Park Name
DRAFT No 1
Prepared by:
date written:
/
/
i
Contents
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the first tab-stop. With future drafts, if you don’t alter the text of any headings, you can select ‘Update Page
Numbers Only’ when prompted.
List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... ii
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... ii
List of Appendices .................................................................................................................................. ii
List of Maps ........................................................................................................................................... iii
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Climate .....................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Regional context ......................................................................................................................1
Fire History ........................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Objectives for fire management ...............................................................................................2
2. Flora
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
4
Vegetation description .............................................................................................................4
Native species/communities of significance and/or potential indicator species .....................4
Priority weeds in relation to fire management .........................................................................5
Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines .............................................................................6
3. Fauna 9
3.1 Species of significance and/or potential indicator species ......................................................9
3.2 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines ...........................................................................10
4. Cultural resources ............................................................................................................................10
4.1 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines ...........................................................................10
5. Protected Area infrastructure ...........................................................................................................11
5.1 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines ...........................................................................11
6. Resources on adjoining land ............................................................................................................11
6.1 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines ...........................................................................11
7. Factors affecting fire behaviour and management ...........................................................................12
8. Fire Management Zones ...................................................................................................................12
8.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................13
8.2 Fire Management Zones ........................................................................................................13
8.2.1 Protection Zone ........................................................................................................14
8.2.2 Wildfire Mitigation Zone .........................................................................................15
8.2.3 Conservation Zone....................................................................................................16
8.2.4 Rehabilitation Zone ..................................................................................................17
8.2.5 Reference Zone.........................................................................................................19
8.2.6 Exclusion Zone .........................................................................................................20
9. Fire research and monitoring ...........................................................................................................21
10. Fire Management Areas ...................................................................................................................22
11. Access track system .........................................................................................................................23
11.1 New access tracks/control lines .............................................................................................23
11.2 Track closures ........................................................................................................................24
12. References ........................................................................................................................................25
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12.1 Personal communications ......................................................................................................25
Example A ..............................................................................................................................................29
Example B ..............................................................................................................................................31
List of Figures
Figure 1 Location of ... ...........................................................................................................................3
List of Tables
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8
Table 9
Table 10
Table 11
Table 12
Table 13
Native flora species and communities of particular management significance with
information on potential value as indicators in monitoring programmes. .......................5
Details of significant/ priority weeds in relation to fire management. ....................................5
Fire management objectives and preferred fire regimes for the vegetation
communities.....................................................................................................................7
Fauna species of significance with information on potential value as indicators in
monitoring programmes.................................................................................................10
Locations of Protection Zones and associated management regimes. ...................................14
Locations of Wildfire Mitigation Zones and associated management regimes. ....................15
Quick reference guide for fire management requirements in the Conservation Zone. ..........17
Locations of Rehabilitation Zones and associated management regimes. ............................18
Locations of Reference Zones and associated management regimes. ...................................19
Vegetation type, location and management details for Exclusion Zones. .....................20
Locations and boundaries of Fire Management Areas and details of relevant
features. .........................................................................................................................22
New access tracks required in the Protected Area. .......................................................23
Tracks to be closed in the Protected Area. ....................................................................24
List of Appendices
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Meteorological data for ... (Bureau of Meteorology site no. ...)
Flora species recorded in...
Fauna species recorded in...
Fire Management Zones and Fire Management Areas
Fire Research and Monitoring Projects
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List of Maps
Map 1 should be produced as a paper copy. Maps 2-5 can be produced either as paper copies or transparent
overlays.
Map 1.
Map 2.
Map 3.
Map 4.
Map 5.
Map of the park showing tracks, infrastructure, named sites and neighbouring
properties.
Vegetation map for the park
Known fire history.
Fire Management Zones.
Fire Management Areas.
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Throughout the Fire Strategy document ensure that you draw on, and reference, all relevant internal and external
documents e.g. Management Plan, weed and feral animal management plans, cultural heritage survey reports,
disaster plans, research reports, recovery plans, social/visitor surveys.
1.
Introduction
Describe the protected area in general terms (e.g. location, landscape, general habitat description). Outline why
it was gazetted and detail the overall (rather than specifically fire related) long-term aims of protected area
management. These will be available in the Management Plan if there is one. Otherwise consult acquisition
proposal and gazettal documents, your Regional Planner etc. Note: ‘Protected Area’ is used throughout when
referring to the specific place. If you prefer, you can change this to the name of the protected area or simply use
a term like ‘the Park.’ If the Strategy applies to tenures in addition to the protected area (e.g. some unallocated
state land) make sure that this is clear in the introduction.
1.1
Climate
Describe the climate in general terms for the protected area (e.g. annual temperature range, annual rainfall, timing
of wet season). Provide details of monthly and long-term averages in Appendix 1. To the best of your abilities
describe the ‘normal’ fire season (in terms of Fire Danger Index if you can). If you do not have long-term
records for the protected area, climatic summaries are available (free) from the Bureau of Meteorology’s web
site. Choose the Bureau station nearest to the protected area. If this is the best data available clearly state its
limitations and, if possible, give some idea how the protected area’s climate might vary from that of the Bureau
site. The address for the Bureau’s web site is provided in the Reference Section of this template. Specific details
re. how climate might affect fire behaviour and management should be addressed in Section 7 rather than here.
1.2
Regional context
The values of the Park are:
Provide a picture of how the protected area ‘fits’ into the surrounding landscape in terms of habitat and fire
management. For example, the protected area might be surrounded by cleared grazing country or there may be
large tracts of remnant vegetation adjoining it. In cases where the majority of the surrounding land is frequently
burnt, flora & fauna species which are adapted to short fire intervals are well catered for in a regional context.
Accordingly, we should generally focus on meeting the fire ecology requirements of species adapted to longer
fire intervals.
Draw on details provided in the Management Plan and similar documents.
Include details on the significance of the area e.g. Regional Ecosystems.
It may also be appropriate and useful to include a brief discussion about the attitudes/perceptions of neighbours,
visitors, key stake holders etc. as they pertain to fire management. Provide reference/s to relevant social surveys
etc.
