Improved understanding of human fire regimes demands: (1) better data on past and current human influences on fire regimes to enable global comparative analyses, (2) a greater understanding of different cultural traditions of landscape burning and their positive and negative social, economic and ecological effects, and (3) more realistic representations of anthropogenic fire in global vegetation and climate change models. Greenhouse gas-induced warming and changes in the hydrological cycle may increase the occurrence of large, severe fires, with potentially significant feedbacks to the Earth system. These episodic disasters help frame negative public attitudes towards landscape fires, despite the need for burning to sustain some ecosystems. Some of these contemporary fire regimes cause substantial economic disruptions owing to the destruction of infrastructure, degradation of ecosystem services, loss of life, and smoke-related health effects. Available evidence shows that modern humans can increase or decrease background levels of natural fire activity by clearing forests, promoting grazing, dispersing plants, altering ignition patterns and actively suppressing fires, thereby causing substantial ecosystem changes and loss of biodiversity. It remains uncertain how humans have caused a departure from ‘natural’ background levels that vary with climate change. Understanding of the diversity of human fire regimes on Earth in the past, present and future remains rudimentary. Globally, debate rages about the impact on ecosystems of prehistoric human-set fires, with views ranging from catastrophic to negligible. Natural fires have influenced biological evolution and global biogeochemical cycles, making fire integral to the functioning of some biomes. independent of humans) fires have an ancient, geological history on Earth. Back a picnic, don’t forget the rug and chairs, and reel in the new year with a bang in Perth.Humans and their ancestors are unique in being a fire-making species, but ‘natural’ (i.e. Here’s where they’ll be poppin’ off from this year. The City of Perth also recommends Yagan Square, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge Piazza and James Street as good vantage points for the midnight fireworks. We all know the best view of the City of Perth New Year’s Eve fireworks are from the banks of the South Perth Foreshore.

Location: Crown Perth Image via Shutterstock Location: Marine Tce, Fremantle Esplanade

Location: Crown Perth, Burswood Image via Shutterstock Midnight New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Perth Location: Western foreshore War Memorial, Halls Head Location: Groyen Alexander View, MindarieĮvent: City of Mandurah NYE Fireworks Display Location: Swan River, opposite Elizabeth Quay

Crown Casino Fire New Years Eve