The Witjira National Park
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Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy 2018-2028 Waru Pulka means big fire The Witjira National Park Cultural significance Post-contact heritage Witjira was proclaimed a National Park in 1985 under section The Witjira National Park (Witjira NP) holds significant The Dalhousie Mound Springs complex, Homelands, the and culture 43 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to protect cultural value to both the Lower Southern Arrernte people, Finke River and Floodout, and Spinifex (Awilura) Country Australia’s largest array of artesian springs, the nationally the Wangkangurru people, and community, and adjoining across Witjira NP, provide a diversity of flora, fauna, and Witjira NP also contains sites of non-Aboriginal importance Aboriginal burning techniques are being more widely regarded as significant Dalhousie Mound Springs complex (Figure 1). Aboriginal nations through associated sites and story lines. natural resources for the Lower Southern Arrernte and including Dalhousie homestead ruins and European relicts. a key management tool; highly valuable in the maintenance and At over 768 850 hectares in size the park also conserves With over 100 sites and places at Witjira NP that are Wangkangurru people. Dalhousie Springs is also an important tourist sight promoting enhancement of biodiversity values. Within the Witjira NP lands relativity pristine areas of gibber and sandy country, river documented in the Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects With the contrast in landscape features across Witjira NP, public use and enjoyment of the park whilst minimising the many native species have adapted to fire for a variety of reasons. floodplains, and floodouts (DEH 2009). under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988, it is the highest an immense array of species are utilised for food, fibre, or impact on cultural and European sites, mound springs, and The Common Reed (Phragmites australis) regenerates vigorously the surrounding environment. The determination of Native Title rights in 2008 for the reported concentration of cultural heritage in central Australia. medicine. A better understanding of these species and their post fire. Its rapid growth contributes to large volume of biomass F IN K Lower Southern ArrernteE and Wangkangurru people and The Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru people place use by Aboriginal nations can offer important understandings Travel and camping at several sites across Witjira NP is common and organic material that build up and can block spring vents COGLIN for environmental and cultural management. place and management of fuel loads around these camping sites and tails. Incorporating traditional fire management practices the declaration of the Witjira NationalER Park Co-management a high value on their lands and view it as a significant cultural RIV Board formally representsCREEK the importance and cultural asset through which to practice and learn about their culture. This Fire Management Strategy seeks to be a teaching resource is necessary, particularly after significant rainfall. such as burning the Common Reed helps to remove this build- connectivity to this Country. NORAltyerreTHERN TERR (culturalITORY lore and customs) and its relationship to the about culture and land and will assist and facilitate the Witjira up of biomass and organic matter. This maintains a diversity R SOUTH AUSTRALIA IVER of aquatic habitat types such as open water, closed flowing F land are the foundations of Aboriginal culture. The Dalhousie NP Co-management Board, the Lower Southern Arrernte, and IN This Waru Pulka (Fire) Management StrategyF was prepared K IN KE E Mound Springs complex is of particular significance to the Wangkangurru people utilise fire in managing their Country The importance of fire channels, and mixed shallow cool water, ensuring that the for the Witjira National Park Co-managementD Mt. Dare Board, as A A B O endemic fish found in the mound springs thrive (DEWNR 2017b). MIN R Hotel GA Traditional Owners, as many stories are associated with, or pass and practicing culture. CR recommended in the WitjiraEEK National Park Management Plan R IV E R F through the springs. While little is known about the historical fire regimes of Witjira IN (DEH 2009). This Strategy identifies:E Cultural burning and a land management tool KE R A Purni Bore e D svill to Bird NP, management and use of the mound springs by Traditional MO UNT Federal LINE The Homelands, inCH the north east of the park, is the most COGLIN • natural, built, and cultural heritage values, assets WandITJ objectsIRA Freeth Junction