Kakadu Fire Project

The Kakadu Fire Project is a Savanna Fire Management project located within the world-renowned Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. The project area is centered approximately 40km southwest of the township of Jabiru and about 200km east of Darwin. Registered in December 2017, this extensive project covers over 1.1 million hectares of federally managed land, encompassing vast tracts of the park which is dual-listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for both its natural and cultural values.

Operating under the 2015 Savanna Fire Management methodology, the project aims to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by reinstating traditional burning practices. This involves conducting strategic, cool burns during the early dry season (EDS) to reduce fuel loads. By managing vegetation in this way, the project reduces the frequency and intensity of uncontrolled, high-emission wildfires that typically occur in the late dry season (LDS). The project helps align modern carbon abatement goals with Indigenous land management techniques that have been practiced for thousands of years.

The region is characterized by a tropical savanna climate falling within the "high rainfall zone" (receiving over 1,000mm annually), with distinct wet and dry seasons. The landscape is diverse, ranging from the rugged sandstone plateau of the "Stone Country" with skeletal, sandy soils, to the vast lowland floodplains dominated by alluvial clays and acidic soils. The primary land use is conservation and tourism, managed jointly by the Director of National Parks and the Traditional Owners.

An interesting feature of this project is its foundation in the "Wurrk Carbon Farming Agreement," which formally recognizes the role of Traditional Owners in reducing emissions. Revenue generated from the sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) supports Indigenous employment, community development, and the preservation of cultural sites, including ancient rock art galleries that could be damaged by intense wildfires.