Join us in Lorne for a talk on wildfire management in the Otways forests.

You’ll hear from Adjunct Associate Professor Philip Zylstra, a fire behaviour scientist from Curtin University and former remote area fire fighter. And Richard Collopy, artist and proud member of the Gadubanud-Gulidjan Traditional Owner Group.

When: Monday 10 August, 5–7pm
Where: Lorne Community House, 16 Mountjoy Pde, Lorne

No RSVP needed – just come along!

Across Victoria the issue of fire management is raising concerns about: the effectiveness of planned burning and its impact on native habitats and wildlife and; an increase in the intensity of tree removal along fuel breaks and during planned fire operations, aka loophole logging.

Adj. A/Prof Philip Zylstra’s work links plant traits and forest growth and health to fire behaviour. It predicts the impacts that such behaviour will have on individual plants, animals and soils. Which has led to the pioneering methods for empirically measuring historical fire regimes that most effectively minimise landscape flammability.

You may remember Professor Zylstra from a webinar he did in 2021 for VNPA.

Adj. A/Prof Philip Zylstra’s work has shown that there is a need to rethink large scale and remote planned burning operations that in a lot of instances increase fire severity and decrease the resilience of habitats and wildlife.

A series of talks by Adj. A/Prof Philip Zylstra are being held across Victoria.

  • Monday 10 August – Lorne – VNPA and OREN – Free public talk, no need to book
  • Tuesday 11 August – Hawthorn – Lighter Footprints – Book here
  • Wednesday 12 August – Hurstbridge – Nillumbik Friends of the Great Forest, film screening and talk – Book here
  • Thursday 13 August – Healesville – Yarra Ranges Council, film screening and talk – Book here
  • Friday 14 August – Rosebud – ACF Community Mornington, film screening and talk – Book here
  • Saturday 15 August – Lakes Entrance – GECO,GEG,EEG – Book here

Film screenings include the film Forest Country by director Lewi Haskin. His film delves into the issues with loophole logging around Victoria and the impact on threatened wildlife like Greater Gliders and Leadbeater’s Possums.