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Indigenous land management is one of Australia’s most cost-effective, culturally grounded tools for lowering emissions and keeping native species alive.
Across Australia, First Nations peoples have shaped ecosystems for tens of thousands of years through sophisticated land practices.
These practices are deeply embedded in cultural traditions, seasonal knowledge, and an understanding of ecological cycles that modern science is only beginning to fully appreciate.
From the rainforests of the north to the deserts of the centre, Indigenous custodians have long balanced the needs of people, plants, and animals.
Today, that same knowledge is being recognised as a critical ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, the ability to reduce wildfire intensity, store carbon in landscapes, and restore degraded ecosystems has never been more urgent.
Indigenous-led programs, when adequately supported, can deliver results that are both environmentally and socially transformative.
They also reconnect communities to Country, strengthen cultural identity, and provide a sense of agency in confronting the climate crisis.
Evidence is mounting that these programs are not just beneficial, but essential for meeting national and global environmental goals.
What Indigenous land management means
Indigenous land management is the active stewardship of Country by First Nations peoples combining traditional ecological knowledge, cultural burning, seasonal calendars and modern science to sustain landscapes and livelihoods. [1]
It reflects a worldview in which people are inseparable from the land, water, and living systems around them. These practices are passed down through oral traditions, ceremony, and direct experience on Country.
Many communities integrate these approaches with new technologies such as satellite mapping to monitor vegetation and fire patterns. This blend of ancient and modern ensures that management decisions remain both culturally grounded and scientifically informed.
How it reduces greenhouse gas emissions
One of the most successful examples is savanna fire management, where early dry-season burns prevent destructive late-season wildfires that release massive amounts of carbon dioxide. [2]
By breaking up fuel loads, these controlled burns also protect human settlements and sacred sites from fire damage. The reduced intensity of fires means less smoke pollution and improved air quality for communities.
In addition to fire control, Indigenous land management can boost carbon sequestration by maintaining healthy grasslands, wetlands, and forests. Emerging carbon credit projects are helping monetise these emission reductions for reinvestment in local initiatives.
How it protects biodiversity
Indigenous-managed lands cover vast areas that contain a disproportionately high number of threatened species. [3]
Habitat protection is strengthened through the use of culturally significant zones where hunting, harvesting, or disturbance is restricted. Seasonal burning promotes plant diversity and provides food and shelter for native wildlife.
These methods often reverse the impacts of past land mismanagement, allowing species to recover. By aligning conservation with cultural priorities, biodiversity protection becomes a lived, everyday practice rather than an abstract policy goal.
Jobs, capability and co-benefits
Indigenous ranger programs create meaningful employment while building skills in conservation, firefighting, and environmental monitoring. [4]
They also deliver social benefits such as improved health, reduced incarceration rates, and strengthened community governance. Income from these roles helps keep families on Country and supports intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Beyond the economic impacts, ranger work fosters pride and purpose, especially among young people. These roles are often pathways to higher education, tourism ventures, and leadership positions in environmental management.
Market mechanisms and incentives promise and pitfalls
Carbon markets and biodiversity credits can provide new revenue streams for Indigenous land managers. However, they require careful design to ensure benefits flow equitably and cultural values are not compromised.
Some projects have succeeded in blending commercial opportunities with ecological restoration. Others have faced challenges where market pressures conflicted with community decision-making.
Transparent governance and long-term funding certainty are essential. Without these safeguards, market mechanisms risk prioritising short-term gains over ecological and cultural sustainability.
Challenges and what’s needed
Indigenous land management faces threats from underfunding, climate change impacts, and competing land uses. [5]
Workforce shortages in remote areas make it difficult to sustain year-round programs. Policy instability can also undermine trust and continuity in long-term projects.
Increased investment, secure land rights, and respect for Indigenous decision-making are critical to scaling these efforts.
Collaboration between governments, Indigenous organisations, and scientists will be key to future success.
Conclusion
Indigenous land management is not just a climate solution.
It is a cultural obligation and a demonstration of resilience. [6]
By valuing and funding these approaches, Australia can reduce emissions, safeguard biodiversity, and strengthen communities. This is a pathway that delivers benefits for all Australians while honouring the knowledge of the world’s oldest continuous cultures.
The opportunity now is to move from small-scale projects to systemic integration of Indigenous management in national climate and conservation strategies. Doing so would be both an environmental necessity and a matter of justice.
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