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Fire History
Briefly describe and discuss fire history (if available) - include wildfires and planned burns. Give a synopsis or
interpretation of the salient points (e.g. common sources of fire, dates and extent of significant wildfires) and
include a map which summarises fire history. Refer to, rather than include, individual fire history maps and
provide details as to where they are stored (e.g. Arcview, map cabinet in District office). If relevant, refer to
Section 7 for further details…otherwise delete the last sentence given below.
Refer to Map 3.
Refer to Section 7 for further details on factors affecting fire behaviour and management
1.3
Objectives for fire management
Objectives for fire management for Parks are:
1. Protection of life and property on the Protected Area and neighbouring lands (as required
under the Queensland Fire & Rescue Authority Act 1990 and QPWS Good Neighbour
Policy).
2. To conserve natural and cultural resources, and in accordance with an approved plan. The role
of fire as an ecological process in shaping native vegetation communities and flora and fauna
habitat is re-established and maintained where possible.
Include legislative obligations. For example, protection of life and property on the protected area and
neighbouring lands. Provide clear, useful and specific objectives for fire management on the protected area. For
example: “… to maintain wet sclerophyll communities and the wet sclerophyll/rainforest interface and the fauna
populations which rely on those habitats;” “… to protect the brigalow and gidgee communities and their edges
from fire and to thereby minimise the risk of invasion by buffel grass;” “… as part of the rehabilitation strategy
the aim is to use fire firstly to reduce infestations of rubbervine and subsequently to use planned burns to reduce
the risk of wildfire impacting on the regeneration site;” “… to create a mosaic of burn ages in heathland and
sedgeland communities in order to provide suitable habitat for the fauna communities which occur in the area and
in particular to ensure that sufficient areas are maintained as suitable habitat for the ground parrot.”
Generalisations such as ‘to maintain biodiversity’ are not acceptable.
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Figure 1
Location of Park.
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2. Flora
Explain what (if any) flora assessments have been carried out, when they were conducted and provide references
(full details in the References Section). State whether our understanding of the flora is adequate and, if not, what
further flora assessment is required.
2.1
Vegetation description
Provide a general description of the flora of the protected area to the best of your abilities. If a flora assessment
has been carried out, you should be able to extract the information from the report (provide a reference to it and
put the details in the References section). If there is no vegetation mapping available for the protected area you
will need to produce at least a basic map. At the very least this map should show the distribution of fire sensitive
vegetation as well as general vegetation communities (e.g. dry eucalypt woodland/forest, Melaleuca woodland).
This is best done by using aerial photography coupled with your local knowledge.
2.2
Native species/communities of significance and/or potential indicator species
Seek assistance from your Resource staff when determining which species or communities are significant. All
species listed under the NCA as Threatened (V or E) should be listed, together with any others that may be
significant (e.g. endemic, locally threatened). Some Rare species may be worthy of inclusion. Determine which
Regional Ecosystems are present and list any that are “Of Concern” or “Endangered.” Modify the text as
required.
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Table 1: Indicate (Y/N) whether the flora species or community is useful as an indicator of fire management
(either appropriate or inappropriate management). Explain why the species or community is considered
significant (e.g. Of Concern Regional Ecosystem, habitat for threatened fauna species). If the species or
community has the potential to be used as an indicator of either appropriate or inappropriate fire management,
explain what it is an indicator of, and how this can be assessed.
Species/Community
2.3
potential
indicator?
Native flora species and communities of particular management significance with information on
potential value as indicators in monitoring programmes.
Status codes: E = Endangered (Schedule 2) under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation
1994 (NCWR);V = Vulnerable (Schedule 3) under the NCWR; R = Rare (Schedule 4) under the
NCWR; OC = Regional Ecosystem described as “Of Concern” in … (1999); EN = Regional
Ecosystem described as “Endangered” in … (1999).
Status code
Table 1
Details
Priority weeds in relation to fire management
It is critical to link the Fire Strategy with the protected area’s Weed Management Programme. Modify the text as
required. Provide a reference to the Weed Management Strategy here and include it in the Reference list.
Table 2: If fire management is required, explain the role of fire in controlling the weed. Also if a weed is
promoted by burning it should be included in this table.... a lot of weeds will fall into this category so include
only those which are significant or a priority on the Protected Area.
Table 2
Details of significant/ priority weeds in relation to fire management.
Scientific name
Common name
Details
At the time of writing there was no further information available detailing the nature all of these
infestations. Further studies need to be undertaken to further the impacts and distributions of all the
above pest plant species.
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2.4 Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines
Provide objectives and guidelines for fire management of the vegetation communities on the protected area.
Include an assessment of the risks associated with inappropriate fire management and how those risks will be
minimised.
Start with an over-riding paragraph. For example: “The minimum that should be achieved in the Protected Area
is the maintenance of the current distribution, diversity and extent of the plant communities. This is particularly
important in the case of communities which are poorly conserved (Map units 6, 7 & 9) and/or that are important
fauna habitat (see Table 1 and Table 7). In addition, fire can play an important role in facilitating or inhibiting
the invasion and control of exotic plants. Where appropriate, fire regimes which inhibit exotic plant invasion
should be given preference. Fire will also be used for the control of fire-sensitive exotic plants (with follow-up
herbicide application) as part of an integrated management programme.”
Mention the objectives in terms of the Regional Context. For example: “Since shorter fire-intervals predominate
across the region as a whole (see Section 1.2), preference should be given to longer fire-intervals in the protected
area (within the ecological thresholds of the communities)”.
Modify the text given below to suit the protected area. Be as specific as possible with the objectives and
guidelines.
QPWS Ecology Database - this database includes information on the types of regimes which are suitable for
particular plant communities. The information is linked to bioregions. Information on plant species responses to
fire can be recorded on, and retrieved from Wildnet. Priority should be given to collating such information for the
species on the Park, particularly from field observation.
Table 3: Be careful to describe what you mean in the Fire Regime column. In particular, be careful not to
confuse the kind of weather conditions you require with the kind of fire that will result. For example, you may
require severe conditions before a fire will carry through a particular plant community but that does not
necessarily mean that the fire will be of high intensity. It may in fact be a low to moderate intensity fire.
Use the Fire Intensity guide in the Fire Report Form.
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Map unit or
assemblage
Table 3
Fire management objectives and preferred fire regimes for the vegetation communities.
Plant community
Objectives
(according to Stanton 1999 p 40)
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(according to CRC research)
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3.
Fauna
Complete in a similar way to the flora section. Remember that a one-off assessment of fauna does not provide
the same level of information as a one-off assessment of flora. It is necessary to sample fauna multiple times and
over a range of seasons.
Discuss the adequacy of the fauna data. If for example, there has only been one survey conducted you might say
something like: “The surveys conducted to date can only be regarded as preliminary as a full range of seasons has
not been systematically sampled for all faunal groups. Snakes and burrowing animals are particularly underrepresented in the fauna data collected to date. Further systematic surveys, sampling all faunal groups in a range
of typical and atypical seasons (particularly a cool winter and a wet spring), are required to maximise the quality
of the information upon which this Strategy is based.”
Include invertebrates if you have the information.
3.1
Species of significance and/or potential indicator species
Table 4: Seek advice from your Resource Group when compiling this list and consult the QPWS Ecology
Database. This Database provides details on the status of fauna, basic biological information, the potential impact
of fire on species and/populations and suggested suitable fire regimes for fauna species. Details are linked to
bioregions.
In addition to listed Threatened species (V & E) there are a number of “common” species which are of
significance for us as protected area managers. These may be approaching threatened status or may be suspected
of being susceptible to threatening processes which are operating in the area. Add and delete codes to suit your
list and modify the text as required. In ‘details,’ explain why the species is considered particularly significant
(e.g. “listed as Endangered - declined dramatically in population size and distribution due to habitat alteration.”
“Although listed as Common the species has declined in southern Qld due to clearing of habitat for agriculture.
This threatening process is active locally.” If the species has the potential to be used as an indicator, explain what
it is an indicator of and how this can be assessed. The status codes are those used in the Nature Conservation
(Wildlife) Regulation 1994 and/or the QPWS Ecology Database.
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Table 4
Fauna species of significance with information on potential value as indicators in monitoring
programmes
3.2
Common name
Potential
indicator
Scientific name
Status code
