BushfireConf2015 - 26. Cooperation to protect communities, koalas and long-nosed potoroos

FIRE AND RESTORATION:WORKING WITH FIRE FOR HEALTHY LANDSCAPE

Phil Paterson May 2015

Nature Conservation Council Bushfire Conference 2015

Cooperating to protect communities, koalas and long-nosed potoroos

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Tanja-Murrah-Cuttagee-Bermagui

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Workshop Participants

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The Community› A coastal area located south of Bermagui and between

three important National Parks; Mimosa Rocks, Biamanga and Gulaga with the township of Tathra to the south.

› Locality contains areas at high risk from bushfire and also two populations of “at risk” threatened species; koala and long nosed potoroo

› Area is also highly significant to the local traditional owners

› Diverse community with large areas of forestry, agricultural activity, fishing, lifestyle and tourism.

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Community “buy in” and ownership› Hotspots workshops based around the risk fire poses to

community, property and the populations of koala and long nosed potoroo

› Smaller workshops in geographic locations eg Head of Cuttagee Road

› Development of geographic “Local Fire Action Plans” that incorporates “Whole of Landscape” concepts

› Participants involved in survey work for both potoroo and koala

› Mentoring by local koala volunteers and Local Land Services

› Train local volunteers to assist in delivery of workshop

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Dusky Antichinus

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Antichinus

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Fox

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Long Nosed Bandicoot

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Potoroo

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Tanja Koala

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Koala survey by RFS and Volunteers

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Site Survey for Koala

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Future directions and outcomes› Establish a “cafe” or Community Hub comprising of

members of the community and local “experts”

› Establish networks for all aspects of community interest eg RFS district and brigade, National Parks, Local Land Services and traditional owners

› Community involvement in development of Bush Fire Risk Management Plans as “Whole of Landscape”

› Community working closely with RFS and other agencies in developing Hazard Reduction Planning

› Develop training and information opportunities for local community

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Future directions and outcomes› Ongoing community involvement in monitoring both

populations of potoroo and koala

› Development of locally based research on Fire Risk Modelling to support the conservation of koalas in the Far South Coast (Trent Penman)

› Examine the risk trade-offs for varying management strategies looking at the risk both to koalas and the surrounding people and property

› Study plots located on local private and agency lands

› Comparing burn probabilities using the Fire Simulator Phoenix Rapidfire (Tolhurst et al 2008) and cooperating with both RFS and OEH Datasets and University of Melbourne

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Spotted Gum Goodies