcome of the Escarpment fire management program.
All care should be taken to to minimize risk to walkers. District staff should be in communication with the Permits Officer about the location of bushwalkers before implementing burns. District managers may close access to regions, typically for a period of two weeks, to carry out this fire plan.
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4 Cultural values and assets
4.1 Fire and culture ‘We Aboriginal people have obligations to care for our country, to look after djang, to communicate with our ancestors when on country and to teach all of this to the next generation.’
- combined statement from the Aboriginal members of the Kakadu Board of Management (2006 Kakadu Management Plan, p. 2)
A key aspect of Kakadu’s cultural heritage is the living participation of Aboriginal people in managing their land. Fire management remains one of the key obligations of bininj when looking after country, as is indicated by the significance of fire within the Gundjheimi seasonal calendar (table 1). This value has been enshrined in the Management Plan, as well as a resolution from the 2002 Board of Management:
Using fire to manage country is one of the main ways traditional owners exercise their rights and obligations as traditional owners and this job has shifted to parks. The Board resolved that this work and responsibility has to go back to traditional owners, acknowledging that there will be a need to protect visitors, visitor facilities and other building assets from fire. Whenever park staff are involved in firework, this has to be in full consultation with relevant traditional owners.
One issue of concern among a broad spectrum of traditional owners is the perceived over-reliance on helicopters at the expense of ground based burning. This was a frequent subject during consultations with bininj for this Plan, and was reported in a 1999 document, An-Wurrk dja Gunak, produced by WWF and Kakadu National Park.
Kakadu will continue to facilitate bushwalking programs. These will be coordinated with neighbouring groups and Aboriginal associations including the Jawoyn Association, Demed Association, and the Northern Land Council.
4.2 Archaeological sites The Plateau contains an extraordinary collection of archaeological and art sites that show “one of the oldest developmental sequences of art in human history” (Jones and Negerevich 1985). The Park maintains a database of these sites, however many have not yet been mapped. Traditionally, most of these sites were visited regularly by bininj and kept free of brush and debris. Today, fire poses a potential risk to these sites due to the build up of fuel. In addition to implementing ground-based burning, walking will be used to monitor the status of art sites the level of risk from fire at these sites, and to clean and maintain these sites.
5 Flora The plant communities of the western region of the Arnhemland Plateau are astonishingly diverse. They include several endemic plant communities, including closed forests dominated by Allosyncarpia ternata (Bowman 1991). Additionally, the
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sandstone heaths of this region are the most biodiverse of any tropical heath community (Dunlop and Webb 1991; Woinarski et al. 2006). Such high diversity is due in part to the diversity of fire regimes that flourish here and enable the coexistence of plant communities with widely different fire tolerances. Many animal species rely on this heterogeneity to provide refuges from fires, continuous access to resources throughout the year, and corridors for travel.
For purposes of fire management we’ve classified the Plateau vegetation communities into three groups: fire tolerant, obligate seeder† and fire intolerant (see Table 2 and Fig. 2). Plateau vegetation communities are defined by the vegetation classification of Schodde et al. (1987). Schodde’s map is the best currently available although it suffers from some limitations, including poor spatial resolution and vegetation classes that are often very broad. We supplement Schodde’s map with more recent maps from Russell-Smith (unpublished) and Blake (Blake 2004). It is expected that a more comprehensive classification and mapping system for the Plateau will be available soon (section 11.4).
Although vegetation maps are a useful tool, the reality is that vegetation on the Plateau does not form discrete boundaries, but intermixes quite frequently. This is particularly true for sandstone heath vegetation, which can and does intermix with savanna and rainforest communities. Reliance on remotely sensed vegetation and fire data is no substitute for intelligent fire management informed by experience.
Thresholds for fire management have been applied to each of the three classifications based on the best available scientific evidence. These thresholds are:
a. Fire tolerant: Fires no more frequent than once every two or three years.
b. Obligate seeder: Fires no more frequent than once every five years, or ten years for Callitris.
c. Fire intolerant: Fires no more frequent than once every ten years. Fires will very rarely move in to the interior of patches of fire intolerant vegetation, but attention should be paid to the vegetation boundaries.
Sand plain & Marrawal Plateau: These two land types deserve special mention as they have over the recent past been subjected to hot fires. Areas of the Marrawal Plateau in particular shows destructive scars on Callitris intratropica stands. These areas may require more attention. They are particularly at risk from external fires entering from Kakadu’s southern boundary. The Marrawal Plateau is particularly difficult to burn because it and the adjoining region are difficult to burn early in the year, and have an enhanced fire risk as they dry out late in the year.
† Plants that do not resprout, but must reproduce by seed.
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5.1 Escarpment plant communities Table 3: Fire thresholds by vegetation community.
Fire Fire Threshold ‡ Threshold Vegetation (average years Citations (% of years between fire) where burnt) (Sharp and Bowman 2004) Fire tolerant vegetation Plateau and sub-Plateau Open Forest 50% 2 (Schodde) Woodland, Dry Woodland, Hill 50% Woodland, Dry Hill Woodland 2 (Schodde) 33% Sandstone Woodland (Schodde) 3 Myrtle-Pandanus Savanna 33% (including M-Pand 3 Sav/Paperbark/Coast Rainforest – Schodde) 33% (Williams 1984) Paperbark Forest (Schodde) 3
Obligate seeder communities 20% (Price, Russell-Smith, and Edwards 2003; Russell-Smith, Heathland (Blake) 5 Ryan, and Cheal 2002; Russell- Smith et al. 1998, Blake 2004) 20% Mixed Heathland/Woodland (Blake) 5 10% Mixed Heathland/Rainforest (Blake) 10 10% (Prior, Bowman, and Brook Callitris woodland (unmapped) 10 2007) (Banfai and Bowman 2006; Fire intolerant vegetation Russell-Smith 1984; Russell- Smith and Bowman 1992) 10% (Bowman 1994, 1991; Allosyncarpia closed forest (JRS) 10 Fordyce et al. 1997; Russell- Smith et al. 1993) 10% Spring Rainforest (JRS) 10 10% Dry Rainforest (JRS) 10 10% Kakadu River Rainforest (JRS) 10
‡ Citation for vegetation community map is provided in brackets: “Schodde” indicates Schodde et al. (1987); “JRS” indicates Jeremy Russell-Smith (unpublished); “Blake” indicates Blake (Blake 2004).
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Fire tolerant vegetation Plateau and sub-plateau open forest. This community is similar to lowland savanna and is dominated by Eucalypts, particularly E. tetrodonta, E. miniata and C. ferruginea. It occurs in areas with deep soils and has a grassy understory that often has a strong sorghum component and high fuel loads. It is this community that is most likely to carry extensive fires across the Plateau and is the main focus of strategic burning to break up fuel loads. Schodde (1987) distinguishes between these vegetation types and their lowland counterparts based on elevation, but floristically they are identical.
Woodlands, dry woodlands and hill woodlands: these communities are commonly found on hills and valleys associated with the Plateau. Woodland trees are generally not as tall as open forest, and consist of a mix of bloodwoods in wetter habitats (Corymbia polycarpa, C. ptychocarpa, C. latifolia, and C. ferruginea), eucalypts in drier habitats (E. phoeneicea, E. porrecta, C. bleeseri, E. miniata and E. tetrodonta) and ironwood (Erythrophleum chlorostachys) in both.
Sandstone woodlands are widespread on the plateau and occur on rocky areas with little soil. They are comprised of low growing Eucalyptus phoenicea, C. dichromophloia and E. miniata, with a spinifex understory. Shrubs are common and this vegetation type merges into the Mixed Heathland/Woodland community type (Blake 2004 – see below). The main concern with this vegetation type from a fire management perspective is to maintain the Spinifex understory and prevent the encroachment of sorghum through too-frequent fires (section 1.4).
Paperbark forests are dominated by one to a few Melaleuca spp., particularly M. viridiflora, M. cajuputii, M. dealbata, and, along rivers, M. argentea and M. leucadendra. Melaleuca seedlings are common after fires (Don Franklin, pers. comm.), but frequent fires will kill seedlings potentially limiting recruitment (Williams 1984).
Fire intolerant communities: These communities exist as “as an archipelago of hundreds of small (mostly less than 5 ha) patches” (Banfai and Bowman 2006). They exist but for the grace of fire – usually in areas that are protected by topography (i.e. in small canyons, rock faces, or along springs). Although they are intolerant of fire, there is no evidence that they are threatened by current fire regimes, and in fact both monsoon vine-forest and Allosyncarpia forest appear to be expanding across Kakadu (Bowman and Dingle 2006; Banfai and Bowman 2006).
Allosyncarpia ternata closed forest: Forty-one percent of all rainforest in the northern NT and WA is comprised of Allosyncarpia forest. This vegetation community, endemic to the Arnhemland Plateau, is relatively species poor and is dominated almost exclusively by one species, Allosyncarpia ternata (Russell-Smith et al. 1993). However, it is not uncommon for Allosyncarpia to intermix with other rainforest species, particularly along creek lines.
