The Conversation

The burn legacy: why the science on hazard reduction is contested

19-02-2020 Author: Kevin Tolhurst, Hon. Assoc. Prof., Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne

When it comes to reducing the extent of bushfires, scientists disagree on the best way to do it. Hazard-reduction burning (also known as “prescribed burning” or “controlled burning”) is controversial and, depending on the scientific paper, it’s shown to either be effective or not work at all.

Hazard-reduction burning...

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