sustainability Article Indigenous Knowledge and Seasonal Calendar Inform Adaptive Savanna Burning in Northern Australia Michelle McKemey 1,* , Emilie Ens 2, Yugul Mangi Rangers 3, Oliver Costello 4 and Nick Reid 1 1 Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
[email protected] 2 Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, 12 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia;
[email protected] 3 Caring for Country Branch, Northern Land Council, GPO Box 1222, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia;
[email protected] 4 Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation, Rosebank, NSW 2480, Australia; ocostello@firesticks.org.au * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +61-(0)437-350-597 Received: 20 December 2019; Accepted: 25 January 2020; Published: 30 January 2020 Abstract: Indigenous fire management is experiencing a resurgence worldwide. Northern Australia is the world leader in Indigenous savanna burning, delivering social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits. In 2016, a greenhouse gas abatement fire program commenced in the savannas of south-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, managed by the Indigenous Yugul Mangi rangers. We undertook participatory action research and semi-structured interviews with rangers and Elders during 2016 and 2019 to investigate Indigenous knowledge and obtain local feedback about fire management. Results indicated that Indigenous rangers effectively use cross-cultural science (including local and Traditional Ecological Knowledge alongside western science) to manage fire. Fire management is a key driver in the production of bush tucker (wild food) resources and impacts other cultural and ecological values. A need for increased education and awareness about Indigenous burning was consistently emphasized.