Revolutionary NSW Cultural Fire Strategy Aims to Reclaim Ancient Aboriginal Burning Practices to Combat Bushfires
- A new NSW government strategy promises to break down barriers to cultural burning, paving the way for Aboriginal communities to reclaim their ancient land management practices.
- The move comes after the devastating 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry, which highlighted the urgent need for a new approach to bushfire prevention.
- Cultural burning practitioners say the strategy is a crucial step towards making the landscape more resilient to bushfires, but warn that time is running out to implement the changes.
As the NSW government releases its groundbreaking Cultural Fire Strategy, a quiet revolution is underway in the state’s bushfire management practices.
The strategy, developed in response to the 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry, commits to removing regulatory barriers that have long hindered the use of cultural burning, an ancient Aboriginal land management practice that has been proven to reduce the risk of devastating bushfires.
In a marked shift in approach, the NSW government is now formally acknowledging the expertise of Aboriginal burning practitioners, who have long argued that their traditional methods are essential to maintaining the health of the landscape.
The strategy promises to resolve issues around regulations, approval processes, and funding, which have long plagued the practice of cultural burning.
For Dan Morgan, a Southern Yuin cultural fire practitioner, the strategy is a welcome recognition of the importance of cultural burning.
“After the bushfires that we’ve been getting, you need a little fire like this to protect the biodiversity of the landscape,” he says, as he guides a gentle fire through bushfire-scarred forest on the NSW far south coast.
But despite the progress, there are concerns that time is running out to implement the changes. Bundjalung cultural fire practitioner and director of Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, Oliver Costello, warns that the next few years will be critical.
“In the six years after the 2019-20 fires, we’ve really missed the window of opportunity in many parts of the landscape,” he says.
At the heart of the issue is the “Western view of fire” that has shaped policy and legislation, according to Costello. This approach views fire as a threat, rather than a natural part of the landscape.
“The regulations don’t really understand our cultural knowledge around the kinship of species, and the ability to use fire to regenerate and suppress different species and make sure there’s enough country for all the species that belong there,” he says.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The NSW Cultural Fire Strategy has significant implications for Australia’s approach to bushfire management. By acknowledging the importance of cultural burning, the government is recognizing the need for a more nuanced approach to land management.
This approach takes into account the complex relationships between species and the landscape, and seeks to work with nature, rather than against it.
As the country grapples with the consequences of climate change, the strategy offers a timely reminder of the importance of indigenous knowledge in addressing the challenges we face.
By embracing cultural burning, we can reduce the risk of devastating bushfires, promote soil moisture, and support the health of the entire forest system.
According to security analysts, the strategy also has significant implications for national security. By reducing the risk of bushfires, we can also reduce the risk of catastrophic damage to infrastructure and property.
This, in turn, can help to mitigate the economic and social consequences of bushfires, which can have a devastating impact on communities.
Law enforcement insiders also warn that the strategy is a critical step towards addressing the regulatory barriers that have long hindered the practice of cultural burning.
By streamlining approval processes and providing secure funding, the government can help to support Aboriginal communities in their efforts to reclaim their traditional land management practices.
