Managing fire regimes in north Australian savannas: applying Aboriginal approaches to contemporary global problems

Savannas constitute the most fire‐prone biome on Earth and annual emissions from savanna‐burning activities are a globally important source of greenhouse‐gas (GHG) emissions. Here, we describe the application of a commercial fire‐management program being implemented over 28 000 km 2 of savanna on Aboriginal lands in northern Australia. The project combines the reinstatement of Aboriginal traditional approaches to savanna fire management – in particular a strategic, early dry‐season burning program – with a recently developed emissions accounting methodology for savanna burning. Over the first 7 years of implementation, the project has reduced emissions of accountable GHGs (methane, nitrous oxide) by 37.7%, relative to the pre‐project 10‐year emissions baseline. In addition, the project is delivering social, biodiversity, and long‐term biomass sequestration benefits. This methodological approach may have considerable potential for application in other fire‐prone savanna settings.