Status codes: E = Endangered (Schedule 2) under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife)Regulation
1994 (NCWR);V = Vulnerable (Schedule 3) under the NCWR; R = Rare (Schedule 4) under the
NCWR; * = feral. Indicator codes: Y = good potential indicator; N = not a potential indicator;
D = possible, but difficult to use as an indicator.
Details
Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines
Explain the objectives and guidelines for fire management for the fauna assemblages found on the protected area.
An assessment of the risks associated with inappropriate fire management must be included, together with how
those risks will be addressed/minimised. It is generally most useful to talk in terms of fauna habitat rather than
single species. You should still, however, detail any special requirements of significant species (e.g. nesting
hollows for powerful owls). Edit the text as required. If fire management is linked into a stock or feral animal
control programme provide brief details here and refer to the Stock or Feral Animal Control Plan/Programme
(include a reference in the Reference Section). For example, “General musters within lowland sections of the
Park will be undertaken within two months of a planned burn, if possible, in order to make use of the
attractiveness of green pick stimulated by fire. Refer to the Stock Control Programme (ref.) for further details.”
Cultural resources
Detail the cultural resources of the protected area (include references if appropriate). Remember - this includes
the cultural heritage of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Also provide details of the relevant
Aboriginal groups, Native Title Claimants/ Representative Bodies for the protected area. If appropriate, cultural
resources/sites should be shown on Map 1. However, seek advice from cultural heritage staff and Native Title
Claimants/ Representative Bodies with respect to which (if any) Aboriginal cultural resources should be shown
on Map 1. Refer to Map 1 in the text if any cultural resources are included on it.
3.3
Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines
Explain the objectives and guidelines for fire management for the cultural resources of the protected area.
Include an assessment of the risks associated with inappropriate fire management and explain how these risks will
be minimised.
This is a specialised field so you should seek the advice of Cultural Heritage staff, Native Title Claimants/
Representative Bodies, with respect to the cultural significance of sites and management guidelines. If the fire
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management objectives/guidelines link into other cultural heritage programmes (e.g. surveys for artifacts/
evidence of occupation), explain briefly here and include a reference in the Reference Section.
4.
Protected Area infrastructure
Detail the infrastructure including visitor facilities, staff accommodation, workshops etc. These should all be
shown on Map 1. The current access track system (including permanent control lines) should also be shown on
this map. Some additional access tracks may be required (as outlined in Section 11.1) and these should also be
shown on Map 1 but it must be clear that they are ‘proposed’ rather than ‘current.’ Similarly, if there are some
tracks in the current system which are not required for fire management or any other purpose (as outlined in
Section 11.2), they should be clearly marked on Map 1. Temporary control lines which are used ‘regularly’
should also be shown on Map 1.
Refer to Map 1.
4.1
Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines
Specify what the fire management requirements are for the infrastructure. In most cases this will involve
exclusion of fire. Briefly describe how this will be achieved (e.g. mowing) and refer to Section 8.2.1.
Include an assessment of the risks associated with inappropriate fire management and explain how
these risks will be minimised.
5.
Resources on adjoining land
Describe the adjoining land uses and give details of the values of those lands e.g. Forestry plantation, cropping,
grazing, residential.
Refer to Map 1.
5.1
Objectives, risk assessment and guidelines
Include information on cooperative burning, existing agreements, agreements which should/will be negotiated,
links to Community Bushfire Protection Plans etc.
Include an assessment of the risks associated with inappropriate fire management and explain how these risks will
be minimised.
The objective is to minimise the risk of fire leaving the protected area, risking human life, and
damaging or destroying neighbouring infrastructure and other resources. Similarly, the risk of fire
entering the protected area should be minimised.
No amount of hazard reduction or construction of ‘control lines’ can eliminate the risk of wildfire in
natural areas. Much Australian native vegetation is fire-prone, and in many cases fire-promoting.
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Fuel in some vegetation communities will build up to a level capable of sustaining fire within months
of being burnt, although the intensity of a subsequent fire is likely to be lower. Under extreme fire
weather conditions fire-adapted communities, even if recently subjected to a low intensity ‘hazard
reduction burn,’ may carry a fire. It is reasonable, however, to manage natural areas to minimise the
risk of fires leaving or entering under ‘normal’ fire season conditions (see Section 1.1).
Failure to prevent unplanned fires leaving the Protected Area could result in the burning out of
pastures relied upon for cattle production and ultimately livelihoods being impacted. To combat this,
the Cape York Peninsula Development Association (CYPDA) organise aerial incendiary programs on
a regional perspective to develop a mosaic as to reduce the spread of unplanned fires. For example, all
the park neighbours have common boundaries, which they burn with park managers together to act as
control lines. These don’t follow cadastral boundaries, rather natural features and require the consents
from neighbours in order to take place. To date, this has been the most accepted method in slowing
the spread of unplanned fires from and onto the park.
The Protected Area is divided into Fire Management Zones (as detailed in Section 8 and Appendix 4)
to provide for adequate hazard reduction measures. Guidelines for hazard reduction are provided in
Section 8. Maintenance of the access track/control line systems defined in Section 11 will be
undertaken. These measures, in conjunction with mosaic burning of fire-adapted vegetation
communities (guidelines provided in Section 8) will greatly reduce the risk of fire entering or leaving
the Protected Area.
6.
Factors affecting fire behaviour and management
Discuss any factors (specific/relevant to the protected area) which are likely to markedly affect fire behaviour
and/ or management (e.g. topography, climate/microclimate, fuel, wind, hazard spots, smoke hazard, visitor use
patterns), the risks related to these factors and how the risks will be minimised/taken into account. The
risks/implications of smoke hazard will be particularly important in some areas and must be addressed in
appropriate detail including how smoke hazard will be managed to minimise risk.
Details of cooperative arrangements etc. may also be included if appropriate.
The park is subject to frequent fire occurrences. Most of these are wildfires. These generally come
from the south east with the prevailing wind. They have already crossed multiple tenures by the time
they reach the park. Because there is less grazing pressure on the park, biomass is higher,
consequently more fuel is available. This can be minimised with an effective early season incendiary
campaign to reduce the intensity of these fires. Through the development of a mosaic, intensity can be
lessened and rate of spread reduced. This is particularly relevant for late season wildfires i.e.
September, October, and November. Due to the extremely dry conditions and strong winds, these fires
burn hottest. Fortunately at this time of year, most of the visitation has ceased and the risk is lessened
to recreation areas.
Once the wet season fully commences, usually in December, after the early storms, the area becomes
too wet and not conducive to fire conditions until approximately May.
7.
Fire Management Zones
This is the section that details which zones are applicable to the protected area, describing where they are, the
control lines used to manage them and the management regimes that are to be applied to them.
…
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7.1
Introduction
Fire management zones are a means of identifying, planning and implementing the wide variety of fire
management aims that may apply to a protected area. Whilst each zone has a primary purpose, the
zones and their management should be complementary and provide a cumulative benefit to
management of the landscape as a whole.
A full description and explanation of the zoning scheme used in this Strategy is provided in
Appendix 4.
7.2
Fire Management Zones
Fire Management Zones for the Protected Area are shown on Map 4. Details of access tracks and
neighbouring properties are shown on Map 1. Details of each Fire Management Zone are given
below.
Refer to Tables 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10.
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8.2.1
Protection Zone
Protection Zones are located as described below.
Table 5
Locations of Protection Zones and associated management regimes.
Numbers relate to the Zoning Map (Map 4).
Location
P1: homestead and surrounding infrastructure.
P2: outstation
Management regime
To create an area of reduced fuel to provide a high level of protection to life,
property and infrastructure. This will be achieved by slashing the area
immediately around the base. The periphery is then lit in order for the fire to
burn away from the area thus creating a zone of reduced fuel. This will be done
early in the dry season.
To create an area of reduced fuel to provide a high level of protection to life,
property and infrastructure. This will be achieved by slashing the area
immediately around the base. The periphery is then lit in order for the fire to
burn away from the area thus creating a zone of reduced fuel. This will be
done early in the dry season.
P3: …
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8.2.2
Wildfire Mitigation Zone
Wildfire Mitigation Zones are located as described below. As described in Appendix 4, the fire regimes applied within this zone should be within the ecological
requirements, but at the more frequent end of the range of acceptable frequencies, for each vegetation community.
Table 6
Locations of Wildfire Mitigation Zones and associated management regimes.
Numbers relate to the Zoning Map (Map 4).
Location
W1: An area of about 10 000 hectares. This zone provides strategic protection to
the vegetation communities north of the road and also the homestead.
Management regime
Create a mosaic by undertaking small, low-intensity burns via an aerial
