NEW STUDY CONFIRMS INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT EQUALS SUCCESS AGAINST WILDFIRES IN THE KIMBERLEY

In the iconic endlessness of the Kimberley region in Northern Australia, unique forms of sacred healing are once again taking place. After decades of interruption due to colonisation, the ancient practice of cultural burning is returning to not only reduce the impact of destructive wildfires, but also offer a powerful solution to climate change mitigation. As we gear up for the inaugural Nature Positive Global Summit, we take a look at this success story, backed by rigorous scientific research, showcases the profound impact of combining ancient wisdom with modern conservation efforts.

The Power of Traditional Knowledge

For thousands of years, Indigenous Australians have used fire as a tool to manage the land. This practice, often referred to as right-way fire, cultural burning or fire stick farming, involves carefully controlled burns during cooler months to prevent larger, more destructive fires later in the season. In recent years, four Aboriginal groups in the Northern Kimberley - the Balanggarra, Dambimangari, Wilinggin, and Wunambal Gaambera - have revived these traditional practices through their Healthy Country Plans. After a long fight for native title rights, Traditional Owners have regained control over their lands and are implementing Healthy Country Plans which include the use of ‘Right-Way Fire’.

The results have been nothing short of remarkable.

A Landscape Transformed

A groundbreaking study published in CSIRO's International Journal of Wildland Fire has quantified the impact of these Indigenous fire management practices. The research, covering the largest area ever examined in fine-resolution burnt area mapping (about 4 times the size of the Hawaiian archipelago) revealed a dramatic reduction in late-season wildfires across nearly three-quarters of the North Kimberley.

Before the revitalisation of cultural burning methods, massive wildfires - each covering more than 40,000 hectares - were a near-annual occurrence. In the decade following the transition back to Indigenous fire management, only one such large-scale fire event was recorded. This represents a significant victory for biodiversity conservation and community safety in one of the world's most fire-prone regions.

The fires that still occur are predominantly small, patchy, and cool, and strategically placed across the landscape. 

Protecting Precious Ecosystems

The Kimberley's unique landscapes - from sweeping savanna grasslands to rugged rocky plateaus - are home to a rich tapestry of plant and animal life. 

Many of these species are found nowhere else on Earth. The return to traditional fire management practices is helping to safeguard this irreplaceable biodiversity.

As Tom Vigilante, study co-author and Healthy Country Manager explains, "Intense and uncontrolled late-season fires were damaging the ecology. One big fire going through means surviving animals and birds have to travel further to find food. Small mammals like northern quoll, golden bandicoot and scaly-tailed possum have less cover and can then be easily predated by feral cats."

By creating a mosaic of burned and unburned patches across the landscape, Indigenous fire management provides crucial habitat diversity. This patchwork effect offers refuge for wildlife and promotes the regeneration of native vegetation.

Climate Action from the Ground Up

Beyond its local ecological benefits, this initiative is making waves in the global fight against climate change. The Indigenous groups are participating in a carbon emission abatement scheme, turning their fire management practices into a powerful tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Rohan Fisher, a study co-author from Charles Darwin University, emphasises the significance of this achievement: "On a per capita basis, Traditional Owners in North Kimberley are doing more of the heavy lifting on greenhouse gas abatement than any other group. The scale of achievement across Northern Australia makes other fire mitigation programs pale into insignificance."

This success story is drawing international attention, with savanna grassland communities in countries like Botswana and Brazil looking to the Kimberley model for inspiration. It is the embodiment of what Nature Positive is all about.

Culture, Conservation, and Community

At the heart of this initiative is a deep connection to Country and culture. Catherine Goonack, chairwoman of the Wunambal Gaambera group, beautifully articulates the holistic benefits of their fire management practices: "Our Right-Way Fire burning helps plants grow and provides us with bush foods and animals with shelter and food. Managing our wildfires protects our Country, and we are also making business from savannah burning for carbon."

This approach not only honours Traditional Knowledge but also creates economic opportunities for Indigenous communities through carbon credits and ranger programs.

A Model for the Future

The success of Indigenous fire management in the Kimberley offers valuable lessons for conservation efforts worldwide. It demonstrates the power of integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge with modern scientific approaches. Moreover, it highlights the critical role that Indigenous Peoples play as custodians of some of the world's most biodiverse and carbon-rich landscapes.

Initiatives like this shine a light on potential solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss that have been here for centuries. As this latest report confirms, the most effective answers to our most pressing environmental challenges can lie in the wisdom of those who have been caring for the land for millennia. The incorporation of innovative technologies merely confirms the data nature has been showing us for millennia - Traditional land management works.

The return of fire management to parts of Australia offers more than just a local triumph - it shows us that by respecting Traditional Knowledge, empowering local communities, and working in harmony with natural processes, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for all.

Amid the challenging journey to address global environmental challenges, it’s vital to take inspiration from success stories and look for ways to further their positive impact. Let's recognize the invaluable contributions of those Caring on Country in the Kimberley and beyond, and support initiatives that blend ancient wisdom with modern conservation. Together, we can nurture a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.

 At WWF-Australia, we believe in a Nature Positive future - where we halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, leading to full recovery by 2050. This means a thriving natural world with clean air, fresh water and a stable climate for all.

To achieve this, we need your help to act now.

Now is the time to call for bold action and leadership from government – nature depends on it.

Join us today to start a new, positive chapter for people and nature.

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This work was made possible with the support of Lotterywest.