International Savanna Fire Management Initiative

Authors

  • Sam Johnston International Savanna Fire Management Initiative, Kimberley Land Council (KLC), 11 Gregory St Broome, 6725, Western Australia
  • Nolan Hunter International Savanna Fire Management Initiative, Kimberley Land Council (KLC), 11 Gregory St Broome, 6725, Western Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v9i1.1181

Keywords:

Traditional knowledge, community based fire management, carbon markets, socio-Australia, Botswana, southern Africa, knowledge exchange

Abstract

Due to colonisation, traditional ways of fire management have been suppressed across landscapes and as a result vast areas of country are poorly managed and degraded. Conventional methods of firefighting have largely failed. Climate change will make the situation worse. Indigenous people in the savannas of northern Australia have developed a solution to this threat and a have been leading the way in community based integrated fire management practices. Combining their traditional knowledge with modern science and technology, Indigneous communities burn early, keep fuel loads down and reduce destructive wildfires. This leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn provides carbon market opportunities. Today, traditional fire management is practised across northern Australia's savannas on range of tenures including Indigenous lands, conservation parks and pastoral leases. Currently, there are 74 registered savanna carbon projects covering 25% of northern Australia that have reduced wildfire by 50% and generated an industry worth more than $100 million. The 25 Indigenous-led carbon projects create more than 400 seasonal jobs in remote communities, while at the same time reinvigorating traditional culture and improving biodiversity. In 2013 the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) explored the feasibility of adapting Australia's ground breaking savanna burning technology for the savannas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. With the support of the Australian Government, the ISFMI Botswana Pilot Project, is adapting the technology for southern Africa. Wildfires are a dominant feature of southern African landscapes, they emit significant GHG emissions, threaten wildlife tourism, reduce agricultural productivity and damage ecosystems. Building on the success of the northern Australian Indigneous carbon industry, the ISFMI is working with the Government of Botswana and Indigneous communities to reignite traditional fire management practices at a number of pilot sites. Our presentation will highlight a) how Indigneous communities in northern Australia are reigniting traditional practice of fighting fire with fire b) how this approach combined with the latest science and technology is reducing wildfires and building locally owned carbon businesses and c) how this technology is being adapted for the southern African landscape in partnership with Government of Botswana and local Indigneous communities.

Author Biographies

Sam Johnston, International Savanna Fire Management Initiative, Kimberley Land Council (KLC), 11 Gregory St Broome, 6725, Western Australia

Sam developed, managed and successfully delivered the first phase of the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative feasibility study from 2011-2015.  He has worked on the Technology around the world for over a decade.  He has over 20 years' experience in delivering international climate and development projects for a range of donors.  He is a qualified legal practitioner in Australia and has 29 years of legal experience in many developed countries and developing countries across all regions of the world.  He also has 25 years of relevant experience in international legal practice, in a wide variety of contexts, including in private practice, an international merchant bank, the UN and two of the most internationally prominent universities.

Nolan Hunter, International Savanna Fire Management Initiative, Kimberley Land Council (KLC), 11 Gregory St Broome, 6725, Western Australia

Nolan Hunter is a Bardi man from saltwater country on the Dampier Peninsula in northern Western Australia. He is the CEO of Kimberley Land Council. Nolan is an active campaigner for Indigenous rights to own and manage country. He is a strong advocate for sustainable enterprises based on Aboriginal cultural values as a way to generate wealth in remote communities, ignite social change, and create positive futures for Kimberley Traditional Owners.  Nolan brings an international perspective to Indigenous land management and cultural enterprise, and has been instrumental in developing an international alliance of Indigenous land managers.

Nolan brings both passion and expertise to issues of Indigenous rights, cultural maintenance, land management and development of future economic and social opportunities. He provides leadership for local, on the ground activities, whilst advocating at the national level, and developing international partnerships.

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Published

2019-05-15