- North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project and
WWF-Australia awarded $3.1 million Lotterywest grant
- Groundbreaking project will assess fire impacts
on biodiversity
- Funding to support Traditional Owner land
management and good biodiversity outcomes in the Kimberley
The Cook Labor Government
is supporting enhanced biodiversity monitoring and outcomes through fire
practices in the Kimberley through a $3.1 million Lotterywest grant for a three-year
project led by North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project (NKFAP) and
WWF-Australia.
For more than 20 years,
WWF-Australia has collaborated with Traditional Owner groups and ranger teams
to help safeguard threatened species and enhance biodiversity.
Lotterywest's support
will help North Kimberley Traditional Owner groups and WWF-Australia to develop
a groundbreaking approach to assessing fire impacts on biodiversity which will
adapt management techniques for the North Kimberley's unique species and
habitats.
This refined methodology
seeks to integrate cultural metrics and measures, valuing and using traditional
ecological knowledge alongside Western scientific techniques.
Together, these
approaches will improve fire management practices in cultural land management,
supporting species and habitat conservation while further mitigating the impact
of wildfires.
Lotterywest's funding
will:
- assist North Kimberley Traditional Owner land
and sea managers to support economies of scale and enable shared learnings;
- drive innovation across the Kimberley and Western
Australia and contribute to methodologies which could support sustainable
income to further support cultural land management; and
- support ecosystem protection and threatened
species at a 'system' level.
The North Kimberley Fire
Abatement Project comprises four Traditional Owner groups: Balanggarra, Dambimangari, Wilinggin and
Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporations.
Comments attributed to
Premier Roger Cook:
"This Lotterywest support
means we can assist World Wide Fund for Nature Australia to not only protect
our State's iconic natural wonders, but also work to restore and regenerate it.
"We are proud to play a
role in nurturing innovative practices led by a network of established ranger
programs."
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"Traditional Owners know
how to manage Country in a way nobody else can, which is why our Government is
committed to empowering and supporting practices like cultural land management.
"This funding is another
example of how we are supporting good environmental outcomes throughout
regional Western Australia."
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"Understanding the
impacts of fire in our region is important. By integrating traditional
knowledge with scientific management techniques we are creating a more
resilient environment.
"It also empowers
Aboriginal rangers supporting cultural land management and sustainable
practices that will benefit the Kimberley's environment and communities for
years to come."
Comments attributed to
WWF-Australia chief regenerative officer Nicole Forrester:
"This project will help
to protect the Kimberley's world-renowned ecosystems, and further restore and
strengthen Indigenous cultural practices, while forging a new sustainable model
for healing Country.
"By elevating traditional
ecological practices alongside Western science, we hope it will not only
contribute to state and national environmental goals but also serve as a model
for similar efforts worldwide, particularly in savanna ecosystems."
Comments attributed to
Wilinggin fire manager Luke Russ:
"I have been privileged
to be a part of Wilinggin's fire program for nine years now.
"It is a fulfilling role
managing fire on Country and helping to empower the Ngarinyin people.
"It is through lots of
hard work that our efforts, and those of our NKFAP partners, have made such
significant strides towards restoring a managed fire regime to the region."
