@article {bnh-4202, title = {Optimisation of fuel reduction burning regimes for fuel reduction, carbon, water and vegetation outcomes: annual report 2016-17}, number = {318}, year = {2017}, month = {09/2017}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

During the year the focus has been on consolidation of our landscape-scale empirical dataset, development and validation of models of carbon, water and vegetation, and conversion of research reports into peer-reviewed publications. The journals that we have published in have impact factors of 2.2 or greater and are rated in the top quartile for journals in the fields of Land Management, Forestry, Ecology, Fuels Technology or Chemistry. In addition, members of the research \ team\  and \ postgraduate \ students \ have presented \ their \ work\  at a number of international and national conferences.

We have exceeded the requirements for field work with a total of 83 plots sampled during the life of the project with 29 plots (equivalent to 58 burn units) sampled in the current financial year. The sample sites have spanned Victoria, the ACT and NSW and have involved interaction with local land management agencies for access, sharing of site information (e.g. burning prescriptions and history) and assistance with sample collection. A highlight of our more recent sampling efforts has been part of the Mechanical Fuel Load Reduction Trial project overseen by Forestry Corporation NSW. For our part, we will model the impact of mechanical thinning versus fuel reduction burning on forest carbon and water balance.

We have endeavoured to maintain good communication with our End Users {\textendash} earlier in the year to develop a Research Utilisation Roadmap for the {\textquoteleft}Prescribed Burning and Catchment Management{\textquoteright} Cluster and a Project Plan for continuation of our research from 2017{\textendash}2020. Later in the year we worked closely with End Users as they developed a presentation for the {\textquoteleft}Research Driving Change Showcase{\textquoteright}. We have also had a number of multi-agency meetings to keep our End Users up to date with our research progress.

As we move into our second phase of research we will continue to aim to increase the capacity of fire and land management agencies to enhance their planning capabilities for fuel reduction burning (FRB). This will lead to better outcomes related to provision of high quality water, carbon sequestration and maintenance of vegetation diversity while reducing fuel loads for protection of life and property.

}, issn = {318}, author = {Bell, Tina} }