prescribed burns Flashcards
what are prescribed burns used for
are used as an adaption strategy to reduce the risk of damage and cost from out of control fires caused by climate change
do prescribed burns mitigate climate change
prescribed burns do not mitigate climate change, but manage the changed climatic conditions by reducing fuel loads, which in turn reduces the severity and size of bushfires
what has climate change casued for Australia
Australia has experienced more frequent and severe bushfires due to climate change, as well as increased frequency of extreme heat events, resulting in hot, dry spells across the country
benefits of prescribed burns
in Western Australia, the Department of Biodiversity, conservation and Attractions (DBCA) conducts the prescribed burning program to protect lives, property and infrastructure, which has been in place since the 1960s
DBCA aims to have 45% of the forest area they manage in the southwest with a fuel load of six years or less to reduce the severity of bushfires
regulation of prescribed burns
private landowners can also reduce fuel loads on their properties with advice from the Department of Fire and emergency services (DFES)
burns are recommended between February and May in northern western Australia, and April to October in southern WA, but compliance by private landowners can affect the effectiveness of prescribed burns
why have prescribed burns been criticized
such as in the Walpole wilderness area where native species were affected
some native plants require smoke or heat to germinate, and cool burns have a history in indigenous culture
why are some areas that have undergone prescribed burns at greater risk
a report from 2022 found that some areas that have undergone prescribed burns are at a greater risk of fires due to dense vegetation regrowth
why are prescribed burns less effective in Australia
controlled or prescribed burns have become less effective in Australia due to extreme weather, such as droughts, which has led to a division of opinions among experts
where do larger fires target
larger fires tend to burn at the top of the forest, which is not targeted in a controlled burn
what does data from Charoal sediments and isotope-ratio records from ice cores tell us
they suggest that the global area burned has declined over recent decades, but there is limited data available on this
what did Europe, Australia, and New Zealand see in relation to prescribed burns
saw a 5% decline in the area burned between 1996-2012, which may be attributed to significant prescribed burn programs
explain the prescribed burns in America
the US saw a 5% increase per year in the area burned by wildfires but the frequency declined, indicating that the impacts of climate have increased the severity of fires
the area burned by prescribed burns in the US now exceeds the area burned by wildfires, indicating it is an effective tool to adapt to climate change
describe prescribe burns in the future
in the future, government officials will need to understand how the climate is changing and work to predict which areas are most vulnerable to wildfires. the periods where prescribed burns occur may shift with ideal conditions changing to different months of the year as fire seasons increase
what are some negative effects due to prescribe burns
prescribe burns can have negative impacts on people, such as smoke affecting visibility and respiratory illness
the bureau of Meteorology’s AQFx system models fire spread and smoke emissions to inform relevant agencies of potential risks to the public and aviation
what does increase in air pollution cause
between 2002-2017, higher air pollution levels from prescribed burns accounted for premature deaths and hospital isolations, with a health cost of $97.1 million directly attributable to prescribed burns