incendiary program. This will occur in the early dry season, of a 2-3 year
interval (depending on fire hazard).
W2: …
…
W3: …
…
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8.2.3
Conservation Zone
Delete the first sentence if it’s not correct but it should be true for most, if not all, protected areas.
The majority of the Protected Area falls within the Conservation Zone.
A quick-reference guide for vegetation communities and/or habitats within the Conservation Zone is given in Map on the following page. This map brings together
the fire management requirements of all natural resources described in previous sections and provides specific guidelines for burning. Some vegetation
communities have been grouped together into ‘fire-associations’ as their fire management requirements and fauna habitat characteristics are similar.
Significant fauna species and cultural resources likely to be affected by fire management in each vegetation community grouping are listed. Information on the fire
ecology of fauna species is provided in the QPWS Ecology Database. To date, there has been no work undertaken to determine the impact of fire on particular
fauna species in the park.
Table 7:
Column 2 - use the information in Table 3 to combine vegetation map units into ‘fire-associations’ - that is, communities which require a similar fire regime. Note that it may
sometimes be necessary to divide a single vegetation map unit into more than one ‘fire-association.’ This will most often be done on the basis of fauna habitat and the need to manage
a particular habitat very differently from the rest of the vegetation community. Remember to consider only those vegetation communities that fall within the Conservation Zone (e.g.
fire-sensitive vegetation communities will usually be in the Exclusion Zone).
Column 3 - use actual records (e.g. from fauna & flora survey reports) and the habitat information from the QPWS Ecology Databases to determine which significant species (plants
& animals) are likely to occur in each ‘fire-association’. Only include those that may be adversely affected by fire. Use the information from Section 4 to determine which cultural
resources should be noted.
Column 4 - state the fire regimes required. These can be determined from the information in Sections 2, 3 and 4, and in particular Tables 1, 3 and 4.
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Table 7
Quick reference guide for fire management requirements in the Conservation Zone.
Map code relates to the Zoning Map (Map 4).
Vegetation community
Significant species/cultural resources likely to be
and/or habitat
adversely affected by fire management
C2:
...
...
C3:
…
…
C4:
…
…
Management regime
REFER TO MAP ON FOLLOWING PAGE (This table should be deleted)
8.2.4
Rehabilitation Zone
Not all protected areas will have this zone. It is only intended to encompass areas where disturbance has resulted in a highly modified environment which is to be rehabilitated to its
original state (or some other natural state) and where fire exclusion or manipulation is required to achieve this aim. Refer to Appendix 4 for details.
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There are no rehabilitation zones operating on the park.
Therefore delete this table
Table 8
Locations of Rehabilitation Zones and associated management regimes.
Numbers relate to the Zoning Map (Map 4).
Location
Management regime
Rh1: …
Rh2: …
…
…
Rh3: …
…
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Fire Strategy
19
8.2.5
Reference Zone
Not all protected areas will need this zone. If it is not needed simply say so. Remember - areas in this zone must also be discussed in the Fire Research & Monitoring Section (for
more detail see Appendix 4). Edit the text as necessary.
Details of the Reference Zones are given in Table 9.
Refer to Section 8 for details of the research and monitoring programmes.
Table 9
Locations of Reference Zones and associated management regimes.
Numbers relate to the Zoning Map (Map 4).
Location
Management regime
Only to monitor the effects of fire over time.
Only to monitor the effects of fire over time.
Only to monitor the effects of fire over time.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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20
8.2.6
Exclusion Zone
The following vegetation types/areas have been placed in a Fire Exclusion Zone.
Table 10
Vegetation type, location and management details for Exclusion Zones.
Numbers relate to the Zoning Map (Map 4).
Vegetation Type & Location
E1: Complex plant communities
Management regime
Burn around margins early in the dry season.
E2:
E3: …
…
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
21
8.
Fire research and monitoring
Provide details of any fire related research and/or monitoring undertaken in the past or currently, and any proposed or required in the future. In general it is best to provide only a
brief summary of the research and/or monitoring programme/s here. Include: aim; how success will be evaluated; how long the project will continue. Name/s and contact details for
those responsible for the project should be included here or in Appendix 5. Provide a detailed account of the project in Appendix 5 and/or refer to separate documentation.
Remember, the research/monitoring aspects of Reference Zones should be discussed here. Reword the paragraph as required.
Following is a brief summary of fire research and monitoring programmes on the Protected Area. Details are provided in Appendix 5.
Past:
Fire monitoring plots (3) have been established.
Current:
There has been no recent observance of these due to the difficulty in being located.
Future:
A concerted effort will need to be made to re-establish these plots as to monitor vegetation responses to fire management practices.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
22
9.
Fire Management Areas
Many protected areas will not require the use of Fire Management Areas. If they are not required, simply say so. Provide a single coverage (preferably on an overlay at the same
scale as Map 1) which shows all of the Fire Management Areas. If they also need to be shown in greater detail include separate coverages of each FMA or groups of FMA’s, and call
these coverages Map 5a…..etc.
Refer to Appendix 4 for an explanation of the purpose of Fire Management Areas. The Fire Management Areas are shown on Map 5. Associated access tracks
(including permanent control lines) are shown on Map 1. Table 11 provides a brief summary of their location and features which are important in the event of a
planned burn or wildfire. New access tracks (including permanent control lines) which are required and those which can be closed are discussed in detail in
Section 11.
Table 11: Include only information which is useful either for planning and implementing burns or in a wildfire situation, and which has not already been provided in Section 8. For
example, clearly state which creek lines have permanent water, which are useful as natural ‘control lines,’ any particular fire hazards etc. Access tracks are described in detail in
Section 11 and do not need to be included in this table other than to state what, if any, temporary control lines are present (routinely used temporary control lines are shown on Map
1) or would be acceptable in the Fire Management Area.
Refer to Map 5
FMA’s are very general so therefore delete this table about the specific details.
Table 11
Locations and boundaries of Fire Management Areas and details of relevant features. Refer to Map 5
Location
Features
1: …
2: …
…
3: …
…
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
23
Access track system
Compare what access tracks (including permanent control lines) are needed to achieve the objectives set out in the Strategy with what is currently in place. Explain why the current
system is adequate or if it is inadequate refer to Section 11.1 and/ or 11.2 for details. Describe what changes are acceptable or unacceptable in the future. Edit the text as required.
Tracks can provide efficient means of access for fire management. All constructed tracks, result in some negative environmental impacts. Permanently constructed
tracks/control lines have the potential to cause soil-erosion and facilitate the establishment and spread of exotic plants. Temporary control lines, which are cleared
when required (e.g. by slashing or hand-chipping) and allowed to revegetate when not in use, result in less environmental impact. As far as possible, permanent
control lines should also serve other management purposes. All other control lines should be temporary.
The track system is shown on Map 1. This map shows the current system as well as additional access tracks which are required (details in Section 11.1). Those
which should be closed are also shown on Map 1 (details in Section 11.2). Once the proposed changes have been made it will only be under exceptional
circumstances that the system will be changed, particularly if the changes are to be permanent.
9.1
New access tracks/control lines
A justification must be given for the creation of new access tracks (including permanent control lines).
Details of new tracks (including permanent control lines) that are required are provided in Table 12.
Table 12
New access tracks required in the Protected Area.
Note: includes permanent control lines.
Track identifier
…
…
Description
To clear a firebreak from the where the two sections of
boundary fence meet, and then run the line down to Waterhole
…
…
Maintenance
Annual slashing as per other access tracks.
…
…
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
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9.2
Track closures
Explain why these tracks (including permanent control lines) are not required and should be closed. Reword the paragraph as required.
Tracks which are not required for fire management, or any other legitimate purpose, are described in Table 13 and shown on Map 1 The reason/s they are not
required are also provided in Table 13.
No tracks are recommended for closure in the park.
Therefore, delete this table
Table 13
Tracks to be closed in the Protected Area.
Track identifier
…
…
…
Description
…
…
…
Reasons for closure
…
…
…
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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25
10. References
The references provided here are referred to in the text provided in this template. If you edit the text remember
to add or delete references as required. Only references mentioned in the body of the Strategy should be included
here.
10.1 Personal communications
Provide the name, position and organisation of all people cited in the text as providing information as a personal
communication. For example: “Bloggs J. Senior Technical Officer, Technical Services Unit, Queensland Parks
& Wildlife Service, Boulia”
…
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Appendix 1
Meteorological
Edit the title according to whether the Meteorological data is for the protected area specifically, from the Bureau
of Meteorology website, or elsewhere.
If using data from the Bureau of Meteorology:

