The sum of small parts: changing landscape fire regimes across multiple small landholdings in north-western Australia with collaborative fire management

Michael Wysong; Sarah Legge; Alex Clark; Stefan Maier; Stuart Cowell; Grey Mackay

doi:10.1071/WF21118

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

The sum of small parts: changing landscape fire regimes across multiple small landholdings in north-western Australia with collaborative fire management

Michael Wysong ^A ^B ^* , Sarah Legge ^B ^C ^K ^* , Alex Clark ^D , Stefan Maier ^E ^F , Bardi Jawi Rangers^G , Nyul Nyul Rangers^H , Yawuru Country Managers^A , Stuart Cowell ^I and Grey Mackay ^J

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Nyamba Buru Yawuru, Environmental Services Unit, 55 Reid Road, Cable Beach, WA 6726, Australia.

^B Research Institute of Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia.

^C Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

^D Kimberley Land Council, 11 Gregory Street, Broome, WA 6725, Australia.

^E Maitec, PO Box U19, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0815, Australia.

^F School of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Qld 4811, Australia.

^G Lot 19–20, First Street, Ardyaloon, PO Box 2145, Broome, WA 6725, Australia.

^H C/o Beagle Bay Community, PO Box 2145, Broome, WA 6725, Australia.

^I Conservation Management, PO Box 4650, Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.

^J Land Alliance, PO Box 3223, Broome, WA 6725, Australia.

^K Corresponding author. Email: sarahmarialegge@gmail.com

International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(2) 97-111 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF21118
Submitted: 10 August 2021 Accepted: 18 November 2021 Published: 16 December 2021

Journal Compilation © IAWF 2022 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Fire is a natural process in tropical savannas, but contemporary cycles of recurrent, extensive, severe fires threaten biodiversity and other values. In northern Australia, prescribed burning to reduce wildfire incidence is incentivised through a regulated emissions abatement program. However, only certain vegetation types are eligible; also, managers of small land parcels are disadvantaged by the program’s transaction costs and interannual variability in management outcomes. Both impediments apply to landholders of the Dampier Peninsula, north-west Australia. Nevertheless, Indigenous rangers, pastoralists and other stakeholders have collaborated for 5 years to manage fire across their small holdings (300–2060 km²). We used remote sensing imagery to examine the project’s performance against seven fire regime targets related to biodiversity, cultural and pastoral values. At the scale both of individual landholders and the entire Peninsula (18 500 km²), the project significantly reduced the extent of annual fire, high-severity fire, mid-late dry season fire, fire frequency and severe fire frequency. The project significantly increased the graininess of burnt and unburnt areas and the extent unburnt for 3+ years more than tripled. The project demonstrates that cross-tenure collaboration can overcome the challenges of managing fire on small land parcels. However, this project’s sustainability depends on securing ongoing funding.

Keywords: fire management, traditional fire management, tropical savanna, carbon emissions, emissions abatement, Indigenous fire management, pindan woodlands, biocultural indicators.

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