Fire Procedures for Biodiversity

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The City is responsible for managing 201 Local Natural Areas (LNAs), ranging in size from 0.04 ha to 124.89 ha. These LNAs include natural vegetation, recreational facilities, and other mixed land uses. To manage fire risks within these areas, the City employs a range of techniques, including prescribed burning, mechanical removal of weeds, and maintaining firebreaks.

Together, we can balance safety and conservation, ensuring a thriving environment for future generations.

However, balancing fire management with the protection of biodiversity is crucial. The Fire Procedures for Biodiversity (FPB) has been developed to safeguard the significant biodiversity values within LNAs while addressing fire risk. It is based on fire management principles outlined by Shedley (2007). Details of these principles, along with the City’s FPB, can be found below:

Biodiversity Values in Local Natural Areas

Balancing Fire Risk and Biodiversity

The Shedley Principles

In 2007, Erica Shedley developed a set of fire management principles aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation in the Avon Basin. These principles have been adapted to suit the conditions and requirements of the City, forming the framework that guides the City’s FPB. The Shedley principles, outlined in Fire and Biodiversity Guidelines for the Avon Basin (2007), are summarised below:

Fire as a Natural Factor: Fire has long influenced the landscapes and biodiversity of the south-west and will continue to do so.
Species and Fire: Species and ecological communities vary in their response to fire. Fire management should be informed by the life histories and fire dependencies of these organisms.
Ecosystem Response: Ecosystems often shift to new states following fire due to factors such as topography, species life histories, and climatic events, making it difficult to attribute changes solely to fire.
Dual Purpose of Fire Management: Fire management should balance two primary goals: conserving biodiversity and reducing the occurrence of large, intense wildfires.
Fire Intensity and Impact: The intensity and size of a fire are directly linked to its biological impact and the difficulty of suppression, as well as the rate of ecosystem recovery.
Fire Diversity Promotes Biodiversity: Diverse fire regimes, including variations in frequency, seasonality, intensity, and scale, contribute to biodiversity at the landscape level.
Avoid Extreme Fire Regimes: Applying the same fire regime over large areas or using extreme intervals (either too frequent or too infrequent) should be avoided.
Mosaic Patterns: Fire-induced mosaics should facilitate the movement of young animals, enhance boundary habitat, and promote connectivity across landscapes.
Integrating Knowledge: Fire regimes should be based on a thorough understanding of species life histories, attributes of native plants and animals, and traditional Nyoongar fire practices.
Fire History and Landscape Context: A region’s fire history, vegetation complexes, and landscape units should inform the mix of fire intervals.
Wildfire Risk: Wildfire can damage both conservation and societal values; therefore, fire management requires a systematic and structured approach to assess and mitigate risks.
Adaptive Management: Fire management practices should evolve with new scientific knowledge, community expectations, and insights gained from ongoing monitoring and research.

Fire Procedures for Biodiversity 2024 (pdf)

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