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A satellite analysis of contrasting fire patterns in Aboriginal and Euro-Australian lands in tropical north Australia

Petty, Aaron and Bowman, David (2007). A satellite analysis of contrasting fire patterns in Aboriginal and Euro-Australian lands in tropical north Australia. Fire Ecology,3(1):32-47.

Document type: Journal Article
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IRMA ID 78668684xPUB2
Title A satellite analysis of contrasting fire patterns in Aboriginal and Euro-Australian lands in tropical north Australia
Author Petty, Aaron
Bowman, David
Journal Name Fire Ecology
Publication Date 2007
Volume Number 3
Issue Number 1
ISSN 1933-9747   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 32
End Page 47
Total Pages 16
Place of Publication US
Publisher Association for Fire Ecology
Field of Research 1602 - Criminology
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract We use satellite imagery to compare and contrast fire patterns across a repeating mosaic of vegetation types occurring within the tropical savanna of the Northern Territory, Australia. Our study area included different land management settings that encapsulate three contrasting styles of management that have developed following European settlement in northern Australia: Decentralized fire management carried out by small Aboriginal communities widely dispersed across a large landscape. Centralized fire management carried out by park rangers and military land managers who implement a fire management plan based on a paradigm of hazard reduction burning. Pastoral properties with a specific management objective of improving cattle yield by protecting and improving pasture with fire. The lowland eucalypt savannas were the most burnt of any vegetation type, but within eucalypt savannas there were subtle differences in fire frequency. The highest fire frequencies were recorded in national park and military lands, intermediate Frequencies on Aboriginal lands, and the lowest fire frequencies on pastoral properties. Aboriginal lands had an even distribution of fire throughout the dry season in contrast to the marked bias towards early dry season landscape burning on all Euro-Australian controlled lands. These findings illustrate the impact of different management paradigms and cultural decisions about fire on physical fire patterns.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4996/fireecology   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
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URL http://www.fireecology.net/Journal/
http://fireecology.net/Journal/Abstract/Volume03/Issue01/032.html
 
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