ICIN was pleased to welcome over 500 representatives to the 2026 8th Savanna Fire Forum and 2nd National Indigenous Carbon Forum on Larrakia Country, 24 - 26th February.

This event is an important opportunity to come together to share knowledge and experience and talk about important issues in Indigenous land management, the carbon industry, and environmental markets.

We have heard about how more women are stepping up into ranger roles, the new savanna fire management methods, how groups are using technology in innovative ways, and how projects are delivering biodiversity benefits beyond emissions reductions.

Based on these discussions, we have prepared a statement that captures top priorities for Indigenous land and sea managers and organisations. To send a strong message to Government and the industry.

Statement

1. Indigenous people have been managing Country for tens of thousands of years. We hold recognised rights and interests to over 70% of land across Australia.
2. It is this knowledge, practice, and connection to Country that drives us to be leaders in the carbon industry and emerging environmental markets.
3. There are currently 43 Indigenous-owned carbon projects. They cover 24 million hectares and generate 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions reductions each year valued at an estimated $60 million per year.
4. While these projects are a great success story, more needs to be done to support greater Indigenous leadership and participation in the ACCU Scheme.
5. Indigenous rights and interests need to be strengthened under the Scheme.
6. We welcome the Government’s commitment to include in its 2026 legislative program the amendment to the CFI Act to remove the ability to conditionally register projects on native title land. This has been a long time coming.
7. Other important changes we need to see are:
   • Embedding FPIC principles in project approval processes. 
   • Recognising native title claimants as eligible interest holders.
   • Clarifying that the Crown does not have legal right and is not an eligible interest holder for exclusive possession native title land.
8. We know that Indigenous carbon projects deliver significant benefits to the climate, Country, and our communities.
9. We also know that Indigenous-owned and managed carbon projects and Indigenous-led carbon methods deliver the best outcomes for our Country and communities.
10. To support Indigenous people to continue to lead the carbon industry, we call on the Australian Government to:
    • Finalise Indigenous-led carbon methods including the 2025 SFM methods, Extending SFM to the Northern Arid Zone method, and Wetland Repair method.
    • Invest in new Indigenous-led carbon methods, including ones that work beyond the savanna, such as on arid and semi-arid lands.
    • Invest in Native Title Representative Bodies and Prescribed Bodies Corporate to facilitate consultation, advice, and agreement making on projects.
    • Provide adequate ongoing, long-term funding for the North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information (NAFI) service.
    • Continue to invest in Indigenous Protected Areas and Ranger Programs.
11. Despite the success of the Indigenous carbon industry, governments fail to recognise it as a key vehicle for economic development. It is one of the few industries in Australia that enables people in remote areas to generate sustainable revenue and employment in their communities.
12. The Australian Government must recognise the Indigenous carbon industry as a driver of Indigenous economic empowerment and outcomes under the First Nations Economic Partnership and Closing the Gap.
13. The Government must also do better at supporting strong Indigenous representation at the international level- particularly at this year’s COP- for which Australia is the President of Negotiations.
14. The Nature Repair Market offers another way for Indigenous people to generate value from their work caring for country. We are well placed to lead this market. But the conditions need to be right.
15. While the market is still in its early stages, the Australian Government needs to:
    • Resource discussions with Indigenous leaders about protecting Indigenous rights and interests- including over cultural knowledge- and not replicating issues under the ACCU Scheme.
    • Prioritise Indigenous-led methods and set realistic timeframes for method development so that Indigenous land managers can inform method design.
    • Make sure that all nature repair methods recognise that fire is an ecological process that is integral to the health and function of ecosystems. 
16. Finally, we ask the Government to continue to invest in the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network. To make sure that we can keep holding events like this forum to support leadership, knowledge sharing, and coordination across Indigenous groups with an interest in carbon in the North and across Australia.