A community-led action research project on the far south coast of NSW on Djiringanj Country, is exploring the best way in which to reinstate and empower the cultural connection to this Country that also positively influences bushfire management.
The Fire and Country Cultural Values Project has published their work that recognises and implements Traditional Knowledge alongside Western science to display the different ways of communicating the same story – recognising the significant value of the knowledge held by Aboriginal custodians.
This piece of work addresses several recommendations from the Applied Bushfire Science Program relating to ecosystem health and restoration, recognition of Aboriginal cultural knowledge, and the impacts of fire on cultural values. It is a positive example of incorporating cultural values into bushfire risk management.
This community led approach, entwined with Country delivered several recommendations that included:
- Potential for drone site mapping
- Cultural site assessments
- Aboriginal land use and fire modelling
- Cultural values maps, seasonal calendars, and kinship connections
- Aboriginal engagement in bushfire planning
Read the full article here: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-april-2025-working-together-to-drive-change-weaving-caring-for-country-practices-into-fire-risk-management-on-djiringanj-country/
This article was written by Campbell Goff, the Healthy Ecosystems Project Officer with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW’s Bushfire Program.
Image: by Jannet Serhan on Unsplash
