Case study 2: Indigenous fire management in northern Australia project

Warddeken Manwurrk ranger controlling a fire break on the West Arnhem Plateau. (Peter Eve, Monsoon Photographic Studio)

Traditional fire management practices, using strategic savanna fire management activities, have the potential to protect the savanna landscapes of northern Australia from wildfires that cause significant regional biodiversity loss. They also offer a chance to reduce emissions of accountable greenhouse gases.

By involving Indigenous groups in these activities, traditional fire management can have significant benefits for Indigenous livelihoods and economic development. Potentially they offer a pathway into emerging carbon markets and create enterprise opportunities whilst supporting ongoing land management activities.

For this reason, the Indigenous Fire Management in Northern Australia Project is expanding the use of traditional fire management to reduce the number of intense wildfires in four project areas: north Kimberley, Central Arnhem Land, Gulf and Cape York. The projects are now set to cover over 100 000 square kilometres of biodiversity-rich but wildfire-prone savanna landscapes.

In addition to producing these important outcomes for the environment, as part of the project research will be carried out on savanna emissions and capacity building to help to determine actual emission outcomes from altered fire management practices. These projects build on the successful precedent set by the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project.