The project features a new field experiment for fire research, and the delivery of information and learning products for public awareness and education.
The research component of the project focuses on the effect of fire frequency and time-since-fire on a variety of taxa (both plants and animals), as well as abiotic aspects including fire behaviour and soil ecological processes. Importantly, the experiment incorporates mechanistic, process-based studies which will enable better prediction and understanding of ecological responses to fire.
The public awareness and education component of the project will feature a series of dedicated walk-through demonstration sites at the Wildlife Park, a range of innovative display and interpretation facilities with fire demonstration sites, and information products covering all aspects of the role of fire in the management of conservation landscapes in northern Australia
The outcomes of the project will be:
An improved understanding of the effects of different fire regimes on biodiversity and ecological function, with a particular emphasis on long-term plant population dynamics, arthropod biodiversity, and soil processes.
Improved fire management protocols for biodiversity conservation.
Increased public awareness and understanding of the role of fire in northern Australia.
