Stories
40+ rangers trained in fire management over two-day ecological burn
Aug 12, 2024
Services: Desert Knowledge Precinct
In a first of its kind, rangers, fire services and local organisations came together last week to carry out a controlled burn of two areas of land at the Desert Knowledge Precinct. The exercise, part of Batchelor Institute’s Conservation and Land Management course, aimed to equip over 40 rangers from six groups with the skills to carry out such burns themselves, reducing the fuel load on the land from invasive species such as buffel grass and therefore lowering the risk of potential wildfires.
The first day was overseen by the NT Fire and Rescue Service, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the operation. By day two, the rangers were taking the lead, applying their newly-acquired knowledge under expert instruction from Batchelor. They used blower-vacs to protect the ironwood and corkwood trees, ensuring the health and integrity of the local ecosystem was maintained. No trees were harmed in the process.
“It was good to work with Mick and Batchelor and the others, who all brought their expertise. We worked together as a team. Hopefully the rangers will take this back to their communities and it will help stop wildfires, protecting animals, sacred sites, and bush tucker,” said William, one of the CfAT land management team.
Desert Knowledge Australia worked with Batchelor Institute to organise the exercise, bringing together six groups, including Central Land Council (CLC) Indigenous rangers from Apatula (Finke), Atitjere (Harts Range), Tjuwanpa (Ntaria- Hermannsburg), Ti Tree, Lytenye Apurte (Santa Teresa), and the Centre for Appropriate Technology.
The Desert Knowledge Precinct is a hub for collaborative learning and education, supporting research and community initiatives of this kind. Desert Knowledge Australia, who manage the Precinct, have been working to reduce buffel grass across their 73-hectare site. It’s hoped the burn will act as a test site in how to create buffel-free areas of land where native plants and flowers can thrive. Buffel grass was officially declared a weed by the NT Government in July this year.
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