Fire is a natural part of the environment of Australia's Top End, but little reliable information exists on the long-term ecological effects of different types of fires in the region. In view of this need, a five year fire experiment was conducted between 1990 and 1994 at Kapalga Research Station in the Kakadu National Park, NT. The study included the effects of fire on animal populations, plant regeneration, soil erosion, nutrient cycling and the atmosphere.