The information on this page is a summary of information contained in Bulletin 4856 Carbon farming in relation to Western Australian agriculture.
Why savanna fire management is important
The huge area of Australian savanna
Savanna woodlands and grasslands cover about 1.9 million square kilometres – about 23% – of the Australian continent, with most savanna fires occurring in northern regions where the cycle of wet and dry seasons make them particularly prone to fire.
'Savanna burning' has been used in greenhouse gas emissions accounting to encompass biomass burning in a wide range of northern Australian vegetation types, including tropical and subtropical grasslands (savanna), woodlands and shrublands.
Savannas are highly prone to fire
Savanna grass and shrub vegetation grows quickly during the 5-month wet season (January to May) then cures during the dry season to form a continuous vegetation layer that can carry fire long distances.
Fire return intervals are shortest in vegetation dominated by highly flammable spinifex grasses, which cover extensive areas of inland WA. In northern WA, fires may recur every 1 to 2 years. Fire intervals tend to increase to the south, along the gradient of decreasing average annual rainfall, from about every 5 years at latitude 19°S to about every 10 years at latitude 24°S. However, in the more-variable rainfall regimes of arid Australia, fire occurrence is irregular because it is determined by prior rainfall.
Savanna burning releases greenhouse gases
Only the nitrous oxide and methane emitted during fire events are accounted for in the National Greenhouse Inventory (see Tracking Australia's greenhouse gas emissions). Carbon dioxide emissions are not included because it is assumed that an equivalent amount is removed from the atmosphere through vegetation regrowth. Greenhouse gases emitted from savanna fires average 3% of Australia’s emissions.
Savanna burning contributes more than 95% of the burning emissions in WA, making savanna burning a priority area for abatement. In 2009–10, savanna and agricultural residue burning contributed 35%, or 2.3 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Mt CO2-e) of WA’s agricultural emissions, equivalent to 3% of total WA emissions for the year.
Benefits and risks from savanna burning
The benefits and risks are different for managed and unplanned (wild) fires.
Benefits of managed fire can include:
- improved pastoral production by stimulating resprouting of grasses
- inhibiting the growth of woody plants (weeds in savanna)
- improved hunting and cultural obligations of Aboriginal people
- protection of property.
Traditional Aboriginal land management produced fine-scale mosaic fire patterns and these have largely been replaced by more widespread and intense fires that occur mainly in the latter half of the dry season. Greenhouse gas emissions are much greater from late dry-season fires than from early dry-season fires.
Risks of unplanned fire can include:
- destruction of stock feed
- reduced pasture quality in the longer term (e.g. by the replacement of perennial grasses with annuals)
- damaged infrastructure, such as fences and bores.
The Kimberley Regional Fire Management Project (2000–05) suggested that the annual cost of unplanned fires ranged from $50 000 to $400 000 per property because of damage to infrastructure and reduced pasture production. A study in Cape York Peninsula found the cost of an unplanned fire that affected at least two-thirds of an 1100 square kilometre property to be $32 000. Kimberley properties are 2 to 3 times this size.
Early dry-season fires emit fewer greenhouse gases
The West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement project has shown early dry-season fires are more patchy than late dry-season fires, leaving 29% unburnt compared to 11% in late dry-season fires. Early dry-season fires also burn at lower intensity, typically emitting 52% less methane and nitrous oxide per hectare (ha) burnt compared with late dry-season fires. A critical assumption regarding greenhouse gas abatement is the management efficacy of prescribed burning.
Every 26 ha burnt in the early dry season avoids emitting 1 tonne carbon dioxide equivalents (t CO2-e) per hectare, which is worth about $16–20/t CO2-e: this is based on measurements from the Northern Territory that indicate reductions of 34% of methane and nitrous oxide (the only greenhouse gases accounted for in the methodology), with 25% regarded as a conservative estimate of abatement.
Early dry-season prescribed burning may lead to an increase in the biomass of woody vegetation, which increases carbon storage through increased biomass. However, a build-up of woody perennials reduces grassland productivity, and woody-weed control will need to be part of the fire regime.
Approved methodology
There are 2 new savanna fire management methods registered under the Emissions Reduction Fund:
- Savanna fire management – sequestration and emissions avoidance: the first method to credit sequestration and emissions avoidance from improved fire management.
- Savanna fire management – emissions avoidance: a replacement for the 2015 savanna fire management method.
The Clean Energy Regulator requires proponents of savanna fire management projects to gain written eligible interest holder (EIH) consent from various parties, including the State and Native Title holders. Proponents should hold appropriate approvals under WA law and comply with the future acts regime of the Native Title Act 1993 (Commonwealth).
The State Government is reviewing the provision of State EIH consent, which taking into account a range of issues, including land tenure, legal right, the proponent's plan to protect public safety, and Native Title status. Based on the review, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will recommend whether EIH consent be given by the Minister for Lands.
The inherent danger of fires means effective fire management policies and procedures are an important responsibility of project proponents. Specific advice about applicable bush fire regulations and requirements can be obtained from the local government authorities, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Office of Bushfire Risk Management within the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). DFES will actively work with proponents to establish comprehensive prescribed burning management plans.
For more information
- on savanna burning carbon projects please contact CarbonFarming@dpird.wa.gov.au
- on rangeland burning management, contact Kath Ryan at kath.ryan@dpird.wa.gov.au
- download Bulletin 4856 Carbon farming in relation to Western Australian agriculture