The Greens do NOT oppose controlled back burning

Submitted by Jim Reiher on Mon, 16/02/2009 - 15:42.
in

The Greens do not oppose fuel reduction burns.

We need to set the record straight on this one. The Greens accept the need for controlled back burning. Of course we do!
 
The Australian Greens policy states:
 
The Australian Greens want effective habitat management, including ecologically appropriate use of fire.[1]
 
The Greens expressly support controlled and appropriate fuel reduction burns that have been part of Australia’s landscape and indigenous culture for tens of thousands of years.
 
Scientifically-based burning protects lives and property, is good for the environment and, if adequately supported by Governments, would create thousands of jobs in park management.
 
The Greens urge extreme care and extensive planning to ensure that ill-advised burning does not jeopardise lives and property as has, tragically, happened on many occasions.
 
In their submission to the 2003 Victorian Bushfire Inquiry, the Australian Greens Victoria (North East Region), clearly and strongly called for fuel reduction burns:
 
An effective strategic fuel-reduction burning strategy is required based on scientific fire ecology and fire behaviour information.
 
It is critical that any revised approach to fuel-reduction burning is scientifically based, drawing on the expertise and further research of fire ecologists and fire behaviour scientists. The goal must be to produce a sustainable strategy for fuel-reduction management that will protect biodiversity and moderate the effects of wildfire to an acceptable level for protection of people and assets.[2]
 
The Tasmanian Greens call for:
 
Ensuring that fuel reduction burning to protect property is carried out in the appropriate season to limit likelihood of higher intensity fires in dry periods.[3]
 
The Greens are conscious that appropriate fuel reduction burning is extremely resource intensive. Proper management of national parks and reserves requires more funding from State and Federal Governments. That is what the Greens want.
 
And to end, a recent quote from Bob Brown: 
11 Feb 2009: Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown, said "Everyone in Australia has been deeply affected by Victoria's devastating bushfires and it reminds us again of the danger inherent in Australia's beautiful bush. Greens' policy supports the ecologically appropriate use of fire, scientifically-based controlled and careful burning is an important tool in protecting lives and property, as well as being a natural part of the bush lifecycle."