Strong Roots, Strong Futures: Two Forums across Three Days

In 2026, for the first time, we will co-locate the Savanna Fire Forum with the National Indigenous Carbon Forum, extending the reach and depth of the event. This strategic combination reflects the evolving landscape of Indigenous-led environmental management and carbon initiatives across Australia.

A Broadening Horizon

The decision to combine these forums recognises that opportunities for Indigneous organisations within carbon and environmental markets are extending beyond Australia's savanna regions. Indigenous organisations from diverse landscapes across Australia are increasingly looking to engage with carbon projects, nature repair markets, and emerging blue carbon methodologies. The expanded scope of environmental markets demands a more integrated approach to knowledge-sharing and capacity building.

Quality Over Quantity

The combined forum structure allows for more strategic programming. Days can be specifically targeted at savanna-related topics or broader carbon market issues, ensuring that discussions are focused and substantive. Across the events, sessions will be split into three targeted streams: People on Country, Markets, and Policy/Research to ensure that the program is tailored to the suit audience's interests.  This format enables deeper dives into complex topics while maintaining space for the networking and relationship-building that are essential to these gatherings.

We acknowledge that participants travel long distances to attend the forum each year and we hope that combining the two will make the most of people's time by bringing them together for these far-reaching discussions. 

Learning from Success

The Savanna Fire Management (SFM) carbon projects have become a cornerstone of Indigenous environmental management in northern Australia, demonstrating how Traditional Owners can generate economic returns while caring for Country. By combining the forums, participants working in emerging areas (such as blue carbon or nature repair markets) can directly engage with the proven success of SFM projects. 

This dual Forum format will also enable Indigenous land and sea management groups who have carbon projects outside of the SFM methods (such as Human Induced Revegetation) to provide insight into carbon project management at the National Indigenous Carbon Forum. 

Bringing forward the expertise of Indigenous organisations who have pioneered the Indigenous carbon industry within discussions across both Forums will result in a stronger, more informed community of practice that can guide and motivate involvement in developing methodologies and markets.

Two Forums, Many Conversations

The 2026 combined event maintains the core strengths of both forums while creating new synergies. Under the theme "Strong Roots, Strong Futures," the merged forums acknowledge that whether managing fire in the savanna, restoring coastal blue carbon ecosystems, or participating in nature repair markets, the foundation remains the same: Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous leadership, and Indigenous aspirations for Country.

As carbon and environmental markets continue to evolve, this consolidated forum positions Indigenous organisations across Australia to navigate opportunities, share knowledge, and build futures grounded in both traditional wisdom and contemporary innovation.