5 Australian Organisation that Help Prevent Bushfires

The scale of Australian bushfires has shocked people around the world. Bushfire is a catastrophic natural disaster that can destroy lives and properties. 

The latest and most destructive bushfires recorded in the country happened from 2019 to 2020. It has resulted in the loss of over 30 lives, destroyed around 3,000 homes, and affected nearly 3 billion animals.

Many organisations came to help put the fire out and support the victims. Both government and non-government groups are working together to lessen the impacts and prevent bushfires from destroying more and more lives and habitats.

Bushfire Help

Bushfire Help builds a connection between people, businesses, and various organisations to fulfil the same goal of minimising bushfire impact in Australia.

This organisation gathers initiative to become the largest help database in the country that can respond quickly to natural disasters like bushfires. Moreover, they build awareness by providing people with the latest bushfire issues and facts.

You can donate goods and money or volunteer to various organisations through Bushfire Help. They can help you play a significant role in preventing bushfires across the country.

WWF Australia

Australia’s World Wildlife Fund for Nature strives to conserve biodiversity and let people live in harmony with nature.

The organisation focuses on giving emergency support by rescuing and caring for fire-affected wildlife. They also take part in the recovery and future-proofing of the country to be ready for the fire seasons ahead.

WWF’s mission is to halt the natural environment’s degradation by protecting and restoring natural habitats affected by bushfires and other calamities.

CSIRO

CSIRO is a government entity operating under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949. They are Australia’s trusted advisor on fire management, prediction and recovery, solving the country’s greatest challenges through technology and innovation.

After the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season, the government called on CSIRO for assistance. They welcome the role of delivering practical resilience actions relating to climate change and bushfires.

The agency has state of the art facilities and frameworks to understand, manage and predict fires under future climates. They train all state agencies on fire prediction and behaviour to establish effective strategies in reducing the severity of impact.

NSW Rural Fire Service

During a bushfire emergency, the first ones to call on are the firefighters. There are various firefighter organisations in the country, including the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has over 72,000 volunteers, making up 2,000 brigades across the state. They claim to be the world’s largest volunteer firefighting organisation, with volunteers coming from different states.

This multitude of unpaid volunteers put their lives and jobs on hold to tackle the blazes and save wildlife.

One Tree Planted 

This non-profit organisation in Australia is on a mission to help the environment by planting trees. Australia’s forests require continuous care and management to improve tree health and protect wildlife.

This simple action will help reduce the risk of destructive bushfires in the future. One Tree Planted works with environmental organisations and local landowners to keep Australian bushlands and forests healthy and safe.

They help local groups establish and plant the right kind of trees for a specific area as trees may serve different purposes.

On top of that, they undertake fire-damaged land recovery and habitat restoration for native species such as koalas, sugar gliders, and echidnas.

Conclusion

Preventive measures are the key to minimising bushfire impacts. That’s why organisations such as CSIRO, WWF and One Tree Planted work to conserve and protect diversity.

On the other hand, Bushfire Help and NSW Rural Fire Service take action during bushfire emergencies to put the fire out and save lives.

All organisations with the same goal can take part in preventing bushfires across the country. We at Trees Down Under carry out our role in protecting trees and greeneries through our professional tree services in Sydney.

With all of us working together, the country can make a big difference and conserve our environment from catastrophic bushfires.

Bushfire Risk & Tree Management in Sydney

Bushfire season brings a significant threat to Australians, especially to those living in rural areas. It is overly destructive and can be difficult to contain once the fire has started.

From 2019 to 2020, the country has experienced the most catastrophic bushfires, with up to 19 million hectares burnt. A large portion of the affected area was forest and bushland, destroying habitats and killing over 1.25 billion animals.

When it comes to bushfire risk and tree management in Sydney, acting early and continuously is the key to effectiveness. As such, we need to be aware of the dangers and the right strategies to mitigate the fire severity before it happens.

Bushfire Season’s High-Risk Trees

Many factors can affect trees’ overall condition. High-risk trees that may spread fires are often those with health issues and structural damage. However, neglected and overgrown trees can also be dangerous as they provide excessive fuel for a fire. 

Moreover, imbalanced trees can add fuel and help the fire spread quickly, burning more and more trees. While it’s obvious that large mature trees bring the biggest threat during a bushfire, the branches can also put your safety at stake. 

If you’ve noticed dangerous trees on your site, it’s best to have an expert arborist check them and determine what procedure to undertake for risk elimination or reduction. 

The experts will tell you whether you need tactical lopping and pruning or complete tree removal to ensure safety from high-risk trees. 

Preventing Bushfire from Starting in Your Property

Rural areas in Sydney are typically abundant with trees and greeneries. If you’re in the countryside, you probably have various trees in and around your property. 

However, trees are primarily the cause of bushfires. Hence, it’s essential to know how to keep your trees safe and prevent a bushfire from starting within your property. 

Bushfire and Tree Management Activities

There are two categories of bushfire and tree management activities. These are firefighting and fire prevention.

During a bushfire emergency, protecting life and property is always the major concern. Firefighting refers to the immediate responses taken to manage and prevent bushfires from harming life and property.

On the other hand, fire prevention involves actions that prevent or lower fire severity risk before it actually happens. Preparing for future fire seasons includes tree risk assessment procedures. These measures allow early identification of tree issues to minimise potential bushfire threats.

Certified arborists best handle a proactive search for any bushfire risk in your property. They can devise and apply risk mitigation techniques to significantly reduce the hazards of vicious fires caused by your trees.

The national environment law does not prohibit any required actions from suppressing bushfires, nor does it control the procedures taken to fight fires.

However, firefighting and fire prevention activities with significant impacts on nationally protected matters are subject to compliance actions. You might also need federal approval before undertaking such responses.

While you’re at it, know that some activities might be exempt from the regulation of national environment law. Your trusted arborist in Sydney will help you understand all of these things and keep your trees safe.

Tree Trimming for Power Line Clearance

Neglected trees can overgrow with thick and long branches obstructing power lines. This situation poses a high risk of starting a fire and needs immediate action. 

You can clear power line obstructions by trimming or pruning your trees regularly. Ensure that the branches don’t go near electric cables as they can interrupt connection and spark a fire. 

Complete Tree Removal

Another best way to reduce the potential of starting a bushfire in your property is by removing high-risk trees. Trees will eventually deteriorate, and you might need to remove them in order to maintain your site’s overall safety. 

Don’t let yourself worry about having trees that may start a bushfire at any moment. Ask your trusted arborist to assess and remove your trees when necessary.

Conclusion

Bushfires are extremely dangerous which could lead to life and property destruction. No one would want to see a bushfire starting within their property.

Hence, taking proactive measures to implement effective bushfire risk and tree management strategies is essential for your trees and property’s overall safety. 

With the help of professional arborists from Trees Down Under, you can take care of your trees and mitigate the risk of bushfire severity. 

If things get too tough, just give our team a call anytime, and we will extend a helping hand to you at any time.