Tomorrow, approximately 50 Indigenous fire managers and rangers will gather at the De Lego Resort on Wulna land in the Northern Territory, as part of the 2023 Annual Northern Territory Savanna Fire Management (SFM) Program Forum.

Delivered by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC), the SFM Program funds the coordination, training, start-up, and early operational costs for new fire management projects in the Northern Territory.

By conducting controlled burns early in the dry season, the SFM Program delivers better land management, and ensures Indigenous peoples maintain their ongoing connection to Country.

Furthermore, this practice protects biodiversity values, reduces the impact on places with cultural significance and ultimately produces a tangible carbon offset.

The SFM Forum is a collective initiative between the ILSC and various First Nations partners who have been involved in the event’s planning and will meet for the first time in the face-to-face setting.

The three-day program kicks off on Tuesday 7 November to Thursday 9 November, featuring insightful discussions and collaborative workshops with 6 different ranger groups.

The forum will provide participants a chance to learn from industry experts and their peers, and collectively share their knowledge and experiences in fire management, in turn forming strong, lasting connections.

ILSC Chief Operating Officer, Matthew Salmon, is one of the key speakers at this year’s forum and looks forward to seeing the positive impacts the event will bring for participants.

“The forum will help us celebrate the resilience and dedication of all involved,” said Mr Salmon.

“Fire management is a traditional practice that provides many environmental and cultural benefits, and this is an exciting opportunity to bring so many rangers together to share their stories of Caring for Country.

“We at the ILSC are working towards reconnecting people with Caring for Country, as well as creating employment through the carbon market opportunity, so delivering this Forum is a given for our organisation”.

The forum is a chance to recognise the hard work of fire managers and ranger groups, who are both dedicated and passionate about preserving land and its resources.

One example being the Tiwi Project, who after registering in 2016 has generated 99,948 Australian Carbon Credits.

The ILSC looks forward to presenting the findings and outcomes from the forum with the wider community.