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(A) (B)
Figure 2: (a) Vegetation classes grouped by fire frequency threshold. Fire tolerant savanna = 2 years, Savanna with Spinifex understory or paperbarks = 3 years; Heathland = 5 years; Rainforest = 10 years. (b) Fire threshold status of Plateau vegetation. This was determined as the difference of the 1990-2006 fire frequency from the vegetation fire threshold.
Allosyncarpia seedlings are highly fire sensitive when under three years old, particularly from late season fires. Mortality drops significantly after 3 years. In over 3.5 year old seedlings growth is slightly promoted by fire, regardless of season (Fordyce et al. 1997), and Allosyncarpia readily resprouts after fire (Bowman 1994). Allosyncarpia reproduces by “masting” – all individuals reproduce at once every three to five years (K. Brennan pers. comm.). This means there will be gaps of up to five years with no seedlings, making the effective period of fire sensitivity for juveniles closer to six to ten years.
The boundaries of Allosyncarpia patches are sometimes associated with Callitris intratropica, one case being in the region of Round Jungle. Callitris is much more sensitive to fire regime than Allosyncarpia and Allosyncarpia will supplant Callitris if boundary fires are too frequent (Prior, Bowman, and Brook 2007).
Sandstone monsoon vine-forest: In contrast to lowland vine-forest, the monsoon vine forests of the Arnhem Plateau are little studied. In relation to fire, however, the dynamics are likely the same as the lowlands – vine-forests comprise fire sensitive vegetation and by definition will decline with frequent fires.
Kakadu River Rainforest: Also a little-studied vegetation community, river rainforests are comprised of a mix of both Melaleuca spp. (paperbarks) and rainforest
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species. Melaleuca species are fire tolerant, however rainforest species are not, and it is expected that the number of rainforest species will decline in a riparian forest with frequent fire.
Obligate seeder communities: Callitris intratropica open woodland: In contrast to Allosyncarpia, Callitris does not resprout after fire. It is an obligate seeder and the number of seedlings is low in areas that sustain frequent fires (Prior, Bowman, and Brook 2007). There are strong indications that the number and size of Callitris patches has declined due to the breakdown of traditional Aboriginal fire management (Bowman and Panton 1993). Price and Bowman (1994) indicate that a fire interval of 2 to 8 years of low intensity fires can maintain Callitris stands. More recent work from K. Menadue and J. Russell- Smith (pers. comm.) indicate that 10 years are required to allow sufficient growth to maturity for Callitris. Seedling (and adult) mortality increases with fire intensity and late season fires are much more destructive than early season.
Sandstone heath comprises many obligate seeder species, many of which require fire free intervals of at least five years to grow from germination to a seed-producing adult (Russell-Smith et al. 1998). There is great concern that contemporary fires in sandstone heath exceed one fire every five years and that sandstone heath communities are declining (Russell-Smith, Ryan, and Cheal 2002; Edwards et al. 2001). However, it should be noted that these estimates of fire frequency are derived from Landsat images. Price et al. (2003) found that unburnt patches made up on average 20% of areas marked as burnt from Landsat. This highlights the need to increase ground monitoring of fire patchiness and obligate seeder recruitment on the Plateau (section 11.2). The sandstone heath community has been nominated to the national list of threatened ecological communities under the EPBC act.
5.2 Rare, threatened and endemic flora The high number of plant species with a limited distribution in the Plateau is an outcome of fire management practiced by Aboriginal people over the millennia. The majority of these plants are restricted to fire protected sites, however several species can persist or even require infrequent, cool fires. Although all due consideration must be made to protect localised populations of threatened and endangered flora, the general strategy outlined in this plan will be the best means of ensuring that too frequent fires do not threaten sensitive populations.
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Table 4: Flora of conservation concern in the Plateau region. The table is derived from Woinarski (2004) and Cowie (2005), with updates for 2007. Note that no Kakadu plant species was listed under Federal legislation at the time of the publication of the Endangered Species Program for Kakadu (Roeger and Russell-Smith 1995). CE=Critically Endangered; EN=Endangered; VU=Vulnerable. For Northern Territory status only: NT = Near Threatened and DD=Data Deficient. Kakadu significance is an assessment of the importance of Kakadu in the overall status of the species.
Scientific name NT Status EPBCA Kakadu Fire Tolerance significance
Acacia D19063 CE CE High Little is known, but Graveside Gorge presumed to require fire- free intervals of 3 – 5 years.
Boronia laxa NT VU High Fire free intervals of 5 + years.
Boronia quadrilata CE VU Low Fire free intervals of 5 + years. Can resprout after fire.
Boronia rupicola NT VU High Unknown, but range will likely expand with reduced fire frequency. It occupies areas with topographic protection from fire.
Boronia suberosa VU (proposed VU High Unknown, but not NT) favoured by fire. It occupies areas with topographic protection from fire.
Boronia verecunda NT VU High Fire free intervals of 5 + years
Boronia xanthastrum NT VU High Fire free intervals of 5 + years.
Calytrix inopinata VU (proposed not listed High Unknown. Fire effected NT) individuals can resprout.
Cephalomanes EN not listed Low Tends to grow in moist obscurum areas that don’t carry fire.
Dichapetalum VU not listed Low Limited fire tolerance. timoriense Grows in Allosyncarpia dominated forest.
Dubouzetia australiensis EN (proposed not listed Low-Moderate Unknown, but grows on VU) vertical cliffs that don’t tend to carry fire.
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Scientific name NT Status EPBCA Kakadu Fire Tolerance significance
Gleichenia dicarpa VU (proposed not listed Moderate Grows on seepages at the DD) base of sandstone scarps. Recorded in one location as having regrown after fire damage.
Hibiscus brennanii VU under High Hibiscus species in consideration general respond positively to fire. Decreases in fire regime my impact the population.
Lithomyrtus linariifolia VU not listed High Fire sensititivity and appropriate fire regime are unknown.
Ochrosperma sulcatum CE (proposed Not listed Low-moderate Species grows on cliff- NT) faces inaccessible to fire.
Sauropus filicinus DD VU High Species is restricted to fire protected sites.
Table 5: Data deficient species. These species are have an unknown conservation status (“data deficient”). Data are from Woinarski (2004) and Cowie (2005). Kakadu significance is an assessment of the importance of Kakadu in the overall status of the species.
Scientific name NT Status EPBCA Kakadu Fire Tolerance significance
Boronia amplectans DD not listed High Grows in fire prone environments, but on microhabitat sites (i.e. rocky outcrops) that probably have less frequent fires.
Grevillea rubicunda DD not listed Moderate Unknown
Hibbertia sp. Mt DD not listed Low-moderate Little is known. Tends to Howship grow in fire secure areas. “Mt Howship” is known Hibbertia sp. South to resprout after damage Magela. to the foliage.
Microrys elliptica DD not listed Moderate Little is known. The plant grows on fire protected cliff faces.
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Scientific name NT Status EPBCA Kakadu Fire Tolerance significance
Sauropus rimophilus DD not listed High Little is known. The species is restricted to fire protected sites.
Taenitis pinnata DD not listed Low Little is known. The species is restricted to fire protected sites.
5.3 Invasive plants (weeds)
Figure 3: Known infestations of exotic plants in the Plateau Region
Only a few of the exotic plants that have been introduced to Kakadu have the potential to alter fire regimes or are readily promoted by fire. Three species are known to exist in the plateau region (Fig. 3). Two, gamba grass and mission grass, are perennial grass species that are a matter of great concern as they have the potential to cause widespread changes in both fire frequency and fire intensity.
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Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) is a perennial, tufted grass that can grow in excess of 2m. Unlike native grasses, which are much shorter, gamba grass can act as a “ladder fuel” sending flames into the canopy and severely damaging the tree canopy. It can also obtain much higher fuel loads than native species and poses a serious ecological risk to the area. Although there are no infestations on the Plateau, there are three infestations near the Plateau: (1) near the road to Jim Jim Falls; (2) by the South Alligator River near Shovel Billabong; (3) along Gerowie Ck near the Kakadu Highway.
Mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion) can also maintain high fuel loads and cures in the late dry season. It grows aggressively and will locally outcompete native herbaceous vegetation. There is a significant infestation along the Meekin Valley. There is a sizable infestation within Gimbat homestead and two isolated patches at Graveside Gorge and along the Kakadu Highway near the Gungurul lookout.
Rattlepod (Crotalaria goreensis) spreads readily with fire, particularly wet season fires. There are two major infestations, along Gimbat Road from the Kakadu Highway to Gimbat and along the Kakadu Highway from Mary River to Gerowie Creek. Land managers should be aware when burning in infested areas.
