Wardaman Fire Management Project

Wardaman Fire Management Project is a savanna fire management project located approximately 130km southwest of Katherine in the Northern Territory. It was registered in December 2021 and covers 296,023.33 hectares across the Menggen and Yibulyawun Aboriginal Land Trusts.

Savanna fire management projects involve conducting strategic, controlled burning during the early dry season to reduce ground fuel loads. This traditional "cold fire" practice prevents larger, hotter, and more destructive wildfires from occurring later in the dry season, thereby avoiding significant greenhouse gas emissions.

The Katherine and Upper Daly region is characterized by a tropical savanna environment with distinct wet and long dry seasons, encompassing both high and low rainfall areas. The region's general land use consists primarily of large-scale cattle grazing on pastoral leases and Indigenous conservation areas. The environment features savanna woodlands, with soils generally composed of sandy loams, cracking clays, and rocky limestone outcroppings.

An interesting note about this project is that it is driven by the Wardaman Rangers in partnership with Traditional Owners, and receives ongoing support from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC). By applying traditional "right way" fire knowledge, the rangers not only generate carbon credits but also protect sites of deep cultural, spiritual, and biological significance. This includes safeguarding extensive ancient rock-art archives and important waterways found within the Wardaman Indigenous Protected Area.