Data from: Optimizing the spatial planning of prescribed burns to achieve multiple objectives in a fire-dependent ecosystem.

1. There is potential for negative consequences for the ecological
integrity of fire-dependent ecosystems as a result of inappropriate fire
regimes. This can occur when asset (property) protection is prioritised
over conservation objectives in burn programs. 2. Optimisation of fire
management for multiple objectives is rarely undertaken. Here, we use
integer linear programming to identify burn scheduling solutions that will
cost-effectively achieve asset protection and conservation objectives. 3.
An approach to burn scheduling that favours a risk-averse asset protection
strategy results in poor conservation outcomes. Conversely, a
conservation-focused approach achieves only modest asset protection
benefits. However, when formulated as a multi-objective problem, good
conservation outcomes can be realised with only a small reduction in
potential benefits for asset protection. 4. A conservation-focused
approach resulted in substantially more heterogeneity in burns at multiple
spatial scales and a marked reduction in mean time since fire among all
forest patches relative to an asset protection scenario. This increase in
heterogeneity improves ecological integrity, while the resulting reduction
in fuel load is beneficial for asset protection. 5. Synthesis and
applications. Mathematical optimisation is a powerful framework for
informing fire management that improves the prioritisation and scheduling
of controlled burns to efficiently achieve management objectives. By
quantifying the trade-offs that exist between the two competing objectives
of conservation and asset protection we demonstrate that compromise
solutions can be identified that achieve good outcomes for both
objectives. In a transparent and equitable manner, we show that
conservation value may be improved within a fire-dependent ecosystem with
only modest concession to asset protection performance. Explicitly
evaluating trade-offs among competing objectives enables managers to
identify potentially undesirable outcomes, and facilitate development of
preferred solutions. Heterogeneous burning under the auspices of
conservation also has the potential to reduce overall fuel loads within
the ecosystem and thus its value for asset protection is likely
underappreciated.