National science forum on fire fuels

In response to the growing call for more activity around hazard reduction burning and the announcement of several reviews into the matter, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and the Australian Academy of Science are inviting the leading figures in bushfire science and knowledge to discuss the science of managing landscapes for the reduction in risk from bushfire.

As 2019/20 develops into a historically significant bushfire season this forum will lay the scientific foundations of a future national approach to hazard reduction burning.

What – National Fire Fuels Science Forum

When – 10am - 6pm Monday 23 March, and 9am - 2pm Tuesday 24 March

Where – Shine Dome, Australian Academy of Sciences, Canberra

The forum will support a number of inquiries into recent fires including the Australian Government’s Royal Commission and inquiries in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. A common theme across these inquiries is the need to draw on the science to better understand the issues behind the long-term management of fire-prone landscapes.

An outcome of the National Fire Fuels Science Forum will be a report that outlines the discussions of the current state of science on hazard reduction burning – what is known, what we are unsure about, what is unknown, what is in agreement, and what is in dispute.

Potential issues to be considered at the fire and fuels science forum include:

•        Landscape fuels and mitigation of fire risk (on public and private land)
•        Benefits to fire suppression from prescribed burning
•        The impacts and benefits of prescribed burning on ecosystem values
•        Indigenous and cultural burning as an approach to reduce risk
•        International best practices

The forum participants will be drawn from the CRC and Australian Academy of Science existing network of partners, which includes universities, CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology, all the fire agencies and land management agencies, as well as expertise and knowledge of Indigenous people.

Invited participants will be drawn from research, fire operations, government (federal, state and local) and industries with a direct role in managing landscapes for fire, including forestry, defence, water and power utilities.

More details on the program for the National Fire Fuels Science Forum will be added to this page soon.

Contact CRC Events Officer Vaia Smirneos on 03 9412 9630 vaia.smirneos@bnhcrc.com.au