control burns

[Con Boekel <>]

I noticed the Warning notice adjacent to the Substation opposite the Bot Gardens.

IMO, if that is the Black Mountain zone to be burned, it has yet to recover from the previous burn. The shrub layer has yet to recover to full seeding age. As the seed banks germinate or are destroyed by fire, some species will disappear. The litter layer is still so sparse that areas of bare soil are evident. The implications of another burn before the ground layer has fully recovered from the last burn are obvious. Fallen wood is an important habitat for much biodversity. Much fallen wood was destroyed in the last control burn and has yet to be fully replaced. Another control burn so soon will reduce the stock even further. Litter feeders such as White-winged Chough are much less common on Black Mountain than they used to be. Some, such as the buttonquail have disappeared altogether. OTOH, there is also a case for some burns in order to ensure regeneration of fire dependent species of plants. So there is a need for discussion about frequency of the burns from all perspectives.

IMO, Black Mountain is slow to respond to fires because the soils are often shallow and have poor structure. They therefore combine poor water holding qualities and low nutrient status. Growth rates are slow. Eucs which show old growth characteristics are often quite small.

I understand that there are issues with conflicting values including protecting infrastructure and human safety, but, however they are resolved, we should not be kidding ourselves. The control burns on Black Mountain are having short-term and long-term deleterious impacts on Black Mountain biodiversity including birds.

regards
Con

On 22/03/2016 9:45 AM, kym bradley wrote:

Prescribed burning activity is due to commence this week at:

Black Mountain Nature Reserve (23 hectares), Tuesday 22 March to Wednesday 23 March 2016

Kowen Pine Forest (230 hectares), Tuesday 22 March to Thursday 24 March 2016

Aranda, behind Aranda shopping centre (one hectare), Wednesday 23 March 2016

Charnwood, near Florey Drive and Ginninderra Drive (six hectares), Thursday 24 March to Friday 25 March 2016

Mulanggari Grasslands Gungahlin, near Gungahlin Drive (10 hectares), Thursday 24 March 2016

Gungaderra Grasslands, Palmerston, near Gungahlin Drive (10 hectares), Friday 25 March 2016.