Ecological burning: development of conceptual model, management framework and prioritisation approach

Fire management interventions that promote ecosystem resilience and support ecological functions and processes are required to address the impacts of altered fire regimes on species and ecosystems. These targeted actions are often referred to as ‘ecological burns’ and can be critical in fire dependent ecosystems where the specific, timing, frequency, intensity and scale of fire is required to facilitate key functional processes including seed dispersal, plant germination and recruitment, support ecosystem restoration objectives and increase species diversity.

Ecological burning is differentiated from standard fuel reduction burning activities which aim to reduce risk to human life and property through augmenting fuel availability. Ecological burning can be loosely defined as the deliberate application of fire for clear and pre-defined ecological objectives including specific, process, species and ecosystem outcomes within the treated area. 

The Victorian Government delivers a program of ecological burning across the state as a component of the broader delivery of fire management activities across on public land. Though Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) has delivered ecological burns the practices which constitute ecological burning are yet to be authoritatively defined. Additionally, a clear conceptual and operational framework which captures these components based on existing knowledge is required to inform, define and support a broader program of ecological burning.

The project has the following specific objectives:   

1. To develop a definition of ecological burning to be used in the department to support fire management activities for ecological objectives using a multi-methods approach.  
2. To develop a conceptual model and management framework for ecological burning to support planning and delivery of ecological burns including components, levers and responses. Thie framework would include approaches for identifying and defining the objectives, mechanisms required to achieve them and measures to evaluate success.