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Manager-based valuations of alternative fire management regimes on Cape York Peninsula, Australia

Drucker, Adam G., Garnett, Stephen T., Luckert, Martin (Marty) K., Crowley, Gabriel M. and Gobius, Niilo (2008). Manager-based valuations of alternative fire management regimes on Cape York Peninsula, Australia. International Journal of Wildland Fire,17(5):660-673.

Document type: Journal Article

IRMA ID A00011xPUB7
Title Manager-based valuations of alternative fire management regimes on Cape York Peninsula, Australia
Author Drucker, Adam G.
Garnett, Stephen T.
Luckert, Martin (Marty) K.
Crowley, Gabriel M.
Gobius, Niilo
Journal Name International Journal of Wildland Fire
Publication Date 2008
Volume Number 17
Issue Number 5
ISSN 1049-8001   (check CDU catalogue  open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-53849108492
Start Page 660
End Page 673
Total Pages 14
Place of Publication Australia
Publisher CSIRO
Field of Research 0705 - Forestry Sciences
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Decisions about fire management on pastoral properties are often made with little empirical knowledge. Proper accounting of the interactions between land, pasture, trees and livestock within the context of climatic variability and market conditions is required in order to assess financial implications of alternative fire management regimes. The present paper aims to facilitate such accounting through the development of a manager-driven decision-support tool. This approach is needed to account for variable property conditions and to provide direction towards considering optimal practices among a vast array of potential activities. The tool is an interactive model, developed for a hypothetical property, which analyses the costs and benefits of a baseline (no fires) against a historically based probability of wildfire overlaid by four alternative fire management regimes, representing cumulatively increasing levels of fire management intensity. These are: Regime 1, no action taken to prevent or stop wildfires; Regime 2, fire suppression (reactive fighting of wildfire); Regime 3, Regime 2 plus prevention (early dry-season burning); and Regime 4, Regime 3 combined with storm-burning (burning soon after the first wet-season storm). The model, which shows that fire and fire management have significant influences on the gross margin of Cape York Peninsula cattle properties, can be used as a decision-support tool in developing fire management strategies for individual properties. Specific fire management recommendations follow, together with the identification of potential areas of future work needed to facilitate use of the tool by clients.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF07102   (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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Created: Mon, 11 May 2009, 12:55:44 CST by Sarena Wegener