$3.1m Lottery support for fire abatement program

By PETER ROWE

A $3.1 million Lotterywest grant will support a three-year biodiversity monitoring fire practise 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.

“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,” Premier Roger Cook said.

“We are proud to play a role in nurturing innovative practices led by a network of established ranger programs.”

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.

The new approaches will improve fire management practices in cultural land management, supporting species and habitat conservation while further mitigating the impact of wildfires.

The North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project comprises four Traditional Owner groups: Balanggarra, Dambimangari, Wilinggin and Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporations.

WWF-Australia chief regenerative officer Nicole Forrester said the project would 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,” Ms Forrester said.