BushfireConf2015 - 26. Cooperation to protect communities, koalas and long-nosed potoroos
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Transcript of BushfireConf2015 - 26. Cooperation to protect communities, koalas and long-nosed potoroos
FIRE AND RESTORATION:WORKING WITH FIRE FOR HEALTHY LANDSCAPE
Phil Paterson May 2015
Nature Conservation Council Bushfire Conference 2015
Cooperating to protect communities, koalas and long-nosed potoroos
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The Community› A coastal area located south of Bermagui and between
three important National Parks; Mimosa Rocks, Biamanga and Gulaga with the township of Tathra to the south.
› Locality contains areas at high risk from bushfire and also two populations of “at risk” threatened species; koala and long nosed potoroo
› Area is also highly significant to the local traditional owners
› Diverse community with large areas of forestry, agricultural activity, fishing, lifestyle and tourism.
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Community “buy in” and ownership› Hotspots workshops based around the risk fire poses to
community, property and the populations of koala and long nosed potoroo
› Smaller workshops in geographic locations eg Head of Cuttagee Road
› Development of geographic “Local Fire Action Plans” that incorporates “Whole of Landscape” concepts
› Participants involved in survey work for both potoroo and koala
› Mentoring by local koala volunteers and Local Land Services
› Train local volunteers to assist in delivery of workshop
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Future directions and outcomes› Establish a “cafe” or Community Hub comprising of
members of the community and local “experts”
› Establish networks for all aspects of community interest eg RFS district and brigade, National Parks, Local Land Services and traditional owners
› Community involvement in development of Bush Fire Risk Management Plans as “Whole of Landscape”
› Community working closely with RFS and other agencies in developing Hazard Reduction Planning
› Develop training and information opportunities for local community
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Future directions and outcomes› Ongoing community involvement in monitoring both
populations of potoroo and koala
› Development of locally based research on Fire Risk Modelling to support the conservation of koalas in the Far South Coast (Trent Penman)
› Examine the risk trade-offs for varying management strategies looking at the risk both to koalas and the surrounding people and property
› Study plots located on local private and agency lands
› Comparing burn probabilities using the Fire Simulator Phoenix Rapidfire (Tolhurst et al 2008) and cooperating with both RFS and OEH Datasets and University of Melbourne