Traditional Owners’ cultural burning practices have played a critical role in shaping Australia’s ecology.

Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium: Cultural Burning Recognition Statement

AFAC Prescribed Burning Clinic group with representatives from Bunya Bunya Aboriginal Corp, by the 'Fishing Hole' on the Aura development estate, Caloundra, on the Sunshine CoastThe Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium recognises and acknowledges that Australia’s fire-prone landscapes have been nurtured by First Nations Peoples for tens of thousands of years. The Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium believes that cultural burning practices are critical to the health, sustainability and preservation of Queensland, its people and environment. The Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium seeks to collaborate, share knowledge and build capacity for the improvement of fire management in the broader landscape.

Fire has played a critical role in the evolution of the Australian landscape, through millions of years of lightning strikes and tens of thousands of years of cultural burning practices. Through the use of fire, First Nations Peoples have, and continue to play a significant role in maintaining the health of these landscapes. This leadership and understanding are key for effective land management and biodiversity conservation in our fire-prone environment.

The Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium seeks to acknowledge, be respectful and supportive of the aspirations of First Nations Peoples. The Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium seeks to collaborate and partner with First Nations and Indigenous fire managers, and to be inclusive of cultural burning practices wherever possible. The Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium welcomes new opportunities to partner with First Nations and Indigenous-led organisations, whilst respecting existing cultural burning programs and networks.

Les (Junior) Harrigan (Rinyirru Land Trust Corporation, Qld), Brian Wason (Qld Parks and Wildlife Service), Les (Senior) Harrigan (Rinyirru Land Trust Corporation, Qld), Oliver Costello (University of Technology, Sydney) and Mick Smith (Bunya MurriRangers, Qld).The Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium recognises that fire is intrinsic to the Australian environment. Many ecosystems have evolved in the presence of fire and it is an essential process for maintaining ecological health and triggering natural regrowth and regeneration.

For tens of thousands of years, Traditional Owners carried out dynamic and sophisticated fire management practices which served to maintain and enhance biodiversity in fire-prone ecosystems.

Today, landscapes and land uses have changed significantly. Uncontrolled fires pose significant risk to cultural heritage values and the lives and wellbeing of many Australians. This duality creates a complex risk environment that can be challenging to manage, not only in terms of mitigating bushfire risk, but also in facilitating engagement and understanding with community and stakeholders.

By working with local First Nations groups, fire management guidelines and strategies can be developed for cultural landscapes which take into account appropriate fire regimes for broad vegetation types, succession post fire, and strategies to facilitate the persistence of rare species.

Understanding the philosophy of cultural burning practices and historical vegetation structures is extremely valuable and can provide insight into how resilience, both both the environment and people, can be improved.

The QFBC aims to work closely with First Nations groups to promote and support First Nations led fire management and capacity building initiatives that enable holistic and respectful land management across tenure. Through our collaborative models, we endeavour to connect and support on-ground outcomes through our stakeholder networks. We are currently working closely with numerous First Nations groups to support and promote First Nations fire management aspirations.

We have supported  capacity building and planning outcomes in fire management for the Githabul (Waringh Waringh) Peoples, Kombumerri Rangers, Darumbal Aboriginal Corporation, and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, among others.

Read more about our work.

Related publications

	Cultural Burning Recognition Statement		Statement of the Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium's recognition of cultural burning
	First Nations Collaborative History		Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium's cultural burning collaborative highlights