6 Fauna The Plateau is rich in animal diversity. In general, the sandstone plateaus of northwestern Australia have the highest diversity of animal species in the region (Woinarski 1992). This is particularly the case for mammals (Freeland, Winter, and Raskin 1988). Species of particular note are the Arnhem rock rat (Zyzomys maini) which is endemic to the Plateau, and the white-throated grass-wren (Amytornis woodwardi) which is restricted to spinifex grasslands. The endangered Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) is also found on the Plateau. Other species found primarily or exclusively on the Plateau are listed in Table 6.
There is concern that many bird and small mammal species are declining across the Top End, including within Kakadu (Franklin 1999; Woinarski, Milne, and Wanganeen 2001). Although the cause of this decline is unclear there is some reason to suspect changes in fire regime. In particular high fire frequencies are thought to disadvantage many animal species by reducing the number of unburnt refuges (Burgess et al. 2005). Because it is difficult to manage for individual species across the Arnhemland Plateau, reducing overall fire frequency remains the best means of managing fauna.
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Table 6: Faunal species of mention on the Arnhemland Plateau. List is derived from Press et al. (1995).
Latin name Common name Reptiles and Oedura gemmata JEWELLED VELVET GECKO amphibians: Gehyra pamela Pamela’s gecko Pseudothecadactylus lindneri giant cave gecko Ctenotus coggeri skink Egernia arnhemensis skink Morelia oenpelliensis Oenpelli python Litoria coplandi Copland’s rock frog Litoria personata Birds: Petrophassa rufipennis chestnut-quilled rock pigeon Amytornis woodwardi white-throated grass wren Mammals: Macropus bernardus black wallaroo Petrogale concinna nabarlek Zyzomys maini Arnhem rock rat Pseudantechinus bilarni sandstone antechinus Rhinonicteris aurantius orange horseshoe bat Macroderma gigas ghost bat Insects: Petasida ephippegera Leichhardt’s grasshopper
6.1 Rare, threatened and endemic fauna and fire tolerance Site records for rare and threatened fauna are generally poor. However, where known threatened and endangered animal populations occur, all due care must be taken to protect the population and properly manage their habitat. Generally, reducing fire frequency and maintaining a fire mosaic remains the best means of promoting the recovery of these species.
Table 7: Fauna of conservation concern on the Plateau. Listings are from Woinarski (2004), with status updated to 2006. Abbreviations: CE=Critically Endangered; EN=Endangered; VU=Vulnerable. For Northern Territory status only: NT = Near Threatened and DD=Data Deficient. Kakadu significance is an assessment of the importance of Kakadu in the overall status of the species.
Scientific name Common NT EPBCA STATUS Kakadu Fire tolerance Name Status 1995 significance
Taractrocera ilia Northern VU not listed not listed Moderate Larvae feed on one grass ilia Grassdart species. Grass requires a Butterfly mosaic of fire patches and seasons and control of grassy weeds.
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Scientific name Common NT EPBCA STATUS Kakadu Fire tolerance Name Status 1995 significance
Carettochelys Pig-Nosed NT VU not listed High May be indirectly impacted insculpta Turtle by fire through impacts on water quality, but pigs are the most likely threatening process.
Egernia obiri Arnhem DD Nominated Not High Unknown Land listed Egernia
Morelia Oenpelli VU not listed not listed High Habitat change due to oenpelliensis Python changes in fire regimes may have impacted this species.
Dromaius Emu VU not listed not listed Low Changes in fire regime are novaehollandiae thought to be responsible for recent decline. Nests are vulnerable to fires at wrong time of year.
Erythrotriorchis Red VU VU VU Low- No threats from fire. radiatus† Goshawk Moderate
Ardeotis Australian VU not listed not listed Low Fire is listed as a potential australis Bustard threatening process, but little is known.
Geophaps smithii Partridge VU VU not listed Moderate The partridge pigeon is a smithii* Pigeon ground nester and requires particular grassy habitat to breed. It is favoured by frequent patchy fires and stands of sorghum.
Tyto Masked VU VU not listed Uncertain Unknown, but changes novaehollandiae Owl towards less patchy and kimberli* more intense fires may have decreased prey and nesting habitat.
Amytornis White- VU not listed not listed High Uncertain, but evidence woodwardi throated suggests high fire Grasswren frequency is deleterious.
† Recovery plan in prep. * Recovery plan completed.
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Scientific name Common NT EPBCA STATUS Kakadu Fire tolerance Name Status 1995 significance
Erythrura Gouldian EN EN EN Moderate Large scale fires threaten gouldiae† Finch the finch’s food source (grass seeds). They rely on perennials that are productive late in the dry season (e.g. Allotropsis).
Dasyurus Northern CR EN not listed Uncertain Although changes in fire hallucatus Quoll regimes have been implicated in past declines, cane toads now pose a far greater threat.
Phascogale Northern VU not listed not listed Moderate- Unknown (tapoatafa) Brush-tailed High pirata Phascogale
Isoodon auratus Golden EN VU not listed Uncertain It is unknown if any auratus* Bandicoot populations are extant in Kakadu, however sandstone heathlands are its preferred habitat.
Macroderma Ghost Bat DD not listed VU No known fire gigas sensitivities, but roosts are very sensitive to disturbance.
Hipposideros Arnhem VU not listed not listed High No known fire diadema Leafnosed sensitivities, but roosts are inornata Bat very sensitive to disturbance.
Mesembriomys Golden- EN VU VU Uncertain Frequent hot fires may macrurus† backed have reduced food and Tree-rat shelter resources.
Zyzomys maini Arnhem VU VU not listed High Appears to be highly fire Rock-rat sensitive. One population declined 1-2 years after a single fire event. It is restricted to fire sensitive monsoon forest vegetation.
6.2 Exotic fauna
Buffalo Buffalo populations rose rapidly across Kakadu in the 1960s and 1970s and then were rapidly eradicated during the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign (BTEC). Historically buffalo numbers were lower in the Plateau than other regions of
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Kakadu, however by the 1970s, when buffalo had expanded to carrying capacity on the lowlands, they had expanded across the Plateau and were locally abundant along streams and valleys throughout the Escarpment. After BTEC, the Plateau became a refuge for buffalo, and today the highest buffalo populations are found on the Plateau, particularly along the Katherine River in the southeast.
Their impact was widespread across ecosystems but primarily arose from shifts in ground layer vegetation from grazing (Petty et al. in press). When buffalo were present they reduced fuel loads and fire frequency and intensity were likely lower than they are today. After buffalo were removed, fuel loads increased rapidly, and frequent fires probably increased sorghum cover across the Park. Buffalo also had a widespread impact on Plateau streams and rainforest vegetation (Russell-Smith 1984). Buffalo trampling can kill rainforest trees and create “fire corridors” through rainforest patches (Braithwaite et al. 1984).
Cattle and horses Unlike buffalo, the impact of cattle and horses on Kakadu vegetation is relatively unknown. As grazers, they would be expected to have a similar impact on fire regimes as buffalo. However, they do not have the same impact on woody vegetation as buffalo, and likely have less of an impact on rainforest and riparian communities. Sharp and Bowman (2004) found little change in overstory cover on cattle grazed sandstone plateau savannas in the Victoria River District.
Pigs Pigs are widespread in floodplain and riparian communities throughout the Park. Their population level on the Plateau is not known. Although they do have an impact on recruitment in riparian vegetation (A. Petty, unpub. data), their impact on fire patterns is negligible.
7 Fire Management Zones
7.1 Introduction In order to simplify the planning and implementation of this fire plan, the Plateau region will be divided up into three zones. Except in conservation zones, these zones indicate areas where the fire frequency may exceed fire frequency thresholds, or be close to the lower acceptable limit of a frequency threshold.
7.2 Protection Except for areas of special biological importance (see below), protection zones are located where fire poses a danger to life or property. Most protection zones will be placed around Park assets, sites of cultural significance and Park boundaries. They will be the first priority for burning, and it is expected that these zones will have an annual, early season fire regime to ensure that adequate fuel breaks are in place throughout the dry season.
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Walking tracks are a special category of protection zone as they are not damaged by fire, but should be burnt to protect walkers and to provide a fire break. Where possible they should be burnt by foot. They are a lower priority than asset projection zones.
Areas of critical biological importance: Some locations are critical for the conservation of threatened plant and animal species, or potentially a suite of species or a biological community. These will be designated as areas of critical biological importance and will have the highest priority for fire management. Some examples include the location of the Graveside Gorge acacia, and the known records of the Arnhem rock rat. The locations of areas of critical biological importance will be maintained and updated by the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer.
