Comaum NFRs - ForestrySA

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3.2.3 Wildfire 17 According to Comaum Forest Reserve Annual Reports, wild-fires occurred in natural forest areas in season 1946/47 but the area burnt and the location is not recorded, and in season 1950/51 when 30 acres were burnt but again the location is not provided. There is no record of wild-fires occurring in these Reserves in fire reports that have been maintained for the Region since 1958. Bob Clayfield (pers. comm. 1999) a land holder and resident of Comaum from 1921, cannot recall a major wildfire on ForestrySA land from that time. 3.2.4 Prescribed Burning Prescribed burning of native forest in the Comaum Forest Reserve to reduce fuel loads and the potential fire intensity adjacent to pine plantations was reported in 1946. From 1959 to 1991 prescribed burning was carried out as scheduled in working plans with up to 545 hectares being burnt in 1976/77. Burning ceased in these Reserves in 1992 in accordance with regulations in the Native Vegetation Act 1991 which considers unauthorised burning to be a form of clearing. Burning will resume when Native Vegetation Council approval is obtained for planned future operations. Prescribed Burning Policy In 1971, in recognition of the conservation value of the native forests and the limited knowledge of the ecological impact of repeated burning, ForestrySA (then Woods and Forests Department) developed a prescribed burning policy with the objective of carrying out low intensity mosaic burning in native forests at intervals of 3 - 8 years. Some areas were scheduled for longer intervals between burns, and certain areas were excluded from burning to provide scientific reference (benchmark) areas. The policy was reviewed in 1985, 1992 and 1998, continuing the emphasis on habitat management. The objectives of ForestrySA's current Prescribed Burning Policy which schedules burning of varying intensity and interval in selected compartments while maintaining other compartments as unburnt reference areas, is to: create and maintain floristic and structural diversity optimise species presence and minimise further local extinctions reduce wildfire intensities to improve survival and re-colonisation opportunities protect assets by fuel reduction in limited strategic areas. The policy recommends alternating prescribed fire intensity from low to high for consecutive fires in the same compartment. The seasonal timing of the fire, ie, spring or autumn may also vary depending on assessed vegetation diversity and development and the requirement for species regeneration. The minimum interval between burns has been based on the reproductive period of the major over-storey species Eucalyptus baxteri which has been established to be about 10 years. The reproductive period is the time necessary for a seedling to mature to sufficient size to produce its own seed and be able to survive the effects of Final Plan – August 2001
18 the next scheduled fire. The minimum interval is flexible beyond 10 years such that scheduled burning will be postponed in drought years if the area to be burnt represents more than 25% of the Reserve. The previous fire history of a compartment is considered when planning future prescribed burning. The record of known previous prescribed burning is shown in Figures 4.1–3. Proposed prescribed burning is shown in Figures 5.1–3 and Section 7 Appendix II subject to ratification by the Native Vegetation Council. 3.2.5 Other Impacts Establishment of internal tracks defining compartments as they currently exist in the Wombat Flat NFR was completed in the early 1960s. A refuse dump which previously serviced the Comaum Forest Reserve Headquarters and staff houses situated in Cpt. G Wombat Flat NFR was covered over, and the limestone track leading into it was ripped in 1996 to deter vehicular access. On site evidence of previous cultivation supports local narrative of oat crops grown on the now dry swamp in Cpt A in this Reserve. The internal tracks within Comaum and Boolara NFRs were established to facilitate fire management shortly after their purchase in 1965 and 1971 respectively. 3.2.6 Exotic plants and animals Apart from some introduced species in the former house paddock Cpt. C and a creeper (Periwinkle?) in the north-west corner of Cpt. D there is only low level infestation of Tree lucerne, Cootamundra wattle and pine in Wombat Flat NFR. Comaum and Boolara NFRs have low levels of pine wildings only. Rabbits, foxes, cats and house mice are known to inhabit these Reserves and may have modified the biological community during their long period of occupation. The probability is that some animal and plant species have been lost from these Reserves due to predation and competition by introduced pest species. The risk of local extinctions remains with the continued presence of pest species. 3.3 Current Uses 3.3.1 Conservation The areas comprising The Comaum Native Forest Reserves were set aside for the conservation of flora and fauna in 1970 and 1972 in line with policy at that time to reserve all remaining native forest on Woods and Forests Department land for conservation purposes. 3.3.2 Community Use Final Plan – August 2001
Page 1: Final Plan - August 2001 Document C
Page 4 and 5: 3.3 Current Uses 3.3.1 Conservation
Page 6 and 7: 6 These Reserves provide suitable h
Page 14 and 15: 1.1.4 Administration The Native For
Page 16 and 17: 9 3. (2) A proclamation declaring a
Page 18 and 19: 11 dune ranges were eroded and youn
Page 20 and 21: 13 Eucalyptus baxteri (Brown string
Page 22 and 23: Mammals 15 Ten native mammal specie
Page 32 and 33: 19 The Comaum Native Forest Reserve
Page 34 and 35: Final Plan - August 2001 21 SOUTH E
Page 36 and 37: 23 High Ongoing which may affect th
Page 38 and 39: 25 2000 Med Remove introduced plan
Page 40 and 41: TABLE 1 27 PLANT SPECIES RECORDED F
Page 42 and 43: Crassula seiberiana ssp. tetramera
Page 44 and 45: Lavatera plebeia Australian holly h
Page 46 and 47: Stylidium graminifolium plant Grass
Page 48 and 49: TABLE 2 35 Bird Species Recorded fo
Page 50 and 51: 37 BIRD GROUPS STATUS (B) Predomina
Page 52 and 53: 39 BIRD GROUPS STATUS Richard’s P
Page 54 and 55: TABLE 3 41 MAMMAL SPECIES RECORDED
Page 56 and 57: 7. APPENDICES APPENDIX I FORESTRYSA
Page 58: REFERENCES Boardman, R (1999) Unpub

Comaum NFRs - ForestrySA

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