A recent report has made a negative link between logging and bushfire disasters. The study from the University of Melbourne has found that bush fires in young ash forests do more extensive damage then those in older longer standing forests. This has serious repercussions on how these fires are managed. Dr Chris Taylor exemplifies that climate change is increasing the occurrence of bush fires, and combined with impact of logging fewer forests are able to regenerate.

 ”If you reduce the age of the forest, thus alter the fire severity, and fires burn at a more frequent rate than 20 years, they’re actually burning the forest before it can produce seed again,” he said.

I believe that ash forests should be maintained so the amount of land where logging was allowed is modified, depending whether there has been fires in that area. If not it is possible that the ash trees  will die out and Acadia and wattle trees may take over.

As a result of this my broadcast media group has decided to take this on as our topic for our TV assignment. With ABC’s catalyst as our host program we are required to create a 4 minute feature that would fit the show. We are in the pre-production phase and currently planning everything from the pitch to contacting experts to interview including Professor Taylor. I may continue to blog about this as production commences.

Over and out,

Luke Egan