$2.3 Million For Cultural Burning To Prevent Bushfires

Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water

We are investing $2.3 million from the Natural Heritage Trust to continue First Nations-led fire management in Australian deserts.

Image shows a grasslands in a desert, with a First Nations person applying cool fire burning slowly on Ngururrpa-Indigenous Protected Area.

Right way fire burning slowly on Ngururrpa-Indigenous Protected Area. Photo credit: Andre Sawenko.

The Right-Way Desert Fire Project, led by the Indigenous Desert Alliance, is working to reduce bushfires and their impacts on wildlife.

The new funding will extend this successful project for another 3 years.

Right way burning uses the traditional knowledge and practices of local First Nations peoples. These methods have been used for thousands of years to manage fire risk.

Right way burning:

  • creates cooler, smaller fires
  • breaks up vegetation into burnt and unburnt patches to reduce fuel load
  • manages invasive grasses that threaten native wildlife
  • restores and improves habitat.
Image shows a great desert skink exiting its burrow in a desert environment surrounded by small grassland patches.

Great desert skink exiting its burrow. Photo credit: Kerenza Sunfly.

The project is critical to the management of desert Country which is home to some of our most precious and unique wildlife. It supports species prioritised under our Threatened Species Action Plan, including:

  • great desert skink
  • night parrot
  • princess parrot
  • greater bilby.

The Natural Heritage Trust is the main way we invest in on-ground projects for Australia’s environment and sustainable agriculture. It is funding practical efforts to protect Australia’s environment and respond to climate pressures.

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