The bushfires of 2019-2020 had a devastating impact in our regions of Mount Barker, Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island with loss of life, destruction of homes and biodiversity, and impacting livelihoods. These fires, along with the 2021 Cherry Gardens bushfire, reinforce the vulnerability of our region and landscapes. They highlight the need to be better prepared and resilient, while ensuring our biodiversity is protected.

To address the ongoing risk of bushfire, particularly in the context of climate change, our Bushfire and Biodiversity project considers preparedness and resilience while ensuring our biodiversity and nature is protected and maintained. The project aims to better understand the latest knowledge and best practise, plus outlines future steps to build a balance between bushfire and resilience in our region.

To achieve this, our objectives included:

Identify and address knowledge, capability gaps and opportunities to support long term bushfire risk reduction and biodiversity resilience at property and regional scales.
Evaluate and propose the best interventions and solutions to apply across our six council areas.
Ensure buy-in and support from a range of stakeholders including agencies, individuals, interest groups, First Nations groups and communities.

Resources

There are three milestones delivered by the Bushfire and Biodiversity Project.

Part A - Literature Review: an evidence-based review of bushfire mitigation and preparation, and, biodiversity. It identifies perceptions, opportunities for mutually beneficial (biodiversity and fire management) strategies, and proposes future initiatives.
Part B - Spotlight Studies: these spotlight studies provide a better understanding on bushfire and biodiversity related issues. They explore key findings, real life examples, risks, gaps in knowledge and more.
Part C - Discussions & Recommendations: this paper is based on the bushfire and biodiversity literature review and stakeholder consultation. It summaries knowledge, explores issues and opportunities and facilitates future stakeholder discussions.

Title page of Bushfire & Biodiversity Part A Literature Review — Part A: Literature Review *(pdf)*

Title page of Bushfire & Biodiversity Part B Spotlight Studies — Part B: Spotlight Studies *(pdf)*

Title page of Bushfire & Biodiversity Part C Discussion & Recommendations — Part C: Discussion & Recommendations *(pdf)*

This Bushfire and Biodiversity project is an outcome of our Climate Risk Reduction priority and is funded under the Commonwealth’s Preparing Australian Communities Program Local Stream Grant, where we were awarded $100,000, auspiced through the Southern & Hills Local Government Association.

This project was delivered across all six Resilient Hills and Coasts local government areas – Adelaide Hills, Alexandrina, Kangaroo Island, Mount Barker, Victor Harbor and Yankalilla.