Abstract: |
Monitoring in Billiat Conservation Park is conducted for each major vegetation type occuring within the burn area. If the burn area is greater than 1 ha then a number of monitoring sites within the burn are made. The vegetation is surveyed before the burn, immediately after, one year after and then every 3 years after that. The sampling includes setting up photopoints, doing a Ramble survey of plant species, and fixed quadrats and transects. Photopoints are at the same sites as the quadrat sites. Monitoring will measure fuel hazard, environmental risks, vegetation floristics/ structure and key habitat factors. During the burn information is recorded on the weather, and post fire the survey is repeated. Each prescribed burn has a pre and post assessment and is entered in to the Fire database. The frequency of the burn depends on weather, previous year and other factors. The rates of regeneration can be monitored and the response of biota to fire and drought. |