7.3 Mitigation Mitigation zones are intended as fuel breaks to prevent fire spread. Within the zone managers burn areas of open forest and woodland that have high fuel loads and are a risk for carrying late season fires. Woodlands within these zones are expected to have more frequent fire regimes (annual to biennial). However, frequent fires in these areas will create the potential for increased sorghum, which in turn increases both fire risk and fuel load. Therefore these zones will also be a priority for fuel reduction through wet-season burning and fire suppression (section 10.4). There are `two types of mitigation zone:
1) Large scale strategic fire breaks designed to break up the Plateau as a unit and prevent fires from burning across the Plateau. These breaks are the second highest priority for Park Management as they are the most effective in preventing unwanted fires from damaging sensitive ecosystems. There are three types of strategic fire break:
Valley burns along the major valleys and gorges that dissect the Plateau (and opportunistically along minor east-west tending valleys and gorges).
Scree slope burns to reduce fuel loads along the slopes of the Escarpment that can carry fire from the lowlands up to the Plateau or vice-versa.
Known ignition points, in particular bininj visitation areas (section 8.1), should be anticipated and managed to prevent unplanned fires from encroaching onto the Plateau.
Small scale protective burns may be set around the boundary of highly sensitive areas to minimize the chance of unwanted fires. The classification of these zones can change from year to year. Typical situations (in order of priority) include:
Threatened or endangered plant and animal communities for which fire is a threat.
Large fire sensitive communities (e.g. Round Jungle).
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Areas adjacent to overburnt vegetation (or vegetation at risk of becoming overburnt).
7.4 Conservation Conservation zones are areas that are maintained within fire frequency thresholds, and preferably left unburnt. Typically these areas are not part of the fire program, but may be burnt to provide further fire breaks.
8 Unplanned ignitions and neighbouring lands
8.1 Bininj ignitions Kakadu recognises that the use and management of Kakadu is the right and responsibility of the traditional owners (Yibarbuk et al. 2001). Indeed, the breakdown of traditional burning is one of the major landscape management concerns in Kakadu. Nevertheless, late season bininj ignitions, often from people from outside of the Park, are a source of concern. To facilitate and anticipate these ignition sources the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer has compiled a database of locations in the Plateau region that today are frequently visited by TOs and are likely ignition sites, including:
Deaf Adder Gorge
Gimbat Homestead
Meekin Valley
Shovel Billabong
8.2 Neighbouring lands The Arnhemland Plateau is a biogregion. Its natural and cultural significance does not stop at the Kakadu border, but encompasses, in sum, an area greater than the rest of Kakadu (see Fig. 1). Coordinated management with neighbouring groups is critical to the successful management of the Plateau.
Arnhemland Plateau fire management liaison officer KNP will appoint a liaison officer who is delegated to liaise with neighbouring lands and coordinate resource sharing between groups. Before the start of the fire season, the liaison officer will meet with the other groups in the coordinated management program to coordinate the fire plan and allocate resources. In late June and early August, the liaison officer will provide written updates to neighbouring groups about the progress and status of Kakadu’s burning program. It is expected that neighbouring groups will do the same.
The Arnhemland Plateau coordinated management program Kakadu is currently negotiating a coordinated program to manage the Arnhemland Plateau with two neighbouring groups:
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The Jawoyn Association, Demed Association and Bushfires Council NT: these groups compose the West Arnhemland Fire Abatement (WALFA) Project – a fire management project that encompasses some 28,000 km2.
Nitmiluk National Park: KNP, in particular Mary River District, has worked closely with Nitmiluk in managing the southern boundary. This will continue with an emphasis on coordinated management of the Katherine River Valley and the Marrawal Plateau.
Lessees Sections of both the Jabiluka and Ranger Mining leases are both located on the Arnhemland Plateau. Kakadu will liaise with lessees in accordance with the NT Bushfires Act (see section 2.3).
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation Gundjeihmi will administer fire management for the Mount Brockman Area. Kakadu will liaise with Gundjeihmi Corp. with regard to fire management in the region.
9 Training Staff will be required to complete a training course in implementing this plan before they can participate in fire management. The specific training requirements are:
Bushfire Suppression 1 - required by all district staff
Bushfire Suppression 2 - required by all senior district staff
Aerial Incendiary Dispatch Course - required by at least two district staff at any one time. All staff who are engaged in aerial burning must have completed this course.
Fire plan awareness – all staff who will be implementing burns must be trained in the application of this plan, including an awareness of vegetation communities on the Plateau and the role of fire in each. Training can be conducted by senior staff.
Vegetation community identification – all staff must be familiar with the vegetation communities identified in this plan. This training can be a component of “fire plan awareness” above.
10 Fire planning and procedure All staff must have completed all training requirements (section 9) before they can participate in the fire program. When implementing the fire plan, priority will be given to (1) protection zones, (2) strategic mitigation zones and (3) protective mitigation zones (see table 8).
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Table 8: Guidelines for prioritising fire management.
Description Zone Priority Areas of critical biological importance Protection 1 Assets Protection 2 Strategic burns Mitigation 3 - Valley - Scree slopes - Areas prone to LDS fires Small scale protective zones Mitigation 4 - Adjacent to large fire sensitive vegetation patches - Adjacent to fire sensitive or obligate seeder vegetation where fire thresholds have been exceeded Conservation burns Conservation 5
There will be a tactical planning meeting before the onset of the dry season (in February or March) to plan and prioritise the tracks for the walking program and flight paths for the helicopter program. Plans will incorporate the following information, as well as the impact assessment guidelines (section 2.4):
- Asset locations and areas of critical biological importance. - Fire history within mitigation zones (i.e. higher priority for areas of high fuel load. A map indicating the time since the last fire can be useful for prioritising where fuel risks are unknown). - The location of biodiversity or vegetation “hot-spots”, or areas of particularly high conservation value or that have exceeded fire frequency thresholds. - The location of last year’s wet season burns.
The fire season will be divided into three programs: the early season (May – June) will focus on implementation of the burn plan. The mid season (July – August) will continue the fire program, but burning priorities may be reassessed depending on progress in the early season and fire conditions. The late season (August – November) will focus on implementing the most critical strategic burns, and allocating strategic unburnt areas for fire suppression.
Following the dry season (in November or December), Park staff and bininj will meet to discuss the successes and failures of the fire program and needed modifications to the fire plan.
Wet season burns will be conducted from December to February.
The timeline for the fire program is summarised in the Operational Guidelines (Appendix 2).
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A GPS record must be maintained for all fires. Waypoints indicating ignition points are desirable if time permits, but in cases where this isn’t possible (e.g. during a helicopter run) – the GPS track log, with an indication of the time incendiary dropping begins and ends is acceptable.
10.1 Asset protection
Objective Break up fuel adjacent to assets to protect property from the threat of fire.
Park assets include housing, outstations, boat ramps, bores, tanks, campgrounds, day use areas, walking tracks, tips, and radio repeaters. Assets belonging to other entities that are at risk from fire (e.g. telephone towers) are also included. Appendix 1 provides a complete list of assets, divided by district.
Implementation Areas adjacent to assets will be classified as Protection Zones. Other details on fire management specific to each asset are provided in Appendix 1.
10.2 Ground burning
Objectives Road burning to provide fuel breaks.
Fine scale fire management to close up gaps from aerial burns.
Monitor the environmental impact of the burning program.
Ground truth remotely sensed data.
Monitor the efficacy of aerial burns.
Protect and monitor art sites.
Encourage greater TO participation in fire management.
Ground burning is an important aspect of the fire management program. It permits much greater precision in burning when compared to aerial burns, and ground burning can complement aerial burning by closing up gaps left from aerial burns. It also permits much greater flexibility as it doesn’t rely on helicopter availability.
Ground burning is particularly effective in the conservation of art sites. Art site locations and fire vulnerability will be assessed from the ground, and sites will be protected from fire by removal of debris and, where feasible, back burning from the art site.
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Some strategic valley burns can be maintained by road (e.g. Jim Jim and South Alligator Valleys). In more remote areas of the Plateau ground burning will be conducted by foot. In some cases base camps will be set up from which walkers can conduct ground burns.
Implementation Roads: The Jim Jim/Twin Falls Road and Sleisbeck Road provide convenient ground access to the Jim Jim Valley and South Alligator Valleys respectively. Both of these valleys are strategic mitigation zones.
Foot: Strategic burns that can be implemented by foot should be attempted where possible. These burns can be implemented by helicopter if necessary. Identified strategic mitigation zone foot-walking tracks are maintained by the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer and include:
Gunlom to Barramundie Creek.
Koolpin Gorge to Jim Jim Falls.
Koolpin Gorge to Graveside Gorge.
Jim Jim Falls along Jim Jim Creek.
Deaf Adder Gorge
Monitoring and feedback Maps: Each walking party will be provided with a topographic map showing the region around the intended route, the location of callitiris, rainforest and heath vegetation, art sites and threatened plant and animal locations (see Appendix 4). Additionally, this map will include:
fire history (time since last burnt);
locations of fire sensitive communities that have exceeded fire thresholds;
the location and season (EDS or LDS) of last year’s heath fires.
