In areas where traditional burn-off operations are challenging, rangers are taking to the skies to drop capsules that burst into flames to protect the region's biodiversity.
From the back seat of a helicopter, small white capsules are being dropped down a plastic tube to the rainforest floor in north Queensland.
The area, known for its rugged outcrops and eucalypt forest, is continuing to recover after being battered by Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017.The late wet season is the ideal time to conduct controlled burns to reduce bushfire risk later on.Traditional burn-offs have been done on the ground, but in inaccessible country like within the Proserpine State Forest, the effort needs to be from the sky.
As the chopper hovers over the treetops, the pierced capsules, sometimes known as Dragon Eggs, fall down a tube and to the ground, sparking spot fires to create mosaic burns across the park.Before the first capsule is dropped over the area, a number of capsules are tested to make sure the machine is working correctly.
Equations are done to determine the drop rate of capsules to achieve the desired burn, taking into account the area's fire history. Following the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, there has been much discussion in the community about the use of fire to reduce the risk of catastrophic events. Ms Ezzy acknowledges that there are still some in the community who are not comfortable with controlled burns being conducted so close to their properties.
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