News & Events >> May 2005
Katoomba Forum Focuses on Fire
Page 14, Blue Mountains Gazette, 4 May 2005
The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute hosted an interdisciplinary forum called Climate Change & Fire in Katoomba last month as part of a new research program.
The program – to be managed by the Institute – aims to address important climate change issues and their potential impact on ecosystems in the Greater Blue Mountains and Sydney Basin.
Specialists from a wide cross-section of government management agencies, non-government organisations and interest groups were invited to participate in the April 12 forum.
Thirty representatives from the NSW Department of Environment & Conservation, the Sydney Catchment Authority, Blue Mountains City Council, Rural Fire Service, Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, the Universities of NSW, Sydney & Western Sydney, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Bushfire CRC, the Botanic Gardens Trust, and the Australian Museum took part.
The forum aims to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to share information, identify gaps in knowledge and integrate research objectives.
Recommendations were then sought on projects for the Institute to facilitate to better prepare the region, given that each of the management agencies involved with fire control has different mandates and priorities.
Fire policies are needed which optimise the protection of natural & cultural heritage and of ecosystem services including Sydney’s water supply, as well as protecting urban and commercial development.
Forum convenor and BMWHI executive director Dr John Merson, said fire is a very serious issue affecting the lives of everybody in the Blue Mountains.
“ Climate change will only exacerbate this threat through escalated fire frequency and intensity due to the drying out of the environment” he said.
“ There is clearly a need for a more integrated research and management efforts and the Institute is ideally placed to assist given its interdisciplinary and collaborative role.
“ The first stage in this research program will be to bring together information on the impact of climate change on the regional forest ecosystems and urban communities.”
Dr Ross Bradstock, from the Policy & Science Division of the NSW Department of Conservation and Environment outlined a new ‘firescape’ modelling technique at the forum.
Dr Bradstock is planning to apply the model to the Blue Mountains region to get a better grasp of the likely impacts of climate change on fire behaviour.
The Institute is collaborating with international research groups in France and the United States, who are also investigating potential effects of climate change on fire frequency and intensity.
For further Media information, contact Yvonne Hellmers, BMWHI Communications Co-ordinator on 0438 223-675 or yvonnehellmers@bigpond.com
