On the 2nd of October the final long-term research plot at Minyumai IPA was successfully burnt by the IPA rangers with assistance from Ngulingah LALC rangers and the Woodburn Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade. The ranger teams have gained valuable experience over the last six months in conducting bio-cultural burns on Firesticks partner properties across Northern NSW. As the rangers experience in the planning and implementation of prescribed burns has increased so has their confidence and understanding of fire behaviour in a variety of vegetation types. The result of this was evident during the burn with the rangers taking the lead in the implementation, management and post burn monitoring.
The rangers gather along the control line as the burn begins, ready to apply their knowledge and skills.
The research plot has had two years of baseline data collected to determine the faunal groups that use the area seasonally. The seasonal monitoring will now continue to determine any changes of fauna use in the plot after the burn. As the vegetation regenerates we expect to see an increase in macropod activity as they take advantage of the new plant growth, which is favoured over the older grasses in the area.
Effective team work is essential in managing a safe and controlled burn
Wardell Fire Brigade were great in mentoring and advising the rangers during the burn whilst allowing them to manage the burn independently with minimal assistance. With each burn that is planned and implemented collaboratively between Aboriginal rangers, RFS district offices and local brigades comes further respect, understanding and appreciation for the value of using fire in the landscape to achieve a variety of outcomes including ecological, cultural and hazard reduction.
The ranger teams worked together cohesively, confidently managing the various aspects of the burn.
Thank you to the Ngulingah LALC rangers for their support, and to the Wardell RFS brigade for bringing their equipment and expertise. We look forward to developing the valuable relationship between ranger groups and the RFS over the remainder of the project and beyond.
The burn was maintained as a low intensity burn throughout the plot.
