Fire season 2011

Throughout South and Southern Africa our ecological and biological systems are developed for and, in some instances, depend on fire to regenerate and survive. Although we acknowledge this and encourage bush growth, it often becomes necessary to manage the bush to better encourage growth and prevent run away bush fires. Increased fuel load in open areas not being utilised for agriculture becomes a problem when it is not managed correctly.
There are a number of reasons to do this, we have outlines a few of them below:

Prescribed burning

Reasons for prescribed burning

• Wildfire hazard reduction
• Reduction of hazardous fuels
• Cycle nutrients
• Perpetuate fire-dependent species
• Improving wildlife and livestock habitat
• Controlling pest problems
• Site preparation for reforesting
• Manage endangered species
• Protection of infrastructure

Fire prevention burning

Reasons for fire prevention burning

• Fire Breaks
• Understory Burning (Under canopy fire management, Manual Ignition or Aerial Ignition)
• Fuel Load Reduction
• Slash Burning
• Fuel Load Risk Reduction (Burns under high voltage transmission lines, railway servitudes and oil pipeline servitudes.)

Fire breaks - page 2

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