A.B. CRAIG

Agriculture Western Australia and Cooperative Research Centre for the Sustainable Development of Tropical Savannas, Kununurra, Western Australia

Abstract

Little fire-related research has been conducted in the high-rainfall (> 700 mm) Kimberley rangelands, but some extrapolation from studies elsewhere in tropical northern Australia can be justified. An increase in broad-scale early dry season burning is likely to reduce the extent of later more destructive fires while providing other benefits for cattle enterprises. Improved animal performance, and contributions to the maintenance of rangeland condition and biological diversity would be expected. In areas dominated by annual sorghum which escape dry season fire, burning during the early part of the wet season should be effective in reducing subsequent fuel loads, but effects on pasture composition should be monitored. There are considerable difficulties in implementation and evaluation of imposed fire regimes, especially outside fenced areas. Problems include the logistics of burning large areas within a restricted time, integration with mustering operations and control of post-fire grazing pressure. Collection of reliable animal performance data is hampered by very limited station infrastructure. Economic assessment of risks, costs and benefits of fire management options should be explored at a property level. Collection and application of fire history from satellite data is of crucial importance for research, monitoring and management. Urgent efforts are required to document the traditional knowledge of local Aboriginal people in relation to landscape fire.