Balanggarra 1 Fire Project

Balanggarra 1 Fire Project is a significant Savanna Fire Management project located in the remote North Kimberley region of Western Australia. Situated approximately 80km northwest of the town of Wyndham and covering a vast expanse of over 1.1 million hectares, the project area encompasses Indigenous Protected Areas, the Forrest River Aboriginal Reserve, and parts of the Drysdale River National Park. The region is characterized by rugged sandstone ranges and pristine tropical savanna, primarily used for conservation and traditional Indigenous land management, with some historical pastoral leases such as the Carson River lease.

Registered in February 2014, the project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology involves strategic "cool burning" during the early dry season (typically March to July) to reduce fuel loads. By conducting these controlled burns, the project prevents high-intensity, uncontrollable wildfires in the late dry season, which release significantly higher volumes of greenhouse gases. The project activities span both high and low rainfall zones, utilizing traditional knowledge alongside modern satellite telemetry to manage fire regimes effectively.

The environment in this sector of the East Kimberley is classified as a high-rainfall tropical savanna zone, receiving monsoonal rains that drive rapid vegetation growth. The terrain is dominated by rugged sandstone plateaus, gorges, and lateritic soils, which support diverse biodiversity including endemic species like the Monjon rock wallaby.

A key feature of this project is its integration into the North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project (NKFAP), a collaborative initiative involving the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation and the Kimberley Land Council. The project generates significant co-benefits, including the employment of Indigenous Balanggarra Rangers who manage the land ("Country") and the protection of cultural sites. Recent studies, including research published by CSIRO, have highlighted the project's success in shifting fire seasonality, drastically reducing the area burnt by destructive late-season wildfires and improving biodiversity outcomes.