Cultural fire management safeguarding communities in the grazing landscape

Led by the Burdekin Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group, in collaboration with Traditional Owners, Indigenous partners and grazing land managers, this project is facilitating Indigenous-led cultural fire practices on grazing landscapes on Gudjala and Bindal Country, to reduce bushfire risk, increase resilience to climate threats, and support productive enterprises.  The project is demonstrating the importance of Indigenous leadership in today’s nature-based solutions.

NQ Dry Tropics’ Cultural Fire Safeguarding Communities project focuses on revitalising ancient cultural fire management practice among Traditional Owners, while strengthening their relationships with graziers and other stakeholders as they work together to heal Country.   

Traditional Owners in Australia hold 60,000 years of experience of adaptive nature-based solutions management. Cultural fire management led by Traditional Owners is a holistic approach, which not only reduces the risk of bushfires but can also improve the health and productivity of grazing land and bring a multitude of co-benefits. Through this project, NQ Dry Tropics are supporting the connection of Traditional Owners and grazing land managers to address disaster risk and land management challenges in the Burdekin Dry Tropics Region.

The project supports the development of Indigenous-led monitoring tools to capture how Cultural fire management contributes to:

• reducing bushfire impact; 
• building community and landscape resilience to severe events such as droughts and floods;
• supporting the development of Indigenous ranger groups to lead cultural fire management activities;
• enhancing vegetation condition;
• increasing cultural fire practitioner skills, networks, and ability in the regions; and
• helping to address other grazing land management issues. 

It will leverage existing partnerships in the region to develop a scalable model of Indigenous ranger-led cultural fire management, building on the results, momentum and lessons learnt from the recently-completed proof of concept project, Cultural Fire Management for Grazing Landscapes, funded by WWF-Australia and delivered by NQ Dry Tropics in partnership with Firesticks Alliance, Traditional Owners, and graziers. 

The project further builds the capacity and knowledge of Traditional Owners and regional cultural fire practitioners; promotes community awareness and respect for cultural knowledge; and supports landholders to achieve healthier, more climate-resilient grazing landscapes. 

Read more about NQ Dry Tropics

Hazard(s) addressed: Drought, fire

Nature-based Solution used: Cultural fire management