Research_

Developing systems and capacities to protect animals in catastrophic fires

Producing processes to support communities in caring for animals in fires

This three-year research project will use the experiences of the 2019-20 Black Summer fires to inform resilient, effective and targeted processes to support communities in the Shoalhaven LGA in caring for domestic and wild animals in the face of future catastrophic fires and other climate events. It seeks to address current systemic gaps, such as the lack of formal structures, to support animals and communities as they experience collective trauma and loss from the impact of fires on animals.

The project is designed to achieve several key objectives: to conduct research on the experiences of communities and factors that have facilitated/impeded efforts to produce a needs/capacities analysis; to facilitate workshops with communities of interest to identify effective support systems; and to formalise animal protection processes including community information, emergency plans and recommendations for stakeholders.

Contributors: Professor Danielle Celermajer, Professor David Schlosberg, Dr Blanche Verlie, Dr Anna Sturman, Freya MacDonald

This project is run in partnership with Shoalhaven City Council. The project is funded by a Bushfire Recovery Grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.