A comprehensive report into the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires highlights the need for a major overhaul of current forest management strategies, according to the peak Australian association for forest scientists, professionals and growers.
Jointly commissioned by the Victorian and Australian governments as parties to the Regional Forest Agreements (RFA), and conducted by an independent expert panel, the Major Event Review of the 2019-20 bushfires examined the impacts of the devastating bushfires on a wide range of forest uses and values.
The review undertook extensive consultation with stakeholders, communities and Traditional Owners, and presented the two governments with 37 recommendations.
Forestry Australia vice president, Jim Wilson, said the report highlighted the need for a major overhaul of current forest management strategies so appropriate resources could be allocated to provide for the full range of forest uses and values in a balanced and holistic way.
"This report confirms that to avoid future repeats of 2019-20 and protect human life and biodiversity, forest and fire management must be viewed and managed at a landscape scale, with active management over long timeframes, using expert knowledge of forests and their processes," Mr Wilson said.

IMAGE: The Major Event Review of the 2019-20 bushfires examined the impacts of the disaster on a wide range of forest uses and values. S1 - 9961 (2020)