Fish River Fire Project (Indigenous Australia)

Fish River Station is a 182,500ha perpetual crown lease in the Daly River region of Northern Territory, 200km south of Darwin. It is owned by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC). The Fish River Fire Project is the first savanna burning project approved under the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. 

Under the project, ILSC and Traditional Owners implemented new fire management practices, including burning the savanna earlier in the dry season, reducing the fuel load and the severity of late season fires. As a result of these actions, the high level of pollution and damage that would otherwise be generated by out-of-control wildfires has been significantly reduced. 

The reduction of wildfires at Fish River also helps protect the many rare and threatened animal and plant species found on the property. The property protects long stretches of the Daly River, with the wetlands home to many threatened and endangered species such as the freshwater sawfish and northern quoll. Traditional pattern or mosaic burning has been used to protect the Country from devastating hot burns, which in turn helps to protect fragile ecosystems and important cultural sites.

The project has been developed carefully with Traditional Owners from the Wagiman, Labarganyan, Malak Malak and Kamu communities. The Indigenous rangers on the station incorporate traditional burning practices with the latest satellite tracking and mapping technologies. 

Fish River used to be hit by uncontrolled fires and historically 69% of the property would be badly damaged each year. By using traditional knowledge, supported by modern technology, the project has not only significantly reduced carbon emissions, but also serves as an important demonstration project and assists in the development of new carbon biosequestration methodologies from strategic fire management informed by traditional practices.

By investing in this project Treecreds is proud to be: 

• supporting rangers and Traditional Owners manage Country; 
• taking important action to mitigate climate change; and 
• helping to strengthen the Australian economy.