Perceptions of Prescribed Burning in a Local Forest Community in Victoria, Australia |
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Authors: | Tina Bell Immaculada Oliveras |
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Institution: | (1) School of Forest and Ecosystem Science, The University of Melbourne, Water Street, Creswick, 3363, Victoria, Australia;(2) Centre de Recerca Ecologica i Aplicacions Forestals, Edifici C Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain |
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Abstract: | The general perceptions of prescribed burning were elicited from forest users for an area that has been subject to this form
of land management for at least 20 years. The largest group consisted of local residents living in and around the Wombat State
Forest with two smaller groups of students from a nearby university campus and local professional land managers. A questionnaire
was given to each participant in order to explore how the forest was used, to determine the level of knowledge of burning
in the targeted forest and Victoria and the perception of the appearance, effectiveness of protection, and accessibility to
the forest after prescribed burning. Generally all groups had similar responses with community members having stronger views
on the effectiveness and practicalities of prescribed burning, whereas students were more neutral in their opinions. All participants
claimed knowledge of prescribed burning activities within Victoria, but fewer had experience of planned fires in the Wombat
State Forest. All groups agreed that areas that had not been recently burned had a better appearance than those that had,
but this result may have included a range of value judgments. Land managers had a greater understanding of the ecological
importance of season and timing of burning; however, some students and community members were equally knowledgeable. Prescribed
burning did not impede access to the forest, nor did smoke from prescribed burns pose any great problem. The majority of the
participants felt that the amount of prescribed burning done in the forest was adequate for engendering a feeling of protection
to life and property, yet many were still suspicious of this management practice. These initial findings indicate several
areas in which further research would be useful including the efficacy of education programs for community members and improved
communication of burn plans by land managers. |
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Keywords: | Wombat State Forest Fuel-reduction burning Planned fire Wildfire Land management Community |
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