ABSTRACT Fire has been part of the natural environment of south-eastern Australia for tens of millions of years. Aboriginal people used fire selectively, with skill, for many reasons. The removal of Aboriginal people from most of the region after European settlement changed fire regimes and the composition and structure of vegetation. This study explores the history of fire in south-eastern Australia, describes the development of prescribed burning as a forest management tool, and discusses the factors that have influenced changes in fire regimes. It draws on published and unpublished literature and data held by the Forest Fire Management Committee of the Institute of Foresters of Australia. The study finds that the use of prescribed burning in south-eastern Australia in the past 100 years has been driven primarily by political and legal factors. Since 1939, more than 50 public inquiries, reviews and royal commissions have been held into matters concerning the management of fire in landscapes, including prescribed burning. Prescribed burning has been used for wildfire mitigation, agricultural practices (such as stubble reduction and grazing land management), property protection, the maintenance of ecological processes and biodiversity conservation. Prescribed burning in the region has only ever been practised on a small percentage of forest and land each year. The study finds that a substantial body of fire and ecosystem science has been generated in the past 50 years, with rapid technological developments to support prescribed burning and fire management. Research has provided tools and methods for broadscale prescribed burning, but negative public perceptions of fire have prevented the deployment of comprehensive fire management programs in the region. Although much has been achieved, considerable changes are still required in fire management for it to be sustainable and optimal in protecting economic, social and environmental values. The risks to human lives, property, biodiversity and the environment associated with wildfire are increasing in south-eastern Australia due to climate change, and the wider use of prescribed burning is essential for managing these. The increasing extent and occurrence of wildfire disasters in the region indicates that current fire management will not sustain the full range of ecosystem processes and biodiversity, nor reduce to an acceptable level the impact of wildfires on human lives and property. There is compelling evidence for the greater use of prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risks and impacts, rather than committing increasing resources to wildfire suppression. The potential negative impacts of prescribed burning can be managed effectively using existing knowledge and tools. Clear communication of the benefits of prescribed burning can influence political and public opinion in its favour. More investment in training, human capacity and supporting resources is required to safely and effectively deploy prescribed burning more widely to reduce future wildfire risks.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚东南部的规定焚烧：历史和未来方向

摘要 数千万年来，火灾一直是澳大利亚东南部自然环境的一部分。出于多种原因，土著人有选择地、有技巧地使用火。欧洲人定居后，该地区大部分地区的原住民迁徙改变了火灾状况以及植被的组成和结构。本研究探讨了澳大利亚东南部的火灾历史，描述了规定燃烧作为森林管理工具的发展，并讨论了影响火灾状况变化的因素。它借鉴了澳大利亚林业协会森林火灾管理委员会持有的已发表和未发表的文献和数据。研究发现，过去 100 年来，澳大利亚东南部使用规定的焚烧主要是由政治和法律因素驱动的。自 1939 年以来，已有 50 多次公众询问、审查和皇家委员会就景观火灾管理问题进行了调查，包括规定的燃烧。规定的燃烧已被用于减轻野火、农业实践（如减少茬和牧场管理）、财产保护、生态过程的维护和生物多样性保护。该地区每年只在一小部分森林和土地上进行过规定的焚烧。该研究发现，在过去 50 年中，随着技术的快速发展，已经产生了大量的火灾和生态系统科学，以支持规定的燃烧和火灾管理。研究为大规模处方燃烧提供了工具和方法，但公众对火灾的负面看法阻碍了在该地区部署综合火灾管理方案。尽管已经取得了很多成就，但火灾管理仍需要进行相当大的变革，才能在保护经济、社会和环境价值方面实现可持续和最佳化。由于气候变化，澳大利亚东南部与野火相关的人类生命、财产、生物多样性和环境的风险正在增加，而更广泛地使用规定的燃烧对于管理这些风险至关重要。该地区野火灾害的范围和发生率不断增加，表明当前的火灾管理无法维持整个生态系统过程和生物多样性，也无法将野火对人类生命和财产的影响降低到可接受的水平。有令人信服的证据表明，更多地使用规定的燃烧来减少野火风险和影响，而不是投入更多的资源来抑制野火。使用现有知识和工具可以有效管理规定燃烧的潜在负面影响。明确传达处方燃烧的好处可以影响政治和公众舆论。需要对培训、人力和支持资源进行更多投资，以安全有效地更广泛地部署规定的燃烧，以减少未来的野火风险。明确传达处方燃烧的好处可以影响政治和公众舆论。需要对培训、人力和支持资源进行更多投资，以安全有效地更广泛地部署规定的燃烧，以减少未来的野火风险。明确传达规定燃烧的好处可以影响政治和公众舆论。需要对培训、人力和支持资源进行更多投资，以安全有效地更广泛地部署规定的燃烧，以减少未来的野火风险。