Eco burns in Fleurieu swamps
Using fire to improve biodiversity in Fleurieu Peninsula swamps
National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia (NPWS) works with private landholders on the Fleurieu Peninsula to help restore swamps on their properties using targeted ecological burns.
Swamps on the Fleurieu Peninsula contain unique species including endangered plants and animals. Ecological burns are targeted to help these plants establish and improve habitat for the animals.
Most swamps on the Fleurieu are on private property so NPWS works with many landholders as part of its Burning on Private Land Program.
Choosing which swamps will benefit from a burn is based on how long since they were last burnt, if there are any species of conservation interest present, a prioritisation of which sites to work on first, and the landholder being able to accommodate a burn on their property.
The benefit of fire on swamps
Ecological burns have had a lot of success in restoring some of our precious plants and animals.
Fire is used because it benefits them by creating younger vegetation age classes which many species rely on. However, most swamps on the Fleurieu Peninsula haven’t had a fire go through them for a long time, which leaves some of our native plants and animals struggling to survive.
Previously burnt swamps, on a private property in the Yundi area and at Stipiturus Conservation Park, are being monitored to ensure that fires provide the best results possible.
What’s been shown so far, are enormous conservation gains; several threatened plants like the Yundi guinea flower (Hibbertia tenuis) have begun to flourish, which has saved them from possible extinction, and endangered animals such as southern emu-wrens (Stipiturus malachurus intermedius) have recolonised previously unsuitable areas.
How burning benefits plants
After long periods without fire, swamps become dominated by just a few plant species along with lots of dead plant material. Burning temporarily reduces this dense plant cover giving new seedlings the light and space to establish. And heat and smoke also stimulates the germination of seeds, which helps increase the biodiversity of the area.A carefully planned and executed fire helped bring a critically endangered plant back from the brink of extinction. Before a burn on the Fleurieu there were just 20 Yundi guinea flower plants, but in the months following the burn, hundreds of seeds germinated and are now thriving!
How burning benefits animals
Animals rely on the structure of their habitat, and habitat structure is heavily influenced by fire. Habitats start off quite open after fire but become increasingly dense as they regrow.While some animals prefer foraging in open areas, others prefer habitat that is denser and provides more protection from predators. For example, the tiny Mount Lofty Ranges southern emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus intermedius) is a poor flier and scrambles for insects and spiders. This endangered bird can’t use swamps when the vegetation gets really tall, dense and is dominated by coral fern (Gleichenia microphylla).
A balancing act
Fire is a natural phenomenon and is important for many habitats in South Australia. Prior to European colonisation, fires on the Fleurieu were started by lightning strikes or by Aboriginal people managing the landscape. To conserve the species that live in these swamps, we need to periodically burn a portion of this habitat to create a balance that caters for the diverse needs of our native plants and animals.
