Forum showcases Indigenous Leadership in Savanna Fire Management
18 February, 2025
Today marked the launch of the highly anticipated 7th Annual North Australia Savanna Fire Forum, the largest to date.
Dr Dean Yibarbuk, a traditional owner of Djinkarr, who led the first savanna fire management project in West Arnhem Land and is Co-Chair of ICIN, addressed the forum during the opening session, ‘Guidance from Our Elders’.
It’s wonderful that we are coming together to share our vision and stories, it is two knowledge systems that have come together to work on these programs – Western and Indigenous. This is unique work and there are lots of opportunities for youth to take our place, to understand the technology.” said Dr Dean Yibarbuk.
Held on Larrakia Country at the Darwin Convention Centre, the Forum was proudly organised by the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) and brought together 500 participants (with 65% of tickets purchased by Indigenous organisations), representatives from 110 diverse organisations and an international delegation keen to learn how Indigenous people apply fire to the landscape to reduce carbon emissions.
The Forum’s MC, and Co-Chair of ICIN, Cissy Gore-Birch OAM said:
ICIN is honoured to host international guests from Botswana, Brazil, Mozambique, Zambia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Timor Leste, who have come to this forum to listen and learn about the inspirational work fire managers and rangers are doing with fire in the north of Australia.”
In responding to the forum theme during a panel discussion, ‘What does success look like?’, Sarah Parriman, ICIN Director and Deputy CEO of the Kimberley Land Council said:
Success is looking at all you mob in ranger uniforms presenting your good work at this event. Looking ahead, we need to continue political advocacy to enable better recognition of our rights and Indigenous participation in the carbon industry.”
Barry Hunter, CEO, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) highlighted in the same session that the development of methods within the carbon industry needed to involve Indigenous people in each step of the process.
Method development can be very technical, but mob need to be involved in those discussions. Technicians need to take the time to explain what those technical decisions actually mean. Science can be understood by everyone,” said Barry Hunter.
Analysis of cool versus hot fire scars mapped from satellite data over the past 25 years was presented to the Forum by scientists Jarrad Holmes and Rohan Fisher. It demonstrated the incredible impact savanna fire management projects have had on reducing emissions from fire.
Since these projects have been in operation there is a 70% reduction in late season fires,” said Jarrad Holmes.
Fire managers from across very remote areas of north Australia reported back to the Forum on their experiences of managing fire during the 2024 fire season.
We been trying to burn like the old people, going hunting. What scares us the most is big fires chasing away all the animals," Julian Nagomarra, Karajarri Ranger.
I’m a new ranger, but I have a strong connection to my people’s culture. My late grandfather helped purchase this Oriners-Sefton pastoral lease in 1990, and helped start the carbon project when he was a land and sea manager. This year will be the first year we operate the carbon project with Native Title determination,” said Jarrah Sinnamon, and Indigenous youth ranger from the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council who presented for the first time at today’s 'Fire Managers Report Back’ session.
The Forum continues for two more days, tomorrow’s highlight sessions include: Health Impacts From Fire, and Indigenous Youth Yarning session, Arid Lands Perspectives and Savanna Fire Management Going Global, with a presentation by NT Minister for Lands Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne.
Group photo from Day One of the Forum:
Further photographs from Day One of the Forum and a daily wrap video can be provided.
Please contact Clare Price / 0490252743, [email protected] for further information.
Day One wrap video, 2025