From the homepage go to “Climate Averages”

Then go to “Tables of Averages for Specific Locations”

Selected the nearest station to the protected area

Print the data in landscape format and insert into this document. An example of the printout is provided
here (Example A).
Graphs of average rainfall and temperature data are also available in the website at ‘Graphs of Averages for
Selected Stations.’ Alternatively you can download the data from the “Tables of Averages for Specific
Locations” as a text file, format it and import it into Excel and create your own graph. An example is provided
here (Example B). You can also print out the formatted data from Excel (Example C) for inclusion in the
Strategy rather than inserting the web printout.
Wind information is also available on the BOM website.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Example A
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
180
90
160
80
140
70
120
60
100
50
80
40
60
30
40
20
20
10
0
0
JAN
FEB
MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
Fire weather (monthly averages)
Temperature/Relative humidity
Rainfall/Wind gust
Example B
DEC
Month
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Median (Decile 5)
Rainfall (mm)
Maximum Wind
Gust (km/hr)
Mean Daily Max
Temp (deg C)
Mean 3pm
Relative Humidity
(%)
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Example C
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
28.2
0.4
16.8
130.6
45.3
16.5
1.8
0.1
-1
22
18.5
15.9
70
27.1
19.6
14.1
47
833.5
790.2
1228.5
509
89.7
% complete
record
32
0.1
4.8
23.9
41.3
21.1
0
0
10.2
26.7
22.3
19.7
66
30.7
22.8
18.2
48
106.7
80.6
187.3
26
9.7
533.4
Annual
31.2
0
3.5
19.7
45.3
19.5
0
0
9.4
25.8
20.9
17.7
63
29.9
21.5
16.1
44
68.3
63.6
123.4
16.3
7.8
154.2
No. ‘years’
data
23 24.6 27.1 29.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.2
1.5
0
0.7
4.5 12.4
30.6 33.3 37.1 41.1
9.3 10.5 13.4 16.8
1.1
0.4
0
0
0.1
0
0
0
-0.9
-0.3
3.4
7
15.1
17 20.4 23.6
12.6 13.9 16.5
19
9.9 10.9 13.2 15.7
73
69
65
63
22.2 23.8 26.1 28.3
15.1 15.8 17.6 19.7
8.1
8.3 10.2 13.4
43
39
39
42
32.2 26.3 22.3 48.5
17.2 18.4 11.4 38.7
94.2 64.2 67.6 105.2
1.2
1
1
7.4
5.4
4.3
4
6.6
184 105.6 107.3 152.4
December
23.4
0
0
0.1
32.3
10.6
0.4
0
-1
16
13.4
11
73
22.6
15.8
9.4
45
35.2
21.8
77.3
0.8
4.6
186.4
November
25.8
0
0
0.6
31.9
14.2
0
0
2.9
19.3
16.5
14.1
73
24.9
18
12.5
48
52.5
36.5
124.8
3
6.5
303.8
October
28.6
0
0.1
7.5
35.4
17.7
0
0
4.7
22.8
19.5
17.2
72
27.6
20.4
15.4
49
47.5
36.8
111.2
5
6.7
198.6
September
30.3
0
0.9
17.6
42.1
20.7
0
0
11
25.1
21.7
19.7
73
29.2
22.5
18.5
54
106.6
74.7
248
10.6
10.5
447.4
August
June
31.1
0.1
1.8
19.9
43.3
22
0
0
16.2
26.1
22.8
21
74
29.9
23.4
20
56
145
115.6
357
14.8
12.3
453.1
July
May
Mean no. Days, Min  2.0°C
Mean no. Days, Min  0.0°C
Lowest Min Temp (°C)
Mean 9am Air Temp (°C)
Mean 9am Wet-bulb Temp (°C)
Mean 9am Dew Point Temp (°C)
Mean 9am Relative Humidity (%)
Mean 3pm Air Temp (°C)
Mean 3pm Wet-bulb Temp (°C)
Mean 3pm Dew Point Temp (°C)
Mean 3pm Relative Humidity (%)
Mean Rainfall (mm)
Median (Decile 5) Rainfall (mm)
Decile 9 Rainfall (mm)
Decile 1 Rainfall (mm)
Mean no. of Raindays
Highest Monthly Rainfall (mm)
31.8
0.2
4
23.8
42.5
22
0
0
16.3
26.7
22.8
20.7
71
30.6
23.4
19.5
53
142.4
106.4
301.5
35.1
11.3
660.2
April
Mean no. Days, Max  40.0°C
Mean no. Days, Max  35.0°C
Mean no. Days, Max  30.0°C
Highest Max Temp (°C)
Mean Daily Min Temp (°C)
March
Mean Daily Max Temp (°C)
February
January
Climatic average data for …, latitude 19.25°S longitude 146.76°E (Bureau of Meteorology site number …).
56.9
57.1
57.1
57.1
57.1
56.9
57.1
57.1
57.1
57
55.2
57
55.3
56.9
54.8
56.9
55
57.4
56
56
56
57.3
57.4
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
97
100
97
100
96
100
96
100
100
100
Lowest Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Highest Recorded Daily Rain (mm)
Mean no. of Clear Days
Mean no. of Cloudy Days
Mean Daily Sunshine (hrs)
Maximum Wind Gust (km/hr)
Mean Daily Evaporation (mm)
8.9
219
3.4
9.6
116.6
7.1
31.8
2.8
183.1
2.4
9.8
101.9
6.4
31.1
2.3
172.2
5.1
7.6
161.3
6
30.3
0
59.4
8.1
5.5
87.1
5.2
28.6
0.3
108.2
9.6
6.5
87.1
4
25.8
0
74.6
13.3
5.3
88.9
3.5
23.4
0.3
58.6
15.1
4.6
66.6
3.6
23
0
0
0.4
77.6 55.4 64.3
15.7 13.2
9.6
3.5
2.5
3.9
79.6 111.2 129.6
4.4
5.7
6.7
24.6 27.1 29.5
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 1999, Bureau of Meteorology.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
0
111.4
6.5
4.8
159.5
7.5
31.2
3.6
271.5
4.2
6.5
113
7.5
32
271.5
106.2
70
161.3
5.6
28.2
57.4
57.3
57.4
57.4
56.9
44.9
56.9
100
100
100
100
100
100
Appendix 2
Flora species recorded in Park
Status: Presumed Extinct (PE), Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V), Rare (R), Common (C),
Not Protected ().
Endemicity: Queensland Endemic (Q), Intranational (QA), Regional Endemic (QI), Not Endemic to
Australia (QAI), Vagrant (International) (VI), Vagrant (Intranational) (VA), Vagrant (Unknown)
(VU), Introduced (International) (II), Introduced (Intranational) (IA), Introduced (Unknown) (IU),
Exotic (International) (XI), Exotic (Intranational) (XA), Exotic (Unknown) (XU) or Unknown (U).
Common name
Kingdom: Plants
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Status
Endemicity
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Appendix 3
Fauna species recorded in Park
Status: Presumed Extinct (PE), Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V), Rare (R), Common (C), Not
Protected ().
Endemicity: Queensland Endemic (Q), Intranational (QA), Regional Endemic (QI), Not Endemic to
