Researchers Anthony Dosseto and Katharine Haynes from the University of Wollongong along with Leanne Brook and Victor Channell from the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council have found that cultural burning has a positive benefit on soil health, in comparison to western “prescribed burning” or no burning scenarios.
Soil health is positively impacted by reduced soil density (more air) and higher organic matter and moisture levels. When 5,000 square meter plots were examined on land managed by the Ulludulla Local Aboriginal Council, they found that both types of burning (prescribed and cultural) improved soil moisture, but that cool burning, associated with cultural burning, decreased soil density and increased soil carbon and nitrogen levels more.
High levels of carbon and nitrogen are essential for plant populations to thrive and increases their resilience to other natural risks such as drought and bush fire.
The researchers concluded that “cultural burning not only benefits soil health but also helps make ecosystems more resilient”.
Learn more about this research here: https://theconversation.com/cultural-burning-is-better-for-australian-soils-than-prescribed-burning-or-no-burning-at-all-224337
References
Murramarang Country, Davis, J., Simmons, J., Snelson, S., Channell, V., Haynes, K., Deutscher, N., Brook, L., Dosseto, A., 2024. Quantitative Assessment of the Effect of Agency-Led Prescribed Burns and Cultural Burns on Soil Properties in Southeastern Australia. Fire, 7(3), 75, https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7030075
Image Credit: Lucy Tremain, Nature Conservation Council of NSW – A cool burn.
