In December 2007 Community Solutions, with Jane Elix Consulting, completed facilitation of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment component of the pilot Hotspots Fire Management Project. Since then Hotspots has continued to assist NSW landholders and public land managers in managing fire both for the protection of life and property and to ensure healthy, productive landscapes in which biodiversity is protected and maintained.
Funded initially by the New South Wales Environmental Trust and auspiced through Nature Conservation Council NSW, the Hotspots project is the first of its kind in the State. Community Solutions’ role has been to work with the Hotspots central team to engage communities within the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment and elsewhere. The aim was to work with a diverse range of people interested in fire - from landholders and rangers to fire fighters, ecologists, government agencies and others across an area. Community Solutions recruited for and facilitated a series of practical workshops in several areas of New South Wales.
Through preparatory interactions, workshops and field work, Hotspots has helped local communities explore opportunities for meeting the goals of different land uses such as farm production, local government Bush Care management, protection of Indigenous culture and biodiversity conservation on public and private lands.
This project showcased and utilised the experience Community Solutions offers in community engagement on issues of natural resource management. The Hotspots program is delivered by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW more recently the Rural Fire Service working with and regional partners including the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change (NPWS), Catchment Management Authorities, the Local Government & Shires Association, NSW Farmers Association and the SE Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium. For more information go to the Hotspots website:
www.hotspotsfireproject.org.au
Judy continues to work with the Hotspots team to assist
in developing an ongoing program.