Australia (QAI), Vagrant (International) (VI), Vagrant (Intranational) (VA), Vagrant (Unknown)
(VU), Introduced (International) (II), Introduced (Intranational) (IA), Introduced (Unknown) (IU),
Exotic (International) (XI), Exotic (Intranational) (XA), Exotic (Unknown) (XU) or Unknown (U).
This list is in the format that is provided in ‘list outputs’ from WildNet (using WildNet Print). The species
shown are for example only – you should replace the whole list with the WildNet output (select RTF File as the
output format). Check the status and endemicity codes at the end of the list and delete those that are not relevant.
If your protected area list is not available in WildNet, use this format to manually type the species. A list of
invertebrate species can also be included in this appendix.
Common name
Kingdom: Animals
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Status
Endemicity
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Appendix 4
Fire Management Zones and Fire Management Areas
Vegetation communities and fauna habitats in Australia, and/or their distribution, have been shaped
by fire. Natural areas can be managed to maintain the role of fire as an ecological process in these
communities/or habitats and to thereby restore or maintain their biological diversity.
Reasons for actively managing a natural area with fire include:
1. Protection of life, property and infrastructure.
2. Restoration, regeneration or maintenance of plant communities and fauna habitats.
3. Enhancement and/or maintenance of conditions suitable for particular flora/fauna species
(e.g. rare and threatened species).
4. Maintenance or maximisation of diversity by maintaining a range of ages since fire for each
vegetation type, including recently burnt areas, long unburnt areas and various ages in between.
5. Protection of cultural assets and natural assets other than those mentioned above.
6. Weed management including reducing the risk of invasion.
7. Minimisation of floristic changes in the ground stratum due to grazing by domestic or feral stock.
To achieve the aforementioned aims requires the development of an appropriate spatial and temporal
mosaic across the protected area. This will not be achieved without considerable strategic planning
and ongoing implementation of the plan/s. Whilst spatial mosaics can begin to be created reasonably
quickly, the development of temporal mosaics requires a long-term strategy and commitment.
The two main levels or units of planning which will be used to facilitate the development of spatial
and temporal mosaics and to manage fire in general are Fire Management Zones and Fire
Management Areas. These are described below.
Fire Management Zones
The information presented here (unless otherwise referenced) draws on the work of Wouters 1996, Twyford 1995, Rose et al.
1999 and Clarke 1999. Rose et al. (1999) provide a valuable discussion of the importance and application of spatial patterns
in the management of fire regimes for the protection of life and property, and the conservation of biodiversity.
‘Effective fire management requires an appropriate spatial and temporal application of fire regimes,
and Fire Management Zones offer a pragmatic way of identifying, planning and managing these
patterns’ (Rose et al. 1999). Zones show at a glance the principal purpose/s (in terms of fire
management) for any given part of a protected area and therefore the way in which the area will
generally be managed for fire. Within any one zone there may be one to many vegetation
communities/habitats and a range of appropriate fire regimes depending on the communities/habitats
and purpose/s of the zone. Below is an outline of the principal purpose/s of each zone, guidelines for
managing the zone and fire regimes which are appropriate within it. The following statement from
Rose et al. (1999) should be heeded:
‘It is desirable that most fire management zones contribute in some way to both mitigation of
unplanned fire and biodiversity conservation, even though this often involves more complex
planning than the simpler approach of zones with (primarily) a single purpose. When all zones
are considered complementary, greater recognition is given to the cumulative benefits of
management of each zone (across a landscape) with less reliance on the traditional ‘sacrificial
areas’ to mitigate fire effects on assets.’
Note: Not all zones will be necessary in all protected areas.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Protection Zone
Purpose
To create an area of reduced fuel to provide a high level of protection to life, property and
infrastructure. The zone therefore typically abuts or surrounds property and key infrastructure and in
some cases the whole of an area may be designated as a Protection Zone (e.g. the whole ‘yard’ area of
the protected area headquarters rather than just a ‘strip’ around it). It may also be used along sections
of a boundary where fires are known to regularly enter or leave the protected area. In most cases it
will not be possible, necessary or desirable to maintain a Protection Zone around the entire boundary
of a protected area.
It may sometimes be necessary to create an area of reduced fuel around sensitive natural and cultural
resources for which fire exclusion is critical. For example, a fire sensitive community would be
placed in an Exclusion Zone but to achieve this it may be appropriate to surround it and a buffer area
with a Protection Zone.
Fuel can be reduced by burning or other means e.g. mowing.
Guidelines



