Journal Article

Indigenous Knowledge, Aspiration, and Potential Application in Contemporary Fire Mitigation in Southwest Australia

Flowers, Ezzard, Coyne, Lester, Woods, Treasy, Lullfitz, Alison, Hopper, Stephen D, Rodrigues, Ursula, Eades, Aden, Dean, Averil, Knapp, Lynette, Pettersen, Carol

2022

Overview

Protection of biodiversity, human assets, and cultural heritage pose significant challenges to contemporary planning of bushfire mitigation activities. Current mitigation approaches are not always appropriate, and mismanagement is a source of distress for Indigenous peoples. Increased understanding of Indigenous fire knowledge and increased Indigenous participation may provide insight into more appropriate and inclusive land management for fire mitigation. We analysed contemporary Noongar and Western fire practitioner approaches within an Indigenous fire knowledge (IFK) framework to explore knowledge and aspirations for small reserves in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) global biodiversity hotspot. We recorded an extensive knowledge base, characterised by a highly nuanced approach to burning, held by the Noongar coauthors. We explore potential approaches to applying this knowledge to build collaborative fire mitigation strategies with mutually beneficial outcomes for biodiversity, cultural heritage, and human assets.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Biodiversity / Biodiversity hot spots / Collaboration / Cultural heritage / Cultural resources / Forest & brush fires / Human ecology / Indigenous knowledge / Indigenous peoples / Knowledge / Knowledge bases (artificial intelligence) / Land management / Land use planning / Local government / Native peoples / Psychological distress / Wildfires