Managing your land with fire

As the impacts of climate change and dry conditions become more apparent, fire management is increasingly important for landholders in Tasmania. Fire management is complex – while many plant species depend on it for their life cycles, others are highly sensitive and require specific regimes or full protection from burning. Either way, fire has played a significant role in shaping vegetation communities and the wildlife that depend on those habitats.

For thousands of years, the palawa/pakana people have used fire as part of their land management practices, and more recently, agriculturalists and landholders across both private and public land have employed fire in their own ways.

Recognising the value of fire management, the Land for Wildlife (LFW) program has long encouraged landholders to expand their knowledge and practical skills by attending workshops. In late 2024, LFW partnered with the Red Hot Tips program to offer fire planning workshops at Dunalley and St Helens. These workshops, which primarily focus on properties over 20 hectares, aimed to support landholders in planning controlled burns for fuel reduction or ecological benefits, develop tailored fire management plans and, where possible, offer mentoring for first-time burns.

The workshops were well attended by landholders eager to deepen their understanding of safe and effective fire management practices, including many LFW members and coordinators, Anna at St Helens and Phil at Dunalley. Over two days, Red Hot Tips covered several key topics, including:

• Fire apps and the use of the Government mapping program “The List”
• Permit requirements and the role of fire agencies
• Fire behaviour
• Fuel loads and fire weather
• Determining fuel moisture content
• Setting burn objectives and applying firefighting strategies
• Safety equipment

The LFW program also encourages members to explore traditional cultural burning practices by attending workshops like Patrula Nayri (Good Fire) near Cygnet. These workshops offer valuable insights into the use of smaller, ‘cooler’ mosaic burns—a vital part of Aboriginal culture, which help to promote biodiversity and reduce fuel loads when applied to specific vegetation communities.

The Land for Wildlife Program will continue to seek opportunities for members to learn about the legal and responsible use of fire to safely protect their land and promote biodiversity. For more information, members can also reach out directly to Red Hot Tips or Patrula Nayri for upcoming workshops.