Fuel loads will be managed to enable wildfires to be contained under fire weather conditions
which are typical for a particular area and season.
Tracks which allow ready access to fire fighting vehicles may be maintained in this zone but the
use of other features, such as fuel and vegetation moisture gradients, to contain fire is encouraged.
All hazardous fuels which are likely to jeopardise wildfire suppression, in particular back-burning
operations, must be removed from the area or if they are an essential part of the work environment
they must be maintained according to work place health and safety standards (e.g. fuel-free zone
around flammable chemicals).
Fire regimes
Intensity: low
Season:
cooler months or any conditions which will ensure a low intensity burn
Frequency: as often as there is sufficient fuel to carry a fire
Wildfire Mitigation Zone
Purpose
The location and management of these zones is aimed at increasing the likelihood of controlling a
wildfire in strategically important areas within the protected area. The zone will often be located
adjacent to a Protection Zone to provide maximum protection to life and property. The zone may also
be used to reduce the potential for extensive areas to be burned in a wildfire and the likelihood of fires
escaping from the protected area. They should, therefore act to slow the spread of wildfire and
thereby facilitate the implementation of wildfire suppression operations. They may be established
along the boundary, particularly where the level of risk is too low to warrant a Protection Zone.
Where consistent with the primary objectives of a Wildfire Mitigation Zone, it should be managed to
conserve biodiversity. Wildfire Mitigation Zones will be most effective when the surrounding fireprone vegetation has been burned in a mosaic pattern (refer to Conservation Zone).
Guidelines

Fuel loads are to be maintained in a mosaic pattern ranging from low to moderate.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy




As far as possible the zone should be wider than the average spotting-distance to be expected in a
‘normal’ fire season. Desirable width will vary from one location to another but may need to be
up to 1 or 2 km, in some sensitive, high risk areas.
Wherever practicable/acceptable this zone will be located to take advantage of natural fire control
lines.
The zone should be burned in sections to generate a mosaic burn pattern such that the vegetation
is not simplified to a single age class but maintains the ecological values of a range of age classes
(within the constraints of the primary purpose of the corridor).
It is preferable for this zone to be bordered by well defined and accessible vehicle tracks on all
sides, but in particular the edge along which most wildfire suppression activities are likely to be
required.
Fire regime
Intensity: consistent with the ecological requirements of the vegetation communities
Season:
consistent with the ecological requirements of the vegetation communities
Frequency: within the range acceptable for the ecological requirements of the vegetation
communities but generally towards the shorter end of that range.
Conservation Zone
Purpose
The purpose of fire management in this zone is to maintain the natural role of fire as an ecological
process in vegetation communities and fauna habitats. Habitat diversity is critical to the maintenance
of fauna diversity (Recher 1986). In fire-tolerant communities the most widely accepted means of
achieving this is to burn in a highly variable, mosaic (or patchwork) pattern. Each community needs
to be ‘broken up’ into a complex system of interlocking patches, each with a different fire history.
These patches must provide a high degree of variation in fire-interval within each vegetation
community (consistent with its ecological limits). Some of each community should be left for the
maximum fire free interval (consistent with its ecological limits) to facilitate formation of tree
hollows, accumulation of litter and logs and to enhance soil formation and stability. How much
should be left will depend on the regional context (e.g. the protected area may be surrounded by lands
burned at short intervals), extent of the community and the requirements of the flora and fauna
comprising the community. To establish such a mosaic requires the use of natural as well as artificial
fire control lines, taking advantage of suitable weather conditions (such as high soil moisture and
dew), as well as considerable time and effort. Once established however, a mosaic is easier to
manage because previously burnt patches act as barriers to assist with containment of each patch burn
(Stanton 1993). Burning in this way also allows strategic selection of areas that can remain long
unburnt without increasing the fire risk to life and property.
Management of this zone indirectly supplements the objectives of the other zones including the
Protection Zone and the Wildfire Mitigation Zone. Events/practices which are likely to promote weed
invasion (e.g. lighting off road edges) should be avoided.
Guidelines



This zone is usually located in areas remote from assets and property.
The purpose of planned burns is to produce and/or maintain a mosaic pattern of vegetation with
areas of varying age since fire. Ideally, areas of the same or similar age will be linked across the
landscape to allow movement of fauna which may be dependent upon the particular habitat type
created by a vegetation type of that age class.
Strategically located tracks, natural fire control lines and previously burnt vegetation will be used
to contain planned burns in this zone.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy

