IFA - News

The IFA has established the bushfire & forest management resource pages to help members of the Institute and non IFA members find useful information and links relating to fire.

IFA Submission to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission - May 2009: http://www.forestry.org.au/pdf/pdf-public/Submissions/Vic%20Bushfires%20RC%20submission%2018%20May%202009%20V2%20-%20page%20numbered.pdf

(This pdf may take a few seconds to open. If the link does not open, follow the menu tabs on the left hand side of your screen 'Forestry/Submissions...')

IFA Policy statements relating to fires:

The Role of Fire in Australian Forests and Woodlands (Statement 3.1) - As an agent of ecological change, fire is critical to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological processes and contributes to the distinctive nature of Australian forests and woodlands. The IFA advocates the need for a better appreciation of the important and complex role that fire plays in the evolution and maintenance of Australian ecosystems, including the collection and analysis of comprehensive scientific information and the effective distribution of information to policy makers, land managers and the community. View full policy: http://www.forestry.org.au/pdf/pdf-public/policies/Statement%203.1%20-%20Role%20of%20fire%20(website)%20(Approved%2016-11-05).pdf

Managing Fire in Australian Forests and Woodlands (Statement 3.2) - Uncontrolled fires pose a serious threat to human life, property, community assets, forest biodiversity and ecological processes. The IFA advocates the need to actively manage fire in Australian forests and woodlands in a comprehensive, integrated manner that considers social, economic and environmental risks as well as the protection of life, property and other assets and that the focus should be upon prevention of large scale and destructive fires that impact on environmental, economic and social values. View full policy: http://www.forestry.org.au/pdf/pdf-public/policies/Statement%203.2%20-%20Managing%20forest%20fires%20(website)%20(Approved%2016-11-05).pdf

It’s time for a National Forest Fire Management Policy

(Tony Bartlett AFSM – ACT Bushfire Council: http://www.forestry.org.au/news/articlefiles/1185-National%20forest%20fire%20policy%20AFAC08%20_2_.pdf

The Mega-Fire Phenomenon: Some Australian Perspectives

(Tony Bartlett, Mike Leonard and Gary Morgan): http://www.forestry.org.au/news/articlefiles/1186-Megafire-final%20Draft.pdf

Inquiries

COAG National Inquiry 2003-4: http://www.coagbushfireenquiry.gov.au/

Esplin Inquiry, Victoria 2003: http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/CA256D8000265E1A/page/Listing-Inquiry+into+the+2002-2003+Victorian+Bushfires-Report+of+the+Inquiry+into+the+2002-2003+Victorian+Bushfires+(Released+14+October+2003)!OpenDocument&1=~&2=~&3=~

Nairn National Parliamentary Inquiry 2003: http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committee/bushfires/

A brief description of major historic bushfires in Australia and further references: http://www.ga.gov.au/hazards/bushfire/historic.jsp

A number of government inquiries into Victorian bushfires have been carried out since the Black Friday fires of 1939. The reports can be accessed via link: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenfoe.nsf/LinkView/DFE0EEF7DAF961ACCA2574950010118E44688EB30B57BF124A2567CB000DB2EF

National information, resource & research sites Emergency Management Australia (has links to relevant state agencies)

http://www.ema.gov.au/agd/EMA/emaInternet.nsf/Page/Communities_Natural_Disasters_BMP_About_the_Bushfire_Mitigation_Programme

Bushfire CRC: www.bushfirecrc.com

Australian Fire Authorities Council - Knowledge Web: http://knowledgeweb.afac.com.au/home

Tropical Savannas CRC: http://savanna.cdu.edu.au/

ABC Online documentary page for the 1939 Fires in Victoria. It has findings of the royal commission, expert opinions, photos and more: http://www.abc.net.au/blackfriday/home/default.htm

This page is an education page about major fires from Bureau of Meteorolgy:

http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/fire.htm