Roger

I can accept that Aboriginal burning played an important role in the coastal areas and along the floodplains of the major inland rivers of Southern Australia, ie. the Murray, Goulburn, etc.

However, I didn't imagine that Aboriginals had as much impact in the more densely forested foothill and mountain forests inland from the coast where it is generally assumed that they rarely ventured. I had always attributed the regular burning of these areas to fires ignited by lightning - what does Gammage say about lightning fires?

This is only a small point, because the effect is ultimately much the same - that is that these areas (apart from the wet sclerophylle forests) were also regularly burnt by generally lower intensity fire because fuels were never allowed to build-up to the levels that we commonly see today.

"There are many academics who deny that Aboriginal people ever lit anything much other than a campfire."

Name one please.

I think anyone who believes Australian indigenous people deliberately burned their place of living, is very lacking in common sense.

If grass was burned there would be little or no seed for at least 3 months to make a flour to eat. Aboriginal people ground seed on stone dishes.

Without seed many birds would have no food they would naturally fly to other regions.

If the grass was burned with a big fire then kangaroos would go elsewhere. When it rains the smell attracts kangaroos from hundred of kms away and they arrive almost overnight. But with fire the opposite would likely occur.

Aboriginal people would not want to chase after animals moving to other places.

By understanding the bush it is possible to understand how a boomerang can be thrown into a flock of birds to bring one or two down.
If the bush was burned the bird flocks would be gone elsewhere.

Understanding of the real bush is not algebra or rocket science.
It's common sense. Not non-sense.

Ludwig: "Undertaking hazard-reduction burning which includes the canopy in eucalypt forest close to built-up areas is nigh on impossible."

That is a head-in-the-sand attitude. You are advocating continuing growth in fuel load such that when a fire does eventually come through, its high intensity will cause all in its path -- and not necessarily in its direct path due to spot fires -- to be burnt to ashes.

Hazard reduction in those areas needs to be done in cool weather with little or no breeze.

i..dislike correcting..but..one thinks..all grass is equal
the other thinks its about burning canopy

first the..canopy..this burning..is tragedy..it
indicates a TOO HOT a burn..and..only increases the real danger..from..the litter IT CREATES..over the next..weeks/months..from the leaves/branches..not burned..

only killed

[that law..that dead leaves fall..to the ground]
where they get burned..of at much lower temp..

a canopy fire creates higher release..of volatiles..and gas fires burn hotter..anyhow..its basic/stuff the author can clarify

ditto the dead grass STEMS..the seeds have long fallen away
the blades of the grass..long eaten..the softer juicer stems..dead dry

the birds/roos/wallabies even..the bilby..have long gone
but LOW TEMP/burning..ensures lots of green..regrowth..within weeks

but there is more..clearing the litter has broken
[burned..partly..through hard nut/seed pods..and an emu finds much joy]

the idea about annual'/'burning'..is that it burns off the dry..leaves/dead grass stems..AT LOW TEMP..on the ground

but why bother
fire bad..right..WRONG

ignorant fire bad
intelligent use of fire is all good..you KNOW..if it was HOT
or coold burn..so YOU KNOW..when/and WHAT..will regrow/plus when
you..KNOW..what will feed on what stage of regrowth

you have created a path..on..which many walked their dreaming
for longer than any other..peoples..[cause these are the people of cain]..who bears the curse upon/the first born..[of tilling ground THAT REFUSES ITS YIELD.]

you have no..idea..of the importance..of fish traps
and other stuff that eats..that the fire has processed

i can/only suggest people read the books
there is a whole super/market out there

but colonization..needs create dependence..and the first DUTY..of the colonizer..is to..deplete..the natives food sources[like endless fields of bizon/or buffelo/or skies full of pigeons..or waters teeming with BIG breeder fish

then along comes the INVADER/despoiler..and kills off all/the breeders
chopping down..massive trees..introducing booze disease..ignorance/and figure heads

WE HAd no leaders..WE HAD CONSENSUS
but then every kid KNEW..you dont poop in..the water..your going to..have to drink..but along comes a drunk/high-priest colonizer..and calls me the savage..for not pooping into their drinking-water.

[water closets/dunnies..[w.c'sd]..[toilet-s for dummies]

Fire hazard reduction is for example:

1. Not living in a fire prone area.
2. Having cement sheet cover over timber and facia boards and windows facing the source of fire and where radiated heat is likely to come from.
3. Having all roofing gaps filled with copper fly wire where roof meets gutters.
4. Having stainless gutter leaf guards properly installed.
5. Having a reasonable sized swimming pool and a quality diesel water pump with high pressure sprinklers and fire hoses.
6. Having an underground bunker or closed cement tank with entry suitable for residents, friends and pets.
7. Having good insurance.

Otherwise do not live in the bush or grasslands.