Reporting requirements (walking): Walking is the key means of monitoring the Plateau. As such, there are substantial reporting requirements after each walking trip:
A report emailed to the NCP Senior Project Officer, the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer, and the districts detailing: - The path of the walk. - A description of the conditions on the ground for burning (i.e. are conditions very wet and it won’t be ready for burning by helicopter for a while, or is it very dry and could use a follow-up helicopter burn now).
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- A detailed description of the burning program: how much was burnt, how did the fires carry, an assessment of whether an effective fire break is in place and whether the further burning is needed.
Provide to the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer the following:
- A GPS record of fire ignition starts, with annotation as to whether the fire was less than 1 Ha or greater than 1 Ha and an estimate of patchiness (see section 11.1). - A GPS record and brief description of discrepancies between the fire and vegetation maps and the condition on the ground. - When travelling across heathlands that were indicated as burnt in last year’s satellite imagery, a record of patchiness (see section 11.1). - Records of locations of art sites, and a brief description of condition. - Record tracks around unmapped Callitris stands. - Provide location records of threatened fauna and flora. - Location records of weeds and feral animals along with estimates of numbers or extent.
Reporting requirements (road): After conducting road burns, staff will GPS the location of each ignition and estimate the extent of burns. This will be sent to the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer. Additionally, beginning in August, staff should mark the location of unburnt patches of sorghum, and these will be targeted for wet season burning.
10.3 Aerial burning
Objectives Provide fire breaks to prevent fires from spreading across the Plateau.
Maintain a fire mosaic.
Protect fire sensitive vegetation from fire.
Map unmapped Callitris stands.
Because of the ruggedness, isolation and size of the Plateau, the majority of prescribed burns will be conducted by helicopter. The primary objective of aerial burning is to put in place strategic burns to break up fuel. Aerial burning will be the primary means of implementing burns in both strategic and protective mitigation zones (section 7).
Implementation In addition to fire plan awareness, all staff who will be burning by helicopter must have completed a Aerial Incendiary Dispatch course, as well as training in habitat recognition and fire plan awareness and vegetation community recognition (section 9).
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Before conducting aerial burns, the operator must consider:
- Weather conditions: Aerial burns should not be attempted under strong wind conditions. To avoid unnecessary helicopter bookings, weather conditions will be consulted in advance at http://www.bom.gov.au/silo/ - The latest fire conditions from the NAFI web page (http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi/app/init.jsp). - The location and fire management status of vegetation along the flight path.
The priority of the aerial ignition program will be to ensure that strategic mitigation burns are in place. Placement of individual fires will be at the discretion of the operator, who will select areas of high fuel load within woodland communities. Preferably these areas will not have burnt the previous year, although in some cases this may be necessary to provide a fuel break and prevent a more destructive fire later in the year.
These burns will be coordinated with WALFA and Nitmiluk and where possible extended into these areas. Particular attention should be paid to joining up the flats between the valleys between the Katherine, Jim Jim, East Alligator and Mann Rivers.
Locations of strategic mitigation zones will be maintained by the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer and will be updated as new information becomes available and fire strategy is reassessed.
Valley burns
Meakin Valley (along Tin Camp Creek) – to coordinate with WALFA.
East Alligator River
Ranger Lease/Mt. Brockman valley (to be administered by Gundjeihmi)
Mt. Brockman/Koongarra Lease valley (to be administered by Gundjeihmi)
Nourlangie Outlier (along Namarrgon Creek and Nourlangie Creek)
Deaf Adder Gorge
South Alligator Valley
Fisher Creek Valley
Koolpin Valley
Katherine River, Gimbat Creek and Birdie Creek
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Operators may take advantage of opportunities to burn smaller east-west tending valleys, particularly if there are indications of fuel build up in these valleys. However, extreme care must be taken as these valleys often contain refugia for fire sensitive plants.
The woodland flats at the head of valleys should be burned to connect valley fire breaks. In particular the East Alligator/Jim Jim Creek/Katherine River “triangle” should be managed in a coordinated fashion with WALFA.
Scree slope burns
The scree slopes of the Escarpment and outliers including Meakin Valley, Jim Jim Outlier, and Mt. Brockman contain a number of threatened and endemic plant species, including Boronia (section 5.2), and all due care must be taken to minimize fire frequency. Unfortunately, they can also act as “wicks” carrying fire onto the Plateau. Attention should be paid to areas of high fuel load, but fires should not be repeated in subsequent years. Wet season burning (section 10.4) should be used where sorghum levels are particularly high. An alternative strategy will be to focus fire management on the woodland communities on the lowlands adjacent to the scree slopes, particularly when winds will push fires away from the Escarpment.
Monitoring and Feedback Maps: Each district will be provided with a large (A1) map (see Appendix 3) containing:
- A topographic map with the location of mitigation and protection zones, as well as the location of assets and repeater stations, walking tracks, threatened species records, Pityrodia records archaeological sites, callitris stands, sandstone heath, and rainforest. - The location and seasonality of last year’s fires, - The location of fire sensitive vegetation patches that have exceeded their fire threshold.
Reporting requirements: After the completion of each flight, the operator should download from his GPS and send the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer the following information:
- The location of fire ignition points will be recorded by GPS. If individual waypoints are difficult to record the helicopter track with waypoints indicating the start and end of a bombing series are acceptable. - The Park is building a database of the locations of Callitris stands. During flights, operators should mark a track around unmapped stands (which are most stands at present) and tag them with a waypoint.
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10.4 Wet season burning
Objective Reduce fuel loads of annual spear grass (Sorghum intrans).
In extensive areas of the Kakadu, heavy loads of spear grass fuel intense fires, which are causing significant alterations to habitats in areas (see section 1.4). Frequent fire regimes generally promote sorghum. However because of its life history, fires at the appropriate time in the wet season, after the new generation has germinated but before it sets seed, can substantially reduce sorghum cover.
Priority for wet season burns will be in areas within strategic mitigation zones with high sorghum cover. An area must be left unburnt during the previous dry season for it to contain enough fuel to carry a wet season fire.
Implementation Areas left for wet season burning should be identified during the mid and late fire season.
For 95-100% removal, the fuel should be burnt when the new spear grass growth is at a height of 6 inches.
This method should targeted at as broad an area as is possible, but weather and time will place significant constraints on its application. Priorities include wet season burning within strategic mitigation zones as well as around sensitive habitats, particularly Sandstone Monsoon forest along the escarpment, infrastructure protection and walking trails.
Monitoring and feedback The rough location of wet season fires should be indicated on a map and sent to the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer.
10.5 Fire suppression Fire suppression refers to physically extinguishing fire fronts, either on the ground or via aerial water drops. It is not a substitute for adequate strategic burning during the fire season, but can be an important tool for preventing unwanted fires. Properly applied, fire suppression may be an important means of breaking the sorghum-fire cycle (section 1.4).
Because it is logistically difficult to access the Plateau, fire suppression must be planned carefully. In decreasing order of priority, fire suppression should be used to:
Protect human life, assets and cultural heritage.
Protect known populations of threatened or endangered plant and animal communities.
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Prevent vegetation communities from exceeding fire thresholds (particularly obligate seeder communities).
Preserve high sorghum patches for wet season burns.
During the mid-season strategic review, managers will mark priority areas for fire suppression. The number and extent of areas will depend on the budget allocated for fire suppression. These areas will be closely monitored through the late dry season and if fires threaten these areas they will be suppressed.
11 Monitoring and review of fire plan
11.1 Fire season monitoring and review The successful implementation of this fire plan relies upon feedback from district staff and the walking teams on the implementation and progress of the fire program. Continued communication throughout the dry season is essential.
Additionally, there will be formal requirements for communication on progress of the fire program. This information will be collated by the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer and used to assess and update the fire program for the following year. Districts and the walking teams will be required to provide the with brief reports after each fire run (see reporting requirements in sections 10.2 and 10.3), as well as the location of wet season burns. Additionally:
Each month each district and the walking teams will provide a brief report by email to the Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer, the Plateau fire management liaison officer, and the other districts of the progress of the fire program. A second report will be provided no later than the first week of August which will highlight unburnt areas within the mitigation zones. Areas at high risk of allowing the break through of late season fires on to the Plateau will be identified as priority areas for monitoring and, if need be, fire suppression. Provide a district summary on the implementation of the fire program in November (including a description of last year’s wet season burns). Included in this will be a summary of lessons learned and recommendations for changes to the fire plan.
11.2 Research and monitoring The successful management of the plant and animal communities of the Plateau relies upon the continued monitoring of the condition of those communities, as well as the continued investigation of the role of fire in shaping Plateau communities. There are substantial gaps in our knowledge of the Plateau, and research and monitoring, in particular monitoring during the walking program (section 11.3) will continue to play a key role in refining the fire plan.