FREN R Cultural burning is an important part of caring for Country and VE Blood Creek Owners involved regular burning of dead reeds that clogged RI Opossum Waterhole culturally significant area within the park. There is no public CRE bore NATIONAL EK vulnerable to inappropriate fire regimes or damage by fire; describes the burning practices developed by Aboriginal nations, spring waterholes and restricted access to water (DEH 2009). PARK access to this area. This dedicated area enables Traditional • a framework for the managementNORTHE RofN TbushfireERRITORY suppression, used to enhance the health of the land and its people. Cultural Spring vents and tails are well suited to cultural burning STEVENSON Owners to live on Country. O SO SIMPSON R l UTH AUSTRALIA I d burning can include burning (or prevention of burning) for including theV EidentificationR of fire management zones and Macumba Well practices, which can in turn create a mosaic of fire age classes, CR FI E DESERT N E Dalhousie Springs F K K This area also represents the area of highest overall fuel hazard potentialIN KE strategicM access and controlE lines (as shown on the health of particular plants, animals, and Country. It may O 3 O'Clock REGIONAL providing valuable refuges for important plants and animals. U N Creek T Dalhousie Homestead Ruins D Mt. Dare across the park, which significantly increases after big rains. involve patch burning to create different fire intervals or A RESERVE AB DEW’s Fire Management Maps);G Re-introducing cultural fire practices to open up and restore M O h IN R Hotel a GA n CRE D The 2014 Homelands bushfire (waru pulka) came close E R K A used specifically for fuel and hazard reduction purposes. IV the balance to these sites is essential. Given the isolated nature R E • fire management strategies,E includingR prescribed burning, to ) KA to burning two homes and burnt approximately 950 E R IR Fire may be used to gain better access to Country, R O D NO 8 E of Witjira NP and the number of threatened and culturally A A PuP rni Bore d ( lle D protect or maintain natural,D built, and cultural assets,ir dvalues,svi i B s to M m INE hectares of the park. O UNT Federal AR L to clean up important pathways, or to maintain P a CH n REN significant species reliant on the health of the Dalhousie Mound WITJIRA Freeth Junctiot n F and practices; and EK l S RE e TEV C d E N Blood Creek ILTON S cultural responsibilities. Opossum Waterhole HAM O Springs environmental processes, re-introducing cultural fire bore NATIONAL N • opportunities to explore and implement Aboriginal Cultural o (Ca M ng ni This strategy supports the intergenerational practices is essential to restoring the balance to these sites. O i s PARK U D lu Knowledge and fire managementN methods for ecological / p STEVENSON T e u C r transfer of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, F R s O IN E SIMPSON u Cultural burning across the Finke River floodplains and l K E d E management and fuel reduction purposes, and maintaining d K in Macumba Well in CR which can be facilitated and supported E DESERT a floodouts, and Spinifex (Awilura) Country is also important E Dalhousie Springs g G D CO LIN K connection to Country. p M A r a o R R O 3 O'Clock E i l REGIONAL a IV w E through cultural burning practices. Where U R ) N R Creek a P for cultural and environmental management. C EE y T K Dalhousie Homestead Ruins RESERVE G h possible, employment and capacity building a n NORTHERN TE There are many similarities and differences between Lower D RRITORY umme A s • S r • H R y o opportunities will be investigated E a R SOUTH AUSTRALIA d t ) IVER R n A t Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru and western ecological K O i R R o g I A O D t F o I and utilised. D h N N H O 8 E A K P F O t R d E ( I RIVE s D N E K o i M knowledge; to ensure a successful relationship, all parties need d s A (Me n m C rk la AR a U a le P a d M IVER u D A R b n LB Mt. Dare E RGA a B nuary r c A Ja K t A t A E l S t e a E e B T O R M EV a to acknowledge and consider these respectfully. There should C d IN E R Hotel p GA N a g ILTON CRE S l M EKO R P o HA I N OO V D E t m be an emphasis on encouraging the retention of Cultural N R ADATTA r E e e M R A s O TR Purni Bore e r Knowledge by Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru D AC svill U K to Bird Legend e a N MO T LINE T UN Federal Figure 1 r F t ENCH e e D a C WITJIRA Freeth Junction FR Building Campsite; toilet b br people and to develop and maintain sincere relationships with R m u ) E e a Blood Creek E c on Rains a r K Landing ground so nd bore Opossum Waterhole NATIONAL Witjira National Park Shower; meals e Mon Flo y (permission required) D ods people and their land.