Fire is an essential component of the Australian environment. Many species of plants depend upon the occurrence of fire for their seeds to germinate, and many have adaptations to assist in their survival during fire. However, wildfires of high intensity can produce more damage than gain - raging out of control and destroying hectares of vegetation, killing animals, and creating a threat to humans. Fuel Reduction Burning can reduce the risk that wildfires create, however this controversial issue has positives and negatives of its own. Certain fire regimes are already implemented by the Conservation and Land Management (CALM), but not all people agree they are the most beneficial to the environment. There are other options for how a prescribed burning can take place, and for a truly productive regime to be established, all factors must be taken into consideration.

Photo - Tom Leftwich, Autumn 1994 Landscope