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Figure 4: Location of fire plots
Fire Plots There are 63 fire plots located on the Plateau (see Fig. 4). Data on fire history, plant species richness and abundance, and animal species richness and abundance, have been collected at these plots since 1994. This provides the only long-term dataset of Plateau communities and their response to fire. Data will continue to be collected from these sites for the foreseeable future.
Research Gaps The effect of fire patchiness on obligate seeder recruitment. Although fire frequencies appear to be too high for many sandstone heath species (Russell-Smith, Ryan, and Cheal 2002), these species may be able to persist in localised unburnt patches within a burnt mosaic (Price et al., 2003). Although there is concern, the degree to which sandstone heath recruitment is threatened is not well understood.
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In general, within – pixel patchiness is not well documented, particularly for the Plateau and particularly for early season fires. It may be that we are over- estimating the impact of fire on ecological communities, but this remains unclear.
The impact of wet season burning on soil erosion, herbaceous plants and faunal communities is not well understood.
The extent and impact of traditional burning on vegetation distribution and patchiness, particularly the distribution of vegetation around traditional walking routes, has not been explored. Generally, the history of depopulation of the Plateau has been little studied.
There is concern that the understory composition of the Plateau is changing, but this has not been documented. In particular, sorghum may be expanding on the Plateau into regions that were otherwise dominated by spinifex.
11.3 Ground based data collection during the fire program There is surprisingly little known about the Plateau and the role of fire in shaping Plateau communities. Monitoring of the Plateau is at present done principally through remote sensing, in particular satellite imagery provided by contract from the Northern Territory Bushfires Council. The implementation of a walking program across the Plateau provides an excellent opportunity to ground truth this satellite imagery. The finest resolution widely available satellite imagery is Landsat TM imagery, which has a pixel resolution of 30m. This effectively makes fires much smaller than 1 Ha undetectable by Landsat. This imagery is collected three times a year (typically June, July and August). What happens inside those pixels, or between collection times, can be critical for plant and animal communities on the Plateau. For example Price et al. (2003) found substantial patchiness at the scale of 10m within heath vegetation where obligate seeders may be able to persist despite high fire frequencies. Bowman et al. (2003) found that fire scars early in the dry season rapidly “green up” and may not be detected by Landsat.
Questions for ground based data collection 1. How much patchiness is there within an area considered “burnt” in a Landsat image, and how does this vary with seasonality?
2. What is the “decay rate” for fire detection in Landsat imagery, i.e. how long after a fire was lit is it still detectable?
3. How many small (<1 Ha) fires were there, how do these vary with seasonality, and do they have a management impact?
4. How much patchiness is there within heathlands considered burnt, and how does this vary with seasonality?
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Methods for addressing patchiness and extent of management fires To address questions 1 – 3, walkers should record the following:
1. The ignition point of each fire by GPS.
2. Follow the fire to see if it extends (or clearly will extend) beyond one hectare and record the fire as greater or less than or greater than one hectare.
3. Provide an estimate of the patchiness of the fire (as estimated from the first Ha burnt), coded as follows:
1 = 100% burnt
2 = 75 – 100 % burnt
3= 50 – 75% burnt
4= < 50% burnt
Fire patchiness in heathlands To address question four, walkers should take advantage the opportunity provided by crossing heathlands that were recorded as burnt the previous year to mark unburnt patches. This can be done most easily as follows:
1. Walk in as straight a line as possible across the burnt patch.
2. Every ten metres (estimated by pacing) mark whether the ground burned last year or not under your foot. If you are standing on a patch of sorghum record that as well.
3. Take care not to bias the results (i.e. by not walking through dense unburnt vegetation). If it’s impossible to walk through, estimate what “would be” the 10m mark had you continued in a straight line and assess whether it had burned or not.
Adding to Park knowledge Additionally, walkers will record the location of the following by GPS:
- Art sites (include a description of condition)
- Tracks around callitris stands
- Threatened flora and fauna
- Weeds and feral animals (with an estimate of abundance or extent)
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11.4 Vegetation mapping The status of vegetation mapping in KNP is inadequate for management of the Plateau region. The Plateau contains many small pockets of sensitive vegetation that are not represented in current vegetation maps (i.e. Schodde et al. 1987). More complete vegetation mapping is planned for the Plateau region, as follows:
1. Extent of Callitris intratropica woodland will be mapped by staff on an ongoing basis.
2. A full 1:100 000 vegetation map to be completed by the end of 2007.
3. A complete 1:25 000 vegetation map to be completed by the end of 2009.
11.5 Annual meetings There will be three annual meetings centred around the Plateau fire program.
Before the start of the fire season (late February or March) there will be a tactical planning workshop with the head rangers from each district. This meeting will prioritise the aerial and walking program for the upcoming year.
Mid-year (by the first week in August at the latest) there will be a meeting with the head rangers from each district to strategize and prioritise management of the strategic zones in anticipation of late season fires. This will include the identification of areas for fire suppression.
After each fire season (in November or early December) there will be a post-fire season review and a review of the fire plan for next year.
Representatives from WALFA and Nitmiluk will be encouraged to attend these meetings. A rapporteur will be appointed to formally take minutes at these meetings.
12 References: Andrew, M. H., and J. C. Mott. 1983. Annuals with transient seed banks: the population biology of indigenous Sorghum species of tropical northwest Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 8:265-76. Banfai, D. S., and D. M. Bowman. 2006. Forty years of lowland monsoon rainforest expansion in Kakadu National Park, Northern Australia. Biological Conservation 131 (4):553-565. Blake, Graeme. 2004. An Object-Oriented Approach to Mapping the Distribution of Sandstone Heath Vegetation on the Arnhem Plateau. Honours Thesis, School of Biological, Environmental and Chemical Sciences; Faculty of Science, Information Technology and Education, Charles Darwin University, Darwin. Bowman, D M J S, A. Walsh, and L. D. Prior. 2004. Landscape analysis of Aboriginal fire management in Central Arnhem Land, north Australia. Journal of Biogeography 31 (2):207-223.
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Bowman, D. M. J. S. 1991. Environmental determinants of Allosyncarpia ternata forests that are endemic to western Arnhem land, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 39:575-589. ———. 1994. Preliminary observations on the mortality of Allosyncarpia ternata stems on the Arnhem Land Plateau, northern Australia. Australian Forestry 57:62-64. Bowman, D. M. J. S, and J. K. Dingle. 2006. Late 20th century landscape-wide expansion of Allosyncarpia ternata (Myrtaceae) forests in Kakadu National Park, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 54 (8):707-715. Bowman, D. M. J. S, and W. J. Panton. 1993. Decline of Callitris intratropica R. T. Baker and H. G. Smith in the Northern Territory: Implications for pre-European and post- European colonization fire regimes. Journal of Biogeography 20 (4):373-381. Bowman, D. M. J. S., Y. Zhang, A. Walsh, and R. J. Williams. 2003. Experimental comparison of four remote sensing techniques to map tropical savanna fire-scars using Landsat-TM imagery. International Journal of Wildland Fire 12 (3-4):341-348. Braithwaite, R. W., M. L. Dudzinski, M. G. Ridpath, and B. S. Parker. 1984. The impact of water buffalo on the monsoon forest ecosystem Kakadu National Park. Australian Journal of Ecology 9:309-322. Burgess, C. P., F. H. Johnston, D. M. J. S. Bowman, and P. J. Whitehead. 2005. Healthy Country: Healthy People? Exploring the health benefits of Indigenous natural resource management. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 29 (2):117-122. Cowie, I. 2005. Kakadu Threatened Flora Report (Vol. 3). Darwin: Northern Territory Government Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment. Dunlop, C. R., and L. J. Webb. 1991. Flora and vegetation. In Monsoonal Australia: Landscape Ecology and Man in the Northern Lowlands, edited by C. D. Haynes, M. G. Ridpath and M. A. J. Williams. Rotterdam: Balkema. Fordyce, I. R., D. Eamus, G. A. Duff, and R. F. Williams. 1997. The role of seedling age and size in the recovery of Allosyncarpia ternata following fire. Australian Journal of Ecology 22 (3):262-269. Franklin, Donald C. 1999. Evidence of disarray amongst granivorous bird assemblages in the savannas of northern Australia, a region of sparse human settlement. Biological Conservation 90 (1):53-68. Freeland, W. J., J. W. Winter, and S. Raskin. 1988. Australian rock-mammals: a phenomenon of the seasonally dry tropics. Biotropica 20:70-9. Gill, A. M., P. H. R. Moore, and R. J. Williams. 1996. Fire weather in the wet-dry tropics of the World Heritage Kakadu National Park, Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 21 (3):302-308. Jones, Rhys, and Tia Negerevich. 1985. A review of previous archaeological work. In Archaeological Research in Kakadu National Park, edited by R. Jones. Canberra: Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. McNaughton, S. J. 1985. Ecology of a grazing ecosystem: The Serengeti. Ecological Monographs 55 (3):259-294. Mulvaney, John, and Johan Kamminga. 1999. Prehistory of Australia. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. Parr, Catherine L., and Alan N. Andersen. 2006. Patch mosaic burning for biodiversity conservation: A critique of the pyrodiversity paradigm. Conservation Biology 20 (6):1610-1619.
