Tiwi Islanders, Rangers, Tiwi Resources and project partners are celebrating an important milestone in the Tiwi Islands Fire and Carbon Project.
Until now, the project has been supported by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation’s (ILSC) Savanna Fire Management Program (SFM) that is funded by the INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture as part of a broader $91 million voluntary offsets package agreed with the Northern Territory Government.
The success of the project, managed by Tiwi Resources Pty Ltd, has enabled the transition away from external funding to a fully independent Indigenous-owned carbon enterprise. This transition marks a crucial step in the Tiwi community’s journey towards self-determination and local enterprise development.
Registered in 2016, the project aims to reduce emissions by implementing strategic early dry season fires to prevent the destructive impacts of late dry season wildfires which are laden with greenhouse gases. The methodology is a blend of thousands of years of Indigenous knowledge and practice mixed with western science. As well as a reduction in greenhouse gasses, the project has many other benefits including the employment of Indigenous Rangers to looking after country with fire and the protection of cultural sites.
Traditional Owners, project partners and supporters will come together to celebrate this transition at a community event in Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island.
The ILSC played a pivotal role in supporting the Tiwi Fire and Carbon Project through a $3.6 million investment from its Northern Territory SFM program. This support has been instrumental in the project’s growth and success.
The Tiwi Fire and Carbon Project spans approximately 8,000 square kilometres of Aboriginal freehold land on Melville and Bathurst Islands. These islands, which have been continuously inhabited by the Tiwi people for millennia, are renowned for their rich cultural and biological diversity.
Since its official registration with the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator as an Emissions Avoidance project in 2016, the initiative has generated 159,666 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), valued at around $6.3 million. These ACCUs are the foundation upon which the Carbon enterprise has been built.
Over the course of the project, more than a hundred Traditional Owners and their families, alongside Tiwi Rangers, have been actively involved in annual fire planning and operations. Additionally, 90 individuals have received accredited training to safely participate in fire management activities.
Quotes attributable to:
Spokesperson from Tiwi Resources Pty Ltd
“This transition to independent management is a monumental step for the Tiwi people. It reflects our dedication to self-determination and our commitment to managing our land in a way that honours our culture and preserves our environment.”
“We are proud to lead this project, which not only helps us maintain our traditional practices but also supports our community economically.”
ILSC Group Chief Executive, Joe Morrison
“The Tiwi Fire and Carbon Project exemplifies our mission to support First Nations peoples in achieving self-determination.”
“Getting to today’s celebration has been no small feat. Tiwi Resources Pty Ltd is the first organisation that participates in the SFM program to transition to be independently managed. This is what selfdetermination looks like at the fire management level.”
“This project demonstrates how traditional practices can effectively tackle modern environmental challenges and stands as a testament to the resilience and vision of the Tiwi people.”
INPEX General Manager Northern Territory, Richard Finch
“INPEX acknowledges the significance of the Tiwi Islands Fire and Carbon Project becoming a fully independent carbon enterprise.”
“We are honoured to be celebrating with the Tiwi Rangers, Tiwi Resources and the Tiwi people today, to recognise the achievements and success of the project on the Tiwi Islands.”
“This project is supporting positive outcomes for the Tiwi people as they strengthen their ongoing connection to their Country, while using their traditional knowledge and techniques to manage it.”
“INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture is proud to support the SFM program providing funding for coordination, training, start-up and early operational costs for new projects on Aboriginal lands in the Northern Territory. The Tiwi Project is a great example of its success.”
