This presentation by Naomi Stephens of the National Parks and Wildlife Service provides a brief overview of NPWS’s role and contribution to bushfire management in New South Wales. Presentation from Nature Conservation Council of NSW 2017 Bushfire Conference - Fire, Fauna & Ferals: from backyards to bush.

1. Fire management in
NSW national parks and reserves
Nature Conservation Council - 2017 Bushfire Conference
Naomi Stephens
Director Fire & Incident Management, NPWS
Fire, Fauna & Ferals: from backyards to bush

2. Session Three: Fire and Fauna
• 860+ national parks & reserves
• over 7 million ha of land
• 9% of NSW.

3. Why does NPWS manage fire?
Our role and contribution to bushfire management in NSW
• Fire is a natural and recurring factor shaping the NSW environment.
• Integration with other land management and planning.
• Legislative commitment:
• land manager and public authority (NPW Act 1974)
• fire fighting authority (Rural Fires Act 1997).
• Member of the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee and BFMCs.
David Hutchins
Fire Management Objectives
 Primary objective - to protect life, property and
community assets from the adverse impacts of
fire.
 NPWS is committed to maintaining and
enhancing biodiversity through the use of fire,
and the protection and conservation of natural
and cultural heritage values

4. How NPWS uses fire to benefit the community and the environment:
Enhanced Bushfire Management Program
7%
72%
21%
< [VALUE]
> [VALUE]
< [VALUE]
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Below threshold Within threshold Above theshold
Land management zone vegetation threshold performance
2015-16
Actual KPI

5. • Opportunities to strategically integrate with fire management
• Complement NPWS fire planning, monitoring and evaluation
processes
• Increase knowledge on fire responses that improve fire
management outcomes.
Save our Species Program (SoS) & Fire Management
More plants and animals to be saved
from extinction
Saving our Species 2016–21

6. Current, informed and innovative research, knowledge and
information is vital to remain leaders in best-practice fire
management.
Bushfire Research Hub
• Review of OEHs research model:
• the existing co-investment model is effective
and should be maintained, but enhanced
research capacity is needed.
• The Bushfire Research Hub, will use partnerships to
advance knowledge in three key themes:
1. Understanding environmental factors
driving variation in fire regimes at a
landscape scale in relation to geology,
soils, climate, topography (which
combine to determine ecosystem
productivity and therefore fuels).
2. Understanding the effects of changed
fire regimes on emissions of greenhouse
gases and particulates, and uptake of
carbon.
3. Understanding the complex interactions
among cultural values, landscapes, fire
regimes, and biodiversity.

7. • Jan 2013; 40,000 ha including over 90% of
Warrumbungle National Park
• Some areas burned at high to extreme severity – raising
concerns of biodiversity loss
• Multidisciplinary Warrumbungles Fire Research (OEH
Science & NPWS), 2014 project to measure fire impact:
• Biodiversity. Cultural Heritage. Soils and Water
• Fire Behaviour. Citizen science. Knowledge
Management.
Wambelong Fire – Warrumbungles Fire Project

8. Cultural Fire Management Policy
• New policy and
guidelines approved on
park
• Growing interest both
off and on park and
interstate

9. Thank you