As mosaic burning practices become well developed the reliance on tracks and other constructed
control lines should diminish because fires (planned burns or wildfires) can be allowed to burn
until they reach areas where the fuel has previously been reduced and the fire can be more easily
controlled (Stanton 1993).
Fire regimes
The fire regimes applied in this zone will vary according to the ecological requirements of the flora
and fauna communities present in the zone, and take into account the requirements of cultural
resources.
Rehabilitation zone
Purpose
This zone should encompass areas which are intended to be included in a Conservation Zone in the
future but whose current management is aimed at combating a threatening process which can not be
addressed by the ‘usual’ fire management practices used in a Conservation Zone to promote and
maintain biodiversity. The following hypothetical scenario illustrates the use of a Rehabilitation Zone
compared to a Conservation Zone.
Example only
There are two Eucalyptus tereticornis (blue gum) woodland communities on creek banks/flats in Park X. The
first has a scattered infestation of rubbervine with few of the vines reaching the canopy. The infestation can be
managed by an ongoing programme of spraying. The second is heavily infested with rubbervine to the point
where the canopies are being smothered. The infestation is so severe that spraying, on its own, is not a viable
option.
In general, the aim of fire management in these communities in Park X is to enhance fauna habitat by protecting
habitat trees and the complex ground stratum. Therefore fire is either excluded from sites or patchy, infrequent,
low intensity burns are used. This fire management is appropriate and achievable in the first blue gum
community and is combined with an annual weed programme to control the scattered rubbervine. The
community is therefore placed in the Conservation Zone.
The biodiversity values of the second community are however, severely compromised by the rubbervine and will
only get worse if something is not done soon. An intense fire or series of fires will ‘set back’ the rubbervine to a
point that will enable some hope of control through ongoing followup with a spray programme. While intense
fire will also impact severely on the already weakened trees this is considered the better of ‘two evils’ since it
provides some hope for the community to recover over time. The community is therefore placed in a
Rehabilitation Zone.
Guidelines
 The zone will only encompass areas where disturbance has resulted in a highly modified
environment which is to be rehabilitated to its original state (or some other more natural state) and
where fire exclusion or manipulation is required to achieve this aim.
 The zone should be bounded by fire control lines (preferably temporary, if not natural) or a
surrounding buffer should be burnt in such a way so as to minimise the risk of the Rehabilitation
Zone being burned in an inappropriate way.
Fire regime
The fire regime will be determined by the particular needs of the community or communities within
the zone.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
Reference zone
Purpose
This zone is established to allow monitoring of the long-term effects of fire regimes, wildfires or fire
exclusion on nature conservation values. Any Reference Zone established on a protected area should
also have a documented and approved research and/or monitoring project/s. Not all protected areas
will require a Reference Zone/s.
Guidelines
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Representative areas of vegetation communities/habitats, of adequate size (the size will
depend on the research/ monitoring programme to be undertaken), should be included in
this zone.
The zone, or buffer around the zone, must be bordered by existing roads, tracks or natural control
lines to facilitate the exclusion of unplanned fires from the area.
Wherever practicable/appropriate, the zone will be located in close proximity to Protection and/or
Wildfire Mitigation Zones because the planned burning of these areas will maximise the
protection of the Reference Zone.
It is generally advisable to distribute the Reference Zones widely across a protected area to
minimise the potential for all the areas to be burnt in a wildfire.
Every reasonable precaution should be taken to ensure that Reference Zones can be adequately
protected from unplanned fires.
Active wildfire suppression will be carried out, if possible, when Reference Zones are threatened,
unless a wildfire will achieve the purpose of the research/monitoring programme being
undertaken in the zone.
Ideally the fire history of each Reference Zone should be accurately known.
A thorough (preferably quantitative) vegetation (and in some cases fauna and other biota)
assessment should be undertaken when the Reference Zone is first established. Monitoring should
thereafter be undertaken on a regular basis. Results from the monitoring programme must feed
back into the Fire Strategy and Planned Burn Programme.
Monitoring environmental conditions, including weather, is a critical aspect of Reference Zone
management.
Exclusion Zone
Purpose
The objective for Exclusion Zones is the total exclusion of fire. To the greatest possible extent
wildfires threatening this zone will be actively suppressed (protection of life will always be regarded
as a higher priority).
Guidelines

The following community types will generally be included in this zone:

all rainforest types including coastal, carrol, bottletree and ooline scrubs

mangroves, salt marshes, salt flats

coastal foredune communities

brigalow, rosewood, lancewood, bendee and some other similar Acacia dominated
communities
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy

The following community types may be included in this zone (alternatively they may be included
in a Conservation Zone) at least for the ‘life’ of the Fire Strategy:

cypress forest (in certain areas)
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riparian communities including those along dry creeklines

wet sclerophyll forests

belah communities

Communities should not be included in this zone if, although not planned to be burned, no attempt
will be made to prevent wildfires entering them.

A buffer zone, on both sides of the main bed of creeks/rivers, should be protected from fire to
promote the recovery/development of riparian systems - these being critical fauna habitat. This
may be difficult/impossible to achieve in the short term and it may therefore be more appropriate
to leave such areas within a Conservation Zone. Steps should be taken, where possible, to reduce
the risk of these communities being damaged in a planned burn (e.g. light the fire away from the
buffer; burn when soil moisture content is high).

It may not be feasible to include the aforementioned communities in the Exclusion Zone when
they occur as small stands surrounded by vegetation communities requiring active management
with planned burning. In these situations, the closed/wet communities are likely to remain largely
unburnt during planned burning operations because of their micro-climate (e.g. more moist,
cooler). Steps should be taken, where possible, to reduce the risk of these communities being
damaged in a planned burn (e.g. light the fire away from the sensitive community).

Assets, other than vegetation communities/habitats may be included in an Exclusion Zone. e.g.
cultural sites for which fire exclusion is critical.
Fire regime
Exclusion of all fire from the zone. Active suppression of wildfires threatening the zone.
Fire Management Areas
In some protected areas, or parts thereof, the use of Fire Management Areas facilitates the
implementation of the objectives of the Zones. Fire Management Areas (sometimes previously
known as ‘blocks’) are typically portions of a protected area which have logical natural, or other,
boundaries such that it is helpful to manage that portion as a unit. For example, a catchment may be
a useful management unit to designate as a Fire Management Area. Similarly, a portion of a protected
area which lies between two permanent access tracks or between an escarpment and a property
boundary, may be sensibly managed as a Fire Management Area. It is critical that Fire
Management Areas are NOT managed in the traditional sense of ‘blocks’ - that is they should not
be burned in their entirety, or on a rotational basis, and the reliance on access tracks to contain fire
should be avoided. Using access tracks, rather than features such as fuel or moisture gradients, to
contain fires is a very real temptation but such practices may result in undesirable spatial patterns
which lack variability (Rose et al.1999).
A Fire Management Area may include more than one Fire Management Zone.
Fire Management Areas are tools to facilitate the implementation of the objectives of the Zones
- they do not have their own set of objectives or fire regimes.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
Fire Strategy
References
Clarke J. (1999) Central Coast Region Fire Planning & Reporting System. Version 1.2. Queensland
Parks & Wildlife Service, Rockhampton.
Recher H.F. (1986) So many kinds of animals: the study of communities. In: A Natural Legacy (2nd
ed.) (eds H.F. Recher, D. Lunney & I. Dunn). Pergamon Press. pp. 274-293.
Rose R., Wiltshire G. & Lang S. (1999) The importance and application of spatial patterns in the
management of fire regimes for the protection of life and property and the conservation of
biodiversity. In: Proceedings of the Australian Bushfire Conference – Bushfire ’99. Albury NSW
7-9 July 1999. pp.349-58.
Stanton J.P. (1993) Common perceptions and misconceptions of QDEH fire management programs.
In: Proceedings of a workshop on fire management on conservation reserves in tropical Australia.
(eds E.R. McDonald and D. Batt). Malanda, Qld 26-30 July 1993. pp. 4-8.
Twyford K.L. (1995) Development of a fire management strategy for Fraser Island World Heritage
Area. In: Working papers from the Sixth Queensland Fire Research Workshop. 8-10 March 1995,
Bargara, Qld. pp. 22-36.
Wouters M. (1996) Developing fire management planning and monitoring. In: Fire and biodiversity
- the effects and effectiveness of fire management. Proceedings of the conference held 8-9 October
1994, Footscray, Melbourne. Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 8, Biodiversity Unit, Department of
the Environment, Sport and Territories. pp. 235-239.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Appendix 5
Fire Research and Monitoring Projects
Take digital photos of each
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Map 1
Map of the Park showing tracks, infrastructure, named sites and
neighbouring properties
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Map 2
Vegetation map for the Park
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Map 3
Known fire history over the last 3 years for the Park.
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Map 4
Fire Management Zones
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Map 5
Fire Management Areas
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service - Fire Management System (2000)
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