Wurrk Project

The Wurrk Project is a savanna fire management project located in the southern region of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Registered in December 2016, the project covers a vast area of approximately 575,798 hectares. The project area sits roughly 100km south of Jabiru, the main township within the park, and is situated within a region dedicated to conservation, tourism, and traditional Indigenous land use.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology involves strategic early dry season burning (cool burns) to reduce fuel loads. By conducting these controlled burns when vegetation is still moist, the project aims to prevent high-intensity, uncontrolled wildfires during the late dry season, thereby reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The environmental conditions in this part of Kakadu are classified as a high rainfall zone, experiencing a distinct monsoonal wet season and a dry season. The landscape is characterized by tropical savannas, sandstone plateaus, and woodlands with soils varying from sandy loams to alluvial clays.

A significant aspect of the Wurrk Project is its strong Indigenous leadership and cultural integration. "Wurrk" refers to "fire" or "bushfire" in local languages such as Gundjeihmi and Jawoyn. The project is a collaboration involving the Director of National Parks and the Jawoyn Traditional Owners, specifically the Bolmo, Wurrkbarbarr, and Matjba clans. Revenue generated from the sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) is directed back to these Traditional Owners to support community development and ongoing land management ("caring for country").