Join WA Forest Alliance for an evening discussion on fire and forests.

Ana Carvalho and Kuenzang Tshering, PhD candidates at Edith Cowan University, will discuss the relationship between fire frequency and severity in forests, the impact on critical water catchments and implications for the prescribed burning regime. More information on Ana and Kuenzang's talks is included below. 

This free, hybrid event can be attended either in person at City West Lotteries House or online. Tea, coffee and light nibbles will be provided to those who attend in person.

When
Friday 26 July 2024 | Doors open 6pm for a 6:30pm start
The online event will start at 6:30pm AWST

Getting there
City West Lotteries House is located at 2 Delhi Street, West Perth.
Located right next to the City West train station (Fremantle Line). There are also multiple Cat buses within short walking distance.
There are bike racks in front of the building.
Street parking is free after 6pm.

Joining online
A link will be sent before the event date to those registered to attend online. The online event will start at 6:30pm AWST.

Access
City West Lotteries House is wheelchair accessible and there are multiple ACROD bays available.

COVID-19 is still an issue in the community and we want to prioritise safety. It is important to us that we are building a community that takes care of all. Masks are welcome and encouraged. Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the event. If you feel unwell please do not attend in person. A link to join online can be provided instead.

If you have any questions, contact Jess Boyce 0410 412 254 | jess.boyce@wafa.org.au

For more information on prescribed burning visit wafa.org.au/better-fire-management

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Ana Carvalho
Ana is a PhD candidate at Edith Cowan University (ECU) and a member of the Centre for People, Place and Planet (CPPP) and the Conservation and Biodiversity Research Centre (CBRC). With a background in Geography, Environmental Sciences, and Project Management, she has been tutoring and lecturing in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing for bachelor’s and master’s courses. Her current research focuses on understanding the fire regime in the Jarrah Forest. She analyses the relationship between fire history and fire severity, investigating the influence of previous fire severity, number of burns, fire return intervals, and seasonality of fires on the changes in the severity of subsequent fire events.

Correlation between 32 years of fire frequency and fire severity in the Jarrah Forest.
This study investigates the relationship between fire history and severity using data from 329 historical fires mapped within the Mundaring Drinking Water Catchment from 1990 to 2021. Fire records were obtained from the Landgate database and validated using Landsat and Modis imagery. The analysis focused on various metrics, including the severity of previous fires, the number of preceding fires, fire return intervals, and the season of the fire, to identify the best explanatory variable for subsequent fire severity. Fire severity was calculated using seven spectral indices (dNBR, dNDVI, dNDWI, dVARI, dMSAVI, MIRBI, and CSI) and classified into categories of low, moderate, high, very high severity, and unburned areas. The findings provide valuable insights into the fire regime within this critical water catchment area.


Kuenzang Tshering
Kuenzang Tshering is a PhD student at Edith Cowan University. Kuenzang is an environmental hydrologist with experience in research, and project management working for public and international development agencies in Bhutan and Nepal.

Wildfires change how organic matter flows in forests, impacting water quality.
Fire creates unique dissolved organic matter (PyDOM) with different amounts and types of organic materials compared to non-burn conditions. This study investigated how fire severity (temperature, intensity, frequency) affects PyDOM. Researchers looked at PyDOM formation in labs, simulated rainfall events, and actual streams after a management fire. Laboratory showed moderate burn temperatures create more PyDOM, with soil producing more than litter. Field experiments mimicked these findings. Surprisingly, streams showed a short-term rise in less harmful, easily degradable PyDOM. This suggests management fires might have less long-term water quality impact than previously thought, but highlights potential short-term risks from easily degradable PyDOM.

Event photograph by Kuenzang Tshering