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Petty, Aaron M., P. A. Werner, C. E. R. Lehmann, Jan E. Riley, D. S. Banfai, and L. P. Elliott. in press. Savanna responses to the rapid increase and decline of feral Asian water buffalo in Kakadu National Park, Australia. Ecological Monographs. Press, Tony, David Lea, Ann Webb, and Alistair Graham, eds. 1995. Kakadu: Natural and Cultural Heritage and Management. Darwin, Australia: North Australia Research Unit, Australian National University. Price, O., J. Russell-Smith, and A. Edwards. 2003. Fine-scale patchiness of different fire intensities in sandstone heath vegetation in northern Australia. International Journal of Wildland Fire 12 (2):227-236. Price, Owen, and D. M. J. S. Bowman. 1994. Fire-stick forestry: a matrix model in support of skilful fire management of Callitris intratropica R. T. Baker by north Australian Aborigines. Journal of Biogeography 21 (6):573-580. Price, Owen, Andrew Edwards, Greg Connors, John Woinarski, Greg Ryan, Andrew Turner, and Jeremy Russell-Smith. 2005. Fire heterogeneity in Kakadu National Park, 1980 - 2000. Wildlife Research 32:425-433. Prior, L. D., D M J S Bowman, and Barry W. Brook. 2007. Growth and survival of two north Australian relictual tree species, Allosyncarpia ternata (Myrtaceae) and Callitris intratropica (Cupressaceae). Ecological Research 22 (2):228-236. Roeger, L , and J Russell-Smith. 1995. Developing an Endangered Species Program for Kakadu National Park: key issues 1995-2002. Jabiru: Australian Nature Conservation Agency. Russell-Smith, J. 1984. The status and condition of monsoon vine-forests in the Kakadu region: a management report. Canberra: Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Russell-Smith, J., and D. M. J. S. Bowman. 1992. Conservation of monsoon rainforest isolates in the Northern Territory, Australia. Biological Conservation 59:51-63. Russell-Smith, J., D. E. Lucas, J. Brock, and D. M. J. S. Bowman. 1993. Allosyncarpia- dominated rain forest in monsoonal northern Australia. Journal of Vegetation Science 4:67-82. Russell-Smith, J., D. Lucas, M. Gapindi, B. Gunbunuka, N. Kapirigi, G. Namingum, K. Lucas, P. Giuliani, and G. Chaloupka. 1997. Aboriginal resource utilization and fire management practice in western Arnhem Land, monsoonal northern Australia: Notes for prehistory, lessons for the future. Human Ecology 25 (2):159-195. Russell-Smith, J., P. G. Ryan, and D. C. Cheal. 2002. Fire regimes and the conservation of sandstone heath in monsoonal northern Australia: frequency, interval, patchiness. Biological Conservation 104 (1):91-106. Russell-Smith, J., P. J. Whitehead, G. D. Cook, and J. L. Hoare. 2003. Response of Eucalyptus-dominated savanna to frequent fires: Lessons from Munmarlary, 1973- 1996. Ecological Monographs 73 (3):349-375. Russell-Smith, Jeremy, Stewart Needham, and John Brock. 1995. The physical environment. In Kakadu: Natural and Cultural Heritage and Management, edited by T. Press, D. Lea, A. Webb and A. Graham. Darwin, Australia: North Australia Research Unit, Australian National University. Russell-Smith, Jeremy, P. G. Ryan, and R. DuRieu. 1997. A LANDSAT MSS-derived fire history of Kakadu National Park, monsoonal northern Australia, 1980-94: seasonal extent, frequency and patchiness. Journal of Applied Ecology 34:748-766.
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Russell-Smith, Jeremy, Paul G. Ryan, David Klessa, Gordon Waight, and Robert Harwood. 1998. Fire regimes, fire-sensitive vegetation and fire management of the sandstone Arnhem Plateau, monsoonal northern Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology 35 (6):829-846. Schodde, R., A. B. Hedley, I. J. Mason, and P. N. Martensz. 1987. Vegetation habitats, Kakadu National Park, Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory. Report to Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Canberra: CSIRO. Sharp, Ben R., and David M. J. S. Bowman. 2004. Patterns of long-term woody vegetation change in a sandstone-plateau savanna woodland, Northern Territory, Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 20:1 - 12. Williams, A. R. 1984. Changes in Melaleuca forest density on the Magela floodplain, Northern Territory, between 1950 and 1975. Australian Journal of Ecology 9:199- 202. Williams, Richard J., Anthony D. Griffiths, and Grant E. Allan. 2002. Fire regimes and biodiversity in the savannas of northern Australia. In Flammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent, edited by R. A. Bradstock, J. E. Williams and M. A. Gill. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Woinarski, J. 2004. Threatened plants and animals in Kakadu National Park: a review and recommendations for management. Darwin: Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment. Woinarski, J. C. Z. 1992. BIOGEOGRAPHY AND CONSERVATION OF REPTILES, MAMMALS AND BIRDS ACROSS NORTH-WESTERN AUSTRALIA - AN INVENTORY AND BASE FOR PLANNING AN ECOLOGICAL RESERVE SYSTEM. Wildlife Research 19 (6):665-705. Woinarski, J. C. Z., C. Hempel, I. Cowie, K. Brennan, R. Kerrigan, G. Leach, and J. Russell- Smith. 2006. Distributional pattern of plant species endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 54 (7):627-640. Woinarski, J. C. Z., D. J. Milne, and G. Wanganeen. 2001. Changes in mammal populations in relatively intact landscapes of Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. Austral Ecology 26 (4):360-370.
49 Kakadu National Park Arnhemland Plateau Draft Fire Plan 28/04/07
Appendix 1: List of Assets East Alligator District
Hill 215 Repeater
Nourlangie District
Nourlangie Rock and Nangulwur gallery
The Mt Brockman Region in general is of high cultural value and the Park is handing over management of the region to the Gundjeihmi corporation. The savanna surrounding Mt. Brockman and Nourlangie rock is very dense with spear grass and should be handled with early season burning and wet season burning as much as possible.
Jim Jim District
Maguk Campground and Carpark
Maguk campground carries high fuel loads (dense perennial grasses) which can burn with very high intensity, even when the fuel is slightly green and there is little or no wind. Burning is undertaken out from the campground ring road itself and around each individual camping bay. Early aerial burning should also aim to surround the campground by burning the surrounding lowlands which have predominately Sorghum fuels.
There are no real problem areas at Maguk campground, unless there are campers present. Generally, when the fuels at the campground are ready to burn, there will be campers present. Because the fuels at Maguk burn at high intensity and a burn can have a high rate of spread, staff have to be attentive to fire behaviour and be prepared to move quickly around individual camps. The area in the centre of the campground has the same fuels and it is likely that there will be campers immediately adjacent to heavy fuel loads. It would be difficult to control a fire within the centre of the campground and it is probably unwise to ignite a ‘controlled’ burn there if campers are present. For the same reason, staff burning outside the ring road should be very watchful of spotting into the central area.
A possible alternative to the above ‘one-burn’ approach would be staged burning as the area dries, and/or more extensive slashing around the camping areas. The slashed material can then be burnt as it dries, creating small breaks around each camping bay. There is also a high risk of internal fires in the campground, staff should be diligent throughout the season to monitor campfire clearance.
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The Maguk carpark area has fairly light fuel loads comprised primarily of leaf litter, and fine grasses. This fuel presents minimal fire threat to vehicles parked in that area. The area is burned occasionally to reduce fuel as needed. It is generally possible to burn the carpark edges sufficiently prior to public opening.
Graveside Campground
The Graveside campground has an annual infestation of dense spear grass. The area is burned each year prior to it being opened to the public. The campground should be burnt as early as ground access is possible or from the air providing the management signs are clear of fuel. The campground is due to be moved during the life of this fire plan to an area downstream which has lighter fuel loads, this should give the vegetation in the current campground a much needed break from annual (hot) fires which have damaged the shrub layer and large paperbarks. When the campground is moved it would be desirable to wet season burn the current camping area to reduce the heavy spear grass fuels and to assist regeneration. The campground is near the only known location of a critically endangered Acacia species (Acacia D19063 Graveside Gorge – see section 5.2), so all due care must be taken not to threaten this species.
