Burning country was a normal part of everyday Anangu life in the old days. This behaviour led to a special pattern of burning that meant people had great control over where and when fires happened. Nowadays, with people mainly living in communities, the old pattern of burning has been lost. Without regular small fires being lit, fuel loads increase uniformly across vast areas. Fires now burn without any control, and are often large and burn with great intensity. This new pattern of burning is why so many plants, animals and cultural sites have been lost. Land Management is undertaking contemporary fire management in the APY Lands in order to help recreate the old patterns of patch burning. Patch burning is conducted to promote regrowth and plant diversity through creating a mosaic of vegetation ages, and protecting fire-sensitive plant communities, threatened species habitat and sacred sites with firebreaks. Land Management works closely with Traditional Owners and communities to undertake burning work, both on the ground and from helicopters.