2019 was a year of shock for the residents of Australia and on the global front too. The bushfire that occurred that year had spread massively and distracted the major wildlife population. It is believed that many endangered species were also harmed, and they have become extinct now. Early studies found that the bushfire led to the burning of 80% of the known habitat of 49 threatened species, and at least 50% of the habitat of 65 certain species have been affected by the incident. Some of the species that were lost during this include long-footed Potluri, brush-tailed rock wallaby, greater glider, koala, and Easter Bristlebird, amongst the few.

Though such disasters happen from lighting in the woods, it also happens largely for the fire-related activities of people like a campfire, throwing cigarettes here and there in the jungle, etc. Hence, it has become important for the Australian government as well as individual citizens to focus on resolving this issue. A bushfire recovery plan is important for that. Although the government has taken several initiatives under the bushfire recovery, by establishing authorities and a team that can cater to such emergencies, firefighters' training and better planning are still required.

Bushfire Recovery initiatives that are taken by the government:

Bushfire Recovery

There had been a massive loss in a bushfire, and several initiatives have been taken by the government to support the people and to re-establish the lost habitat.

Allocation of the fund

Allocating the fund is one of the important aspects of the same. The Australian government is investing $200 million to help native wildlife and their habitats for recovery. This package includes $1.2 billion for a new National Bushfire Recovery Agency. The role of this agency is to coordinate with the relief effort. In addition, $761 million has been allocated for mental health support.

Setting an emergency warning system

The government has also set up a national emergency warning system and has allocated a fund of $76 million to it. This agency will help the people living in the bush fire affected area with information on the bushfire and its intensity. This money will be used to rebuild the house of the people, establish businesses and lose property during the bushfire.

Mental support and treatment

Even the government will be helping the people to overcome the mental stress and physical health they have suffered during the bushfire through treatment.

What bushfire prevention techniques you can take on your property?

While the government has led a bushfire recovery plan, it is also important that at an individual level, you must know the preventive measure to prevent the bushfire from accelerating. Let’s explore some of these:

Keep the grass shorter

Well-maintained property can resist bushfires, and hence you must prevent the overgrowth of shrubs and grasses. During the bushfire season, especially during the summer and spring seasons, make sure that you trim the grass regularly to prevent it from growing too long. If you prune the trees there is a lesser likelihood of catching fire. 

Remove the weeds

You must also remove the weeds from your garden because they are more prone to catch fire quickly. The overgrowing weeds can easily catch fire and increase the intensity of bushfires. Keeping the growth of weeds in check will ensure that the fire doesn’t get the catalytic rise. To keep the growth of weeds in control, you can invest in herbicides and use them to cut down the growth of weeds.

Clear any kind of overgrowth

Another important step that you need to take is to clear any kind of overgrowth in your home. If you have a big property near a wooded area, and you notice that there is excessive bush growth around your home, make sure that you chop it down. Do not allow the overgrowth of trees or shrubs around your premises too. Debris is also one of the reasons for fire hazards, so you must also clear your premises of any debris or dry leaves.

Placing pebbles

You can also place pebbles in your garden. These pebbles can act as a barricading between the fire and your home. It is a great way to prevent the fire from accelerating toward your house.

Wrapping it up!

These are some of the important steps that you need to take into account when it comes to bushfire recovery. However, instead of simply relying on government assistance for bushfire recovery, as an individual, you must also adopt the preventive measures that will keep the fire from impacting your property.