Jim Jim / Twin Falls Campground and Car Parks
Jim Jim Falls Campground has variable fuel loads consisting of leaf litter, and fine and coarse grasses. The primary fuel that may be of concern is annual Pennisetum. From year to year the density of Pennisetum and its distribution around the campground varies. As a fuel it is generally not available early in the season and does not burn well, however, later it burns with a high intensity and rapid rate of spread. Large paperbark trees behind the camping area are suffering the effects of late fires. Efforts should be made to early burn areas surrounding the campground to reduce the impacts of late fires entering this area. Each year the campground area is burned to reduce overall fuel levels prior to opening it to the public. Some years staged burning is necessary, as the Pennisetum becomes available to reduce its density. There are no problem areas and a relatively small risk of internal fires given the almost total lack of any ground fuels once the area is open to the public.
Jim Jim Falls carpark has low fuel levels consisting of leaf litter, perrenial grasses, and some spear grass. Twin Falls carpark has fairly high levels of fuel, mainly spear grass. Some wet season burns around Twin Falls carpark have reduced fuels levels. Both areas are burned annually prior to public opening. Opportunistic wet season burning should continue at both carparks. There are no problem areas.
Deaf Adder outstation
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Mary River District
Ranger Station
House security shall be the responsibility of each tenant All buildings should have irrigated surrounds or be cleared of combustible fuels (leaves etc). The roadside firebreak shall be maintained each year Wet season burning where possible.
Gimbat
Paddocks surrounding the homestead to be burnt Slashing and irrigation around buildings Wet season burning of surrounding paddocks if appropriate
Gunlom
Firebreak from access road to creek near bore to be maintained and back burned annually.
El Sherana
The status of El Sharana is under review and all buildings may yet be removed. If protection is necessary, it will be around the outer perimeter of the camp.
Old/New Goodparla, Callahan’s camp & historical sites
Wet season slashing of Old Goodparla Early protection burns around others as required
ERRIS (Gimbat)
Slash fire break Liaise and assist Traditional owners as required.
Sleisbeck
Early season clearing and protective burns. May require chopper to drop in.
Kambolgie Campground
Early burns
52 Kakadu National Park Arnhemland Plateau Draft Fire Plan 28/04/07
Gungurrul
Wet season burns Asset protection as required
Yurmikmik walking trail (Butterfly & Motorcar Ck Falls)
Early mosaic burns Wet season burns required to break sorghum cycle; require blocks to be set aside for this effect.
Koolpin Camping area
The area of the campground and its surrounds are defined into two distinct blocks separated by a small creek and the access road. The block outside the creek shall continue to be burnt early to reduce the fuel hazard and the prospect of external wildfires threatening the campground. Efforts are to be made to reduce Sorghum levels in the campground area through wet season burning, as occurred on 22 January 2007. Extreme caution should be taken to keep fireplaces clean and area cleared around them to minimise accidental ignition. The remainder of the campground shall be burnt early.
Ferny Gully campground and day-use area
Bottom Rockhole
53 Kakadu National Park Arnhemland Plateau Draft Fire Plan 28/04/07
Appendix 2: Operational outline
I) Tactical planning meeting (Feb./March)
i) Prioritise strategic management zones based upon:
Asset locations and areas of critical biological importance.
Regions of overburnt vegetation.
The location of biodiversity or vegetation “hot-spots”, or areas of particularly high conservation value or that have exceeded fire frequency thresholds.
The location of last year’s wet season burns.
ii) Plan burning program including:
Tracks for the walking program, as well as a prioritisation of tracks and an estimate of what is achievable.
Flight paths for the helicopter program.
Make sure the program has considered the impact assessment guidelines (section 2.4).
II) Early season strategic burning (April – June)
i) Conditions and plans are prone to change. Communication is the key to a successful management of the Plateau, and the walkers and districts should be aware of what each other is doing. Emailed reports (see point 4 below) will be a formal requirement, but should not be seen as a substitute for continual communication.
ii) Roadside burns
When conducting roadside burns, staff must GPS the location of each ignition. At the completion of each trip, rangers will download their waypoints. These should be sent to the Data Officer , along with an estimate of the number and extent of burns.
iii) Implement walking program.
Each walking team will be provided with a detailed map of vegetation and fire history, as well as fire threshold status, along the walking track.
Priority will be given to breaking up high fuel areas along the track.
The “Planning and Knowledge Management Support Officer”, hereafter referred to as the Data Officer.
54 Kakadu National Park Arnhemland Plateau Draft Fire Plan 28/04/07
Where encountered, art sites will be cleaned of debris. High fuels should be appropriately managed (either mechanically removed or back-burned if winds and conditions are favourable).
Monitoring and feedback: walking teams will provide a data sheet to the Data Officer containing: - A GPS record of fire ignition starts - A GPS record and brief description of discrepancies between the fire and vegetation maps and the condition on the ground. - When travelling across heath that were indicated as burnt in last year’s satellite imagery, a GPS record of patchiness (as indicated in fire plan, section 11.3) - An estimate of sorghum cover in heath (section 11.3) - Records of unknown locations of art sites, and a brief description of condition. - Record tracks around Callitris stands. - Provide location records of threatened fauna and flora. - Location records of weeds and feral animals along with estimates of numbers or extent.
After each walk the team will provide a report to each district, the NCP Senior Project Officer and the Data Officer providing: - The path of the walk. - A description of the conditions on the ground for burning (i.e ”very wet and it won’t be ready for burning by helicopter for a while”, or “is very dry and could use a follow-up helicopter burn now”). - A detailed description of the burning program: how much was burnt, how did the fires carry, an assessment of whether an effective fire break is in place and whether the further burning is needed.
iv) Implement aerial program. Before conducting aerial burns, the operator must consider: - Weather conditions: Aerial burns should not be attempted under strong wind conditions. To avoid unnecessary helicopter bookings, weather conditions will be consulted in advance at http://www.bom.gov.au/silo/ - The latest fire conditions from the NAFI web page (http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi/app/init.jsp). - The location and fire management status of vegetation along the flight path. Monitoring and feedback
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- The location of fire ignition points will be recorded by GPS, downloaded and emailed to the Data Officer immediately after completion of the flight. - The Park is building a database of the locations of Callitris stands. During flights, operators should mark a track around unmapped stands (which are most stands at present) and tag them with a waypoint. These should also be sent to the Data Officer.
v) Monthly status reports: by the end of April, May and June a progress report will be sent from each district office and the head ranger to the NCP Senior Project Officer for the walking program indicating the extent and location of management fires and an assessment of potential weak areas. vi) Based on the progress reports, the priority for burning may be re-assessed for the mid season program. III) Mid season fire program (July – August)
(i) The fire program will continue as above, including the submission of monthly reports.
(ii) Depending upon the fire season, but no later than the first week of August, each district office and the head ranger for the walking program will meet to discuss key risk areas for late season fires. This information will be communicated to WALFA and Nitmiluk as well.
(iii) As a result of this meeting, a decision will be made to divide key risk areas into those that are to be left and monitored for fire suppression and those that are to be burnt. A key aspect of the fuel reduction strategy will be to leave some areas unburnt so they can be managed by wet season burns later, however it is critical to have a realistic estimate of what how many areas can be managed through fire suppression.
(iv) Critical strategic areas that cannot be managed through fire suppression will be burnt. Before conducting aerial burns, the operator must consider: - Weather conditions: Aerial burns should not be attempted under strong wind conditions. To avoid unnecessary helicopter bookings, weather conditions will be consulted in advance at http://www.bom.gov.au/silo/ - The latest fire conditions from the NAFI web page (http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi/app/init.jsp). - The location and fire management status of vegetation along the flight path. Monitoring and feedback - The location of fire ignition points will be recorded by GPS, downloaded and emailed to the Data Officer immediately after completion of the flight.
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- The Park is building a database of the locations of Callitris stands. During flights, operators should mark a track around unmapped stands (which are most stands at present) and tag them with a waypoint. These should also be sent to the Data Officer.
(v) Monthly status reports: by the end of April, May and June a progress report will be sent from each district office and the head ranger to the NCP Senior Project Officer for the walking program indicating the extent and location of management fires and an assessment of potential weak areas.
(vi) Based on the progress reports, the priority for burning may be re-assessed for the mid season program.
IV) Late season fire program (August – November)
i) The fire condition will be carefully monitored on the NAFI web site. It is critical to have advanced warning of fires approaching the unburnt strategic zones.
ii) Fires within unburnt strategic zones will be suppressed.
iii) Monthly reports will continue, but this time emphasizing the location and status of late season burns, and the success (or not) of strategic burns and fire suppression attempts.
V) Fire program review (November) Park staff and bininj will meet to discuss the successes and failures of the fire program and discuss needed modifications to the fire plan.
VI) Wet season burning Program (December – March) Staff will implement wet season burning, with an emphasis on strategic areas that were left unburnt from last year.
57 Appendix 3: District Fire Plan Map Appendix 4: Walking Fire Plan Map (an example for the Gunlom: Barramundie Creek Walk)