By Romy Stephens
Australia should accept that bushfire prevention, rather than suppression, is the only way to avoid widescale loss associated with severe bushfire seasons, according to a professional forestry association.
The Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) and Australian Forest Growers (AFG) has stressed the need to prioritise broadscale fire preparedness instead of fire suppression tools as it puts forward a submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission.
IFA/AFG President Bob Gordon said the association was deeply concerned that the current focus on fire suppression instead of prescribed burning had led to devastating consequences.
“Prioritising fire suppression activities while failing to effectively reduce fuel levels through prescribed burning has unintentionally increased human and wildlife deaths, caused greater damage to assets, increased environmental degradation and led to spiralling total fire costs,” he said.
“Despite previous Royal Commissions recommending a greater focus on fire prevention and preparedness, including prescribed burning, we have seen expenditures on fire suppression, especially aircraft-related activities, skyrocket relative to expenditure on fire prevention activities.
“It is imperative government turns their attention towards managing forest fuel levels across the entire forested landscape if the number and costs of wildfires are to be reduced.”
Forest Fire Management Victoria has been contacted for comment.
