Guest Speaker: Andrea Gaynor

In 2019/20 the Western Australian Department of Conservation, Biodiversity and Attractions conducted planned burning of over 3 million hectares of bushland across the state, some in collaboration with Traditional Owners and other land managers. The aim of the burning is to reduce wildfire risk and achieve other land management objectives. But at a time of changing climate and increasing pressure on biodiversity, many people are asking whether the current prescribed burning regime is appropriate, particularly in the south of the state.

Placing these burning questions in context, this talk provides a historical perspective on planned fire in southern WA, from early settler observations of Noongar burning to the origins and evolution of today's prescribed burning program.

Andrea Gaynor is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Western Australia. An environmental historian, her research seeks to use the contextualising and narrative power of history to assist transitions to more just and sustainable societies. She is currently writing about histories of community-led land management, water in Australian urbanisation and nature in Australian urban modernity.

Photography by Bart Lemming . Perup 2021