Register      Login
International Journal of Wildland Fire International Journal of Wildland Fire Society
Journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Response to ‘Fire practices only ‘best’ if they promote a large seed buildup: comment on the conservation needs of a fire-killed grevillea’ (Lamont 2022)

Michelle McKemey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3808-0267 A B * , The Banbai RangersC , John Hunter A , Emilie Ens D and Nick Reid A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Melaleuca Environmental Consultancy, Guyra, NSW 2365, Australia.

B University of New England, School of Environmental and Rural Science, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

C Banbai Rangers, Guyra, NSW 2365, Australia.

D Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.

International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(8) 821-822 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF22089
Submitted: 3 June 2022  Accepted: 21 June 2022   Published: 20 July 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF.

Abstract

In response to Lamont’s critique, we highlight the nuances of modelling and observing population dynamics, the benefits of cross-cultural research and ongoing challenges for fire management. We reinforce our conclusion that cultural fire management supported by science provides the most adaptive approach to support the recovery of the Backwater grevillea.

Keywords: Aboriginal rangers, cross-cultural knowledge and practice, cultural fire, fire ecology, Indigenous knowledge, population dynamics, prescribed fire management, southeast Australia, threatened species, wildfire recovery.


References

Enright NJ, Fontaine JB, Bowman DMJS, Bradstock RA, Williams RJ (2015) Interval squeeze: altered fire regimes and demographic responses interact to threaten woody species persistence as climate changes. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 13, 265–272.
Interval squeeze: altered fire regimes and demographic responses interact to threaten woody species persistence as climate changes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ens E, Scott ML, Rangers YM, Moritz C, Pirzl R (2016) Putting indigenous conservation policy into practice delivers biodiversity and cultural benefits. Biodiversity and Conservation 25, 2889–2906.
Putting indigenous conservation policy into practice delivers biodiversity and cultural benefits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Harper J, White J (1974) The demography of plants. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 5, 419–463.
The demography of plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lamont BB (2022) Anthropogenic fire practices only ‘best’ if they promote a large seed buildup: comment on the conservation needs of a fire-killed grevillea. International Journal of Wildland Fire.
Anthropogenic fire practices only ‘best’ if they promote a large seed buildup: comment on the conservation needs of a fire-killed grevillea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McKemey M, The Banbai Rangers, Des Forges S, Hunter JT (2021a) ‘Fire Response and Conservation Priorities for the Vulnerable Backwater Grevillea (Grevillea scortechinii subsp. sarmentosa).’ (Northern Tablelands Local Land Services: Inverell, NSW, Australia)

McKemey M, The Banbai Rangers Patterson ML, Hunter J, Ridges M, Ens E, Miller C, Costello O, Reid N (2021b) Indigenous cultural burning had less impact than wildfire on the threatened Backwater grevillea (Grevillea scortechinii subsp. sarmentosa) while effectively decreasing fuel loads. International Journal of Wildland Fire 30, 745–756.
Indigenous cultural burning had less impact than wildfire on the threatened Backwater grevillea (Grevillea scortechinii subsp. sarmentosa) while effectively decreasing fuel loads.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |