Media Release: Indigenous Fire Management Leading The Way (2012)

The approval of the first savanna burning project, the Fish River Fire Project, under the Federal Government's Carbon Farming Initiative is another milestone in the development of new opportunities for Indigenous land managers and achieving improved livelihoods for Indigenous people on their country.

Indigenous land managers have been leading the development of the savanna burning methodology which combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with science to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by purposely burning earlier in the dry season and reducing destructive late season wild fires.

As an 'eligible offsets project' the Fish River Fire Project will be able to earn carbon credits which can be sold in the carbon market.

The 1,800 km² former cattle station situated along the Daly River in the Northern Territory was developed by the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) for future divestment to Traditional Owners. Fish River is expected to produce up to 20,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) each year.

Read the Nailsma Media Release: Indigenous fire management leading the way

The announcement received much media attention

Here are the links to PDFs of some of the media releases and articles:

The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP - Media Release
Australia's first savanna burning project approved under the Gillard government's carbon farming initiative

Joint Media Release - Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC), NAILSMA, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
Burning project opens the door for Indigenous carbon economy

ABC Rural - Radio
Indigenous fire project to earn carbon credit

Listen to the interview with Mark Dreyfus on ABC Rural Radio

ABC News 2 November 2012 - TV
Carbon credit scheme fuels burning ambitions

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Carbon Farming credit extended to savanna burning

The Telegraph
Burning savanna creates carbon credit cash

Want to know more?

Go to other relevant websites

Indigenous Land Corporation

The Nature Conservancy.

Clean Energy Regulator for more information on the Carbon Farming Initiative