With its vast and rugged landscapes,
immense beauty, wildlife, scenery,
history, law, culture, and ancient art,
northern Australia is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.
However, like all our natural treasures,
it remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
In good news though, there's some amazing work happening right here
on these impressive landscapes to help combat it.
G’Day, Ernie Dingo here.
I want to share with you a story of how fire management across
the top half of Australia
is helping to reduce emissions,
benefit community and businesses
and help the environment.
That fire has been part of our life
since the beginning of time.
We probably invented fire.
Healthy Country, healthy people,
and fire played a big part in that.
Embedded in the culture and in the land,
traditional fire management
has been more recently reinvigorated
with the support of the Australian Government's Emissions Reduction Fund.
The Fund supports farmers, Indigenous Australians
and other businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
It's a ways of burning country
so we'll have green grass
to grow again,
and it's more like burning a bit earlier
than having late fire.
Our country is better looked after
when savanna fire management projects are underway.
These projects restore the similar fire regime
that was used for tens of thousands of years
by Indigenous Australians.
These projects are creating healthier ecosystems
with benefits for plants and animals.
We’ve seen all the tracks for wallabies.
Big kangaroo and the small one,
they just came back when we had a fire.
All our old people,
they were telling this story about
you do right-way fire,
you will get good rain,
animal will come back,
a lot of good flower,
good honey.
Savanna fire management reduces emissions
by reducing frequency and extent
of destructive late dry season wildfires.
These huge wildfires are bad for the climate,
damaging our atmosphere.
This story of savanna fire management isn't a new one.
These techniques have been used for tens of thousands of years,
but it's the right-way fire mob
who's been combining modern science
and traditional knowledge
to build an industry
and make a big difference in our country.
With the extra income
project participants are able to spend money
on more important projects
to look after their community and country.
It brings in more opportunities,
more jobs for local people
and our people as well, so that,
you know,
people can continue what we're doing today,
is keep on looking after the land and our Country.
We're using helicopter because we're earning good income
from our carbon program.
And the money that we bring from carbon,
we distribute to the community
and we get rangers and TOs
more salary, and getting more equipment.
Every 59 seconds our passengers
are offsetting their flights
and one of their big passions and demands is
Indigenous and Australian projects
in our own backyard
and that's why the savanna projects
in northern Australia are really important.
Fire
was there
for many reason.
Cleaning up Country,
cleaning spirit
so that family can go back and use that Country.
Paying respect for the Country.
And I think the savanna projects really resonate
for a couple of reasons.
One is they're highly credible and tested by the Australian Government.
Two is, it is northern Australia, so a critical part of Australian geography.
But also, I think the Indigenous element is perhaps the most important,
in, it's not only a tested and credible project,
but it is more holistic in giving back to Indigenous communities.
There's cultural elements to it,
as well as obviously the carbon offsetting element.
We've got that fire,
it brings life.
And them old people, they say you do right-way fire
you get 'em good fish, you get 'em good rain,
you get 'em...
Country, him reward you.
The science is proved,
and I think with more projects becoming available,
we would love to source more from this part of Australia.
Being a woman ranger is just great.
You get to go around and see a lot of other places
and you know what's happening on their land
and they know what's happening on our land.
Being a ranger is my dream job
and it's really great.
Taking kids around Country and learning about culture and stuff.
Carbon farming is good for us cause we have ranger job.
Wunambal Gaambera has our rangers,
it's good for, like to get people back out on Country,
to keep their Country strong and healthy.
Well it helps to
employ more young people, and then you know
it helps us to buy more equipment.
Saving the planet, making money,
but something we've been doing for centuries.
Our ancestors have been using fire
for hunting, gathering,
even using fire for getting right-way married.
So fire, it's a big stuff for us.
Savanna fire mob have been combining modern science
and traditional knowledge to build an industry
and make a big difference in our country, people and climate.
That really excites me.