A cultural burn on Wolgalu Country in Kosciuszko National Park, in partnership with the Brungle Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council and Duduroa elders is helping share knowledge and protect country.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) supported the local community to implement a cultural burn near the southern corroboree frog conservation enclosures.
The community used grass torches and traditional cool burning techniques, to improve the health of Country, and also protect the enclosures from fire by reducing fuel loads in their vicinity.
Shane Herrington, Heritage NSW Cultural Heritage Officer, and Wolgalu Traditional Owner, said, ‘The southern corroboree frog is an iconic threatened species, and its survival is of utmost importance.’
‘By combining traditional land management techniques with modern conservation efforts, the local community demonstrated the power of cultural burning in protecting and preserving biodiversity,’ Herrington added.
‘This innovative approach not only mitigates the risk of large bushfires but also highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge and practices in contemporary conservation strategies.’
‘The successful implementation of the cultural burn around these frog enclosures showcases the potential for collaboration between indigenous communities, conservation organisations, and government agencies,’ Herrington continued.
‘By working together and drawing upon traditional knowledge, we can create sustainable solutions for safeguarding endangered species and protecting our natural environment,’ Herrington concluded.
