Planned fires and invertebrate conservation in south east Australia

Abstract

Unusually intense wildfires in south east Australia in early February 2009 led to the deaths of 173 people in Victoria and massive loss of property, with several towns essentially obliterated. More than 450,000 ha were burned. The severity of those fires has led to calls for massively increased planned burning for fuel reduction, with a Government Enquiry (a Royal Commission) currently considering all aspects of the fires and future policy, to help safeguard life and property. Public concerns are naturally high, and any measures suggested to reduce the likelihood and severity of future fires must be appraised seriously. However, the conservation of Victoria's heritage of biodiversity is also..