Restoring landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region

Is it possible to manage for fire and biodiversity?

Posted on 10 July, 2014 by Connecting Country

What do you feel when you think about managing the fire risk on your property?

“Confused … worried … fearful … ignorant … confident … conflicted … overwhelmed …”

These were some of the responses from participants at the latest Connecting Country ‘Improving Biodiversity on Your Property’ session on Sunday 6 July 2014.

By far the most common response was confusion – about the messages put out by various agencies, and about whether it’s actually possible to have a property that provides a healthy habitat for wildlife, yet is also a relatively low fire risk.

By the end of the session, those initial responses had changed:

” informed … empowered … reassurred … more aware …”

With facilitator Chris Johnston guiding the discussions, presenters Owen Goodings (CFA, Statewide Vegetation Team Leader), fire ecologist David Cheal (ex-DEPI, now Federation University), field ecologist Julie Whitfield (ex-DEPI now Amaryllis Environmental) and landholders Team and Christine Henderson shared their expertise and experiences – each through their own particular lens.

A summary of the session and follow up resources are can be found here:  Workshop 4: Fire & Biodiversity.

Thanks to Team and Christine for offering their beautiful Taradale property for the session, a perfect venue to explore the issues at both a property and landscape level.

Mid-winter might not be the best conditions for a workshop in the field, but it is a good time to be thinking, observing and planning around fire and biodiversity.