Aborigines came to Australia and burnt out most of the trees and bushes.
The megafauna starved whilst eucalypts, herbs, grasses and mesofauna flourished.
The ancient culture survived an ice age, global warming and hugely rising seas, forging economies in woodlands and deserts.
Europeans doused the firestick, woodlands turned to scrub, mesofauna perished, megafires and tree-eaters irrupted.
Foresters rekindled the firestick and greens stole it.
Megafires and declines are back with a vengeance whilst ecologists dream-up reasons not to burn.
Ecological history shows that we must apply the firestick frequently, willingly and skillfully to restore a healthy, safe environment and economy.
Beating bushfires: Who’s right – The RFS, conservationists, farmers, politicians or firefighters?
Who’s right – The RFS, conservationists, farmers, politicians or firefighters?
Decide carefully. If you live in the Blue Mountains or bushfire-prone country, your home could literally depend on it.
Are we spending enough on our fire trails?
At a recent Group Captains meeting, the topic of fire trail maintenance was heavily discussed.
The general consensus was that we used to achieve a whole lot more fire trail maintenance than we do now.
Words of Wisdom on Hazard Reduction
The following letter was sent to the Inspector General for Emergency Management in Victoria by John Mulligan, an 84 year old fourth generation East Gippslander. It was also sent to us.
Round them up and move them out – Lock it up and burnt it out
This article is republished as a tribute to Laurie Norton who passed away on Wednesday 18th March 2015. Laurie created the article for the April 2009 edition of the VFFA Magazine.
Laurie was a foundation member of the VFFA and our first treasurer. When Laurie spoke everybody listened. He was a man of great knowledge and conviction. He will be sadly missed.
“If only these people could work with nature – not against it… It is no longer an open pristine alpine area, but a mutilated jungle”
Green Light for Bushfire Mitigation Projects
NSW National Parks, the Forestry Corporation of NSW and local governments have received more than $2.5 million in funding to support activities to manage bush fire risks.
The Bushfire Risk Management Grants Scheme will fund 126 projects as part of the Natural Disaster Resilience Program, which is administered by the Commonwealth and state government.
Upper House committee publishes report on the Wambelong fire
The committee has set out a number of strategies to build greater respect for volunteers into the practices, procedures and culture of the RFS.
Recommendation 19 states that the NSW Rural Fire Service formally recognise the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association as a legitimate advocacy organisation representing volunteer bush fire fighters, and duly consult with it on policy and operational matters.
The Unquenchable Bushfire Bureaucracy
The end of that great Australian institution, the volunteer country fire brigade, is drawing nigh, done in by the ignorance of greens, the ambitions of empire-building desk warriors and layer after counterproductive layer managerialist protocols. Why use a rake when the taxpayers can be billed for a helicopter?
WA needs more controlled burns
Western Australia needs to have more controlled burns to curb the risk of out-of-control bushfires, the WA premier says.
Mr Underwood said Australia was “doomed to savage bushfires” without prescribed burns.
A Letter to The Greens
I listened to you speaking on the ABC yesterday (3rd Jan 2014), in which you attributed the recent bushfires in the Adelaide Hills to global warming/climate change.
At the same time, I observe that southern Australia has always experienced hot, dry, windy days in summer, and periodic droughts have been experienced ever since rainfall records began.