Cleaning, Protecting, or Abating? Making Indigenous Fire Management “Work” in Northern Australia

Indigenous fire management programs, particularly those aiming to shift burning from late to early dry seasons, risk replacing the nuanced, community-driven practices with standardized goals that alienate local Aboriginal communities. While Kakadu National Park's program achieved some success in altering fire regimes, it faced criticism for failing to meet expectations, leading to disillusionment among stakeholders. This study argues that institutionalized management models, even those tied to carbon emissions reduction, may replicate these issues by treating Indigenous people as implementers rather than genuine partners. The research combines ethnographic and ecological data to critique the broader implications of such programs in northern Australia.

Petty, A. M., deKoninck, V., & Orlove, B. (2015). Cleaning, Protecting, or Abating? Making Indigenous Fire Management “Work” in Northern Australia. Journal of Ethnobiology, 35(1), 140–162. https://doi.org/10.2993/0278-0771-35.1.140