Scientist fears prescribed burning wildlife impact
Scientist fears prescribed burning wildlife impact
16 December 2008
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — A zoologist is warning a threefold increase in prescribed burning in Victoria could be devastating to wildlife.
Dr Michael Clarke from Latrobe University is opposed to the proposal that was made in a recent parliamentary report into bushfires.
He says the effect on wildlife must be a priority when planning fires, and ongoing monitoring.
Dr Clarke say it is important to protect as much habitat as possible to help wildlife recover, especially animals.
“Animals will either be consumed by the fire and die, or if they’re not consumed, they’ll be only able to survive if there’s some remaining habitat left in the landscape that they can get to which will act as a refuge,” he said.
“The larger the scale of our burning, either planned or wildfire, the tougher it’s going to be for animals.”
