3.1 Background
Fires are a natural part of the Australian landscape, and are vital for the health of many native species and ecosystemsA biological community of interacting living and non-living things.. The ACT landscape has evolved with fire. Aboriginal people developed a sophisticated understanding of fire and use it to manage land and reduce bushfire risk (see Ngunnawal Country).
However, bushfires can have devastating impacts on people, property, biodiversityThe variety of all life and living processes in the environment. and the environment. Fires can also harm water quality in rivers, catchmentsAn area of land on which rain falls, this land then helps to channel the rainwater into rivers, lakes and wetlands. and water storages. The smoke from bushfires and controlled burnsAlso known as prescribed or hazard reduction burns, controlled burns are fires that are started on purpose to reduce fuel loads and help protect homes, farms and infrastructure. They are also used to improve the health of ecosystems and for cultural reasons by Aboriginal people. increases air pollution, especially airborne particles and summer smog. These pollutants can affect people, especially those with asthma and breathing problems.
The ACT has a high risk of bushfires. There are large areas of forest in Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and the Lower Cotter CatchmentAn area of land on which rain falls, this land then helps to channel the rainwater into rivers, lakes and wetlands.. Lots of suburbs in Canberra border onto areas of bushland, grassland or forests in local reserves, which also puts them at risk.
