Culture, Ecology and Economy of Fire Management in North Australian Savannas

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Description

The savannas of northern Australia are the most fire-prone part of a fire-prone continent. The savanna region comprises 1.9mn sq km (a third of the Australian landmass), of which roughly 20% is burnt on average each year. In twelve multi-authored chapters, the book documents key challenges and novel options for addressing chronic landscape-scale fire management issues in north Australian savannas through development of: (1) collaborative, cross-cultural 'two toolkit' approaches, and (2) commercially supported environmental services programs.

Reviews

"The book takes a multidisciplinary approach to fire management in northern Australia... One issue that the book addresses specifically is taht the Australian approach to fire management has been shaped by experiences in the more populated areas of the nation, and in the urban-wildland interface. The savannas are sparsely populated, so some of this experience must be altered or discarded to enhance the cultural and ecological treasures of the north."

Author Bio

Jeremy Russell-Smith is a consultant ecologist with 25 years experience in northern Australia. He coordinates fire research programs for the Tropical Savannas CRC and works on other natural resource management projects in South-East Asia. He has an abiding interest in the ecology, biogeography and management of monsoon rainforests and sandstone heaths. He often works with Indigenous people on landscape and resource management issues. Peter Whitehead Peter Whitehead is a senior project officer with the Northern Territory Government, working in policy in natural resource management. He has more than 25 years experience in research on the ecology of wetland fauna, management of exploited wildlife and the role of Indigenous people in natural resource management, including fire management. Peter Cooke Peter Cooke has worked in the Northern Territory as forester, journalist, program manager with the Northern Land Council and a number of other roles. He presently works as Chief Executive Officer of Wardekken Land Management Limited, an Indigenous corporation that plays a major role in management of the Arnhem Land escarpment.