Reflections on the 6th Savanna Fire Forum - "an extraordinary exchange of ideas" 

The sold out 6th North Australia Savanna Fire Forum, held on Larrakia country (Darwin) and hosted by the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN), was its most successful to date.

Expert presenters facilitated the Forum's plenary sessions and 'deeper dive' workshops on issues affecting savanna fire management. Around 350 people travelled long distances to attend, this included Traditional Owners from over 30 different Indigenous ranger groups, 35 international delegates as well as scientists and other fire management experts. 

ICIN thanks all who contributed to making this annual event such an outstanding success, in particular the Senior Elders who generously shared their extraordinary insights and wisdom with attendees, ensuring the passing on of ancient fire management practices to younger generations.

"I understand fire from when I was a very young kid living in the Cape, how to respect fire, how to light fire, when to light fire, when to burn our country. As I grew older, I learnt even more about fire from the old people, and it was all about early burning. You burn early in the year, and then the fire doesn't go too far," Mike Ross, Olkola Aboriginal Corporation.

"Fire, family and Country is important to us. It actually makes our dream come true, it's what we want to do on Country, to keep the Country by fire burning, have our family on Country. It's my Dad's legacy and my legacy that we are back on Country. Savanna burning has opened up a lot of opportunities for myself and for my family," Joanne Nelson, Batavia Aboriginal Corporation. 

"This Forum was important for our people to come together to share knowledge and understanding, sharing the stories and the true meaning of what fire means to our people as First Nations people. It's great that we can gain some kind of income to be able to undertake the work that we are doing through fire management on Country," Cissy Gore-Birch, Co-chair ICIN.

"The Forum has been an extraordinary exchange of ideas. First Nations people are fundamentally important to the decarbonisation project of the nation." Prof. Jon Altman, Australian National University. 

Watch the Forum highlights video (below), plenary session recordings and special interviews with Senior Elders, international guests and fire scientists.

With thanks to the 2023 Savanna Fire Forum Sponsors: Clean Energy Regulator, The Nature Conservancy, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory Government, ISFMI, Raindance Systems and TNQ Drought Hub.