Patch-Burning Desert Nature Reserves in Western Australia Using Aircraft

Abstract

Fire management in desert nature reserves in Western Australia aims to restrict the spread of wildfires and to re-introduce a spatial and temporal mosaic of firecreated patches. Aerial ignition is well suited to patchburning the large, remote and poorly accessible desert reserves. The Weather Factor, a function incorporating wind speed, temperature and relative humidity, dxectly influenced the ignition rate, the range of sizes of burnt patches and the area burnt. During the trials described here, some 140,000 ha of spinifex fuels in the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve were patch-burnt using aircraft at a total cost of A$O.32 ha^-1.