CULTURAL BURNING

Gumbaynggirr Good Koala Country Plan

Text & Images Source: Koala Officer Ciaron Dunn and NSW Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water

CULTURAL BURNING

Cultural burning, a practice rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and traditions, can significantly enhance patch dynamics in various ecosystems. Patch dynamics refers to the spatial pattern and temporal changes in habitat patches within a landscape, influencing biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and resilience.

Cultural burning helps to create a mosaic of habitats by varying the fire's intensity and frequency. This diversity in burn patterns leads to different vegetation structures, fostering various stages of plant succession and promoting a wide range of species.

By applying fire at times and intensities that align with natural cycles, cultural burning can promote the growth of native plants adapted to these fire regimes. This can outcompete invasive species, thereby maintaining the ecological integrity of the area.

Fire-managed landscapes often exhibit a patchwork of burned and unburned areas. This heterogeneity provides different microhabitats and resources, supporting a broader array of wildlife species with varying habitat needs.

Low-intensity fires characteristic of cultural burning can rapidly recycle nutrients back into the soil, enhancing plant growth and soil health without causing the massive nutrient loss associated with more intense wildfires.

Regular, controlled burns reduce the accumulation of flammable materials, like dead wood and dense underbrush. This limits the risk of severe, uncontrolled wildfires that can homogenise landscapes and reduce patch diversity.

Many ecosystems, like grasslands and savannas, rely on periodic burning to prevent encroachment by woody plants and maintain open habitats vital for certain species.

Cultural burning practices often include the protection of specific areas deemed culturally significant. This selective burning fosters a patchwork landscape that incorporates human heritage and biodiversity conservation.

Aboriginal peoples’ intimate understanding of their environment allows them to adapt their burning practices to changing conditions, such as climate variations or changes in vegetation patterns. This flexible approach enhances the resilience and adaptability of ecosystems.

By maintaining a balanced mosaic of vegetation types and successional stages, cultural burning supports rich biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and resilience. Integrating this traditional ecological knowledge into modern land management can offer substantial benefits for both natural and human communities.

Purpose and Intent

- Cultural Burning: Its main objective is to maintain and enhance the health of the land. This involves improving the patch dynamics of an area, which refers to the diversity and spatial arrangement of different vegetation types. These burns are deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and traditional practices, honouring the spiritual and cultural connection Aboriginal people have with the land.

- Western Hazard Reduction: This method aims to reduce fuel loads to prevent large, uncontrolled wildfires. The primary goal here is public safety and the protection of property and natural resources from catastrophic fires.

Methodology

- Cultural Burning: This technique often employs cool burns that are low in intensity. These burns are carefully planned and executed based on a deep understanding of local ecosystems, weather patterns, and plant cycles. The focus is on maintaining the health of the understorey and promoting biodiversity.

- Western Hazard Reduction: Techniques used here can involve higher intensity burns that consume significant fuel loads. These burns are regulated and planned primarily around fire seasons and safety protocols, sometimes leading to more homogenized and less ecologically nuanced outcomes.

Outcomes

- Cultural Burning: This practice supports ecological sustainability and resilience. By enhancing patch dynamics, cultural burns create a mosaic of habitats that can support various species and promote ecological balance. Understory maintenance helps prevent the domination of single species and encourages a diverse plant community, which in turn supports diverse animal life.

- Western Hazard Reduction: While this method effectively reduces immediate fire risks, it may not always support long-term ecological health. High-intensity burns can sometimes lead to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of natural cycles.

Cultural burning is akin to the careful, ongoing maintenance seen in parks and horticulture, where attention is given to the health of every layer of the ecosystem. It represents an integrative approach that values ecological balance and cultural traditions. In contrast, Western hazard reduction is more focused on immediate fire prevention, which, while necessary, may not always align with the broader ecological principles and long-term health of the environment. Integrating both approaches could potentially offer a more comprehensive fire management strategy that honours both safety and ecological integrity.

BIRRUGAN STORY

In the heart of the eucalyptus forest, Birrugan, the eldest of the three brothers, sat by the flickering campfire. His younger brothers, Narbrough and Wallu, listened intently as he began to speak about a practice that had been passed down through their ancestors: cultural burning, a method their people had used for millennia to nourish the land and protect their home from devastating wildfires.

"The fire, as we know, is much more than what we see," Birrugan started, his voice calm yet authoritative. "It's a chemical reaction known as combustion. When we burn, we release the energy stored in the fuel — be it wood, leaves, or grass — combining it with oxygen. This process generates heat and light, but also produces smoke, ash, and a mix of gases."

Wallu, always eager to learn, asked, "But how do we make sure it’s safe, Brother? How do we control it?"

Birrugan pointed to the fire triangle, etched in the dirt. "Fire needs three elements: fuel, oxygen, and heat. If we remove one, the fire cannot sustain itself. Our role as caretakers is to use fire wisely, ensuring it benefits the land without causing harm."

Narbrough nodded. "The right amount of heat and oxygen, combined with the proper fuel, will allow us to conduct a controlled burn."

"Precisely," Birrugan affirmed. "We must carefully choose our fuel. Damp, green vegetation burns slower, whereas dry, dead brush ignites and spreads quickly. This is why timing is crucial. We must consider moisture, temperature, and the wind. The dry season, after the rains, when the ground is moist but surface fuel is dry, is ideal."

Wallu picked up a handful of ash, letting it sift through his fingers. "And the by-products — the smoke and gases?"

"We control them by controlling the fire's intensity," Birrugan explained. "A slow, low-intensity fire produces less smoke and recycles nutrients back into the soil without harming the larger trees. This, in turn, encourages new growth and prevents the build-up of flammable materials."

Narbrough added, "And we must always be mindful of the atmospheric conditions. Pressure, humidity, and temperature affect how fire behaves. On a calm, cool day with high humidity, the fire will stay put and burn softly. But in hot, dry, and windy conditions, it can rage out of control."

Birrugan smiled, proud of his brothers' understanding. "We protect our land by respecting fire, harnessing it as our ancestors did. Through knowledge and vigilance, we ensure it remains a force of renewal, not destruction."

The brothers stood together, united in their purpose, as the stars began to illuminate the night sky. The fire before them crackled softly, a reminder of their sacred duty to the land and the wisdom it required to honor their heritage responsibly.