Australia's leading savanna fire event, the annual North Australia Savanna Fire Forum, is set to return on Larrakia Country in Darwin next month.

The 6th annual Indigenous-led event, hosted by the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN), will showcase Indigenous leadership in caring for Country and Right Way Fire.

The Forum will be attended by hundreds of fire managers, Indigenous land managers, carbon industry practitioners, scientists and policy makers from North Australia and beyond, with the event facilitating knowledge sharing and improved understanding and practice within the Indigenous carbon industry.

ICIN co-chair and Traditional Owner of Djinkarr in the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area, Dr Dean Yibarbuk, said Indigenous-led carbon projects have both environmental and cultural benefits.

"Indigenous-led savanna fire carbon projects are not only an effective climate action activity, they also support Traditional Owners to fulfil cultural obligations. These projects provide an important opportunity for First Peoples to re-establish or strengthen their connection to Country," Dr Yibarbuk said.

ICIC say with increasing global recognition of the success of Australia's Indigenous fire management carbon programs, the Forum brings together traditional fire knowledge, latest research and technology solutions to ensure the continued growth of the domestic Indigenous carbon industry.

They say in Australia, there are 34 Indigenous owned and run savanna fire management carbon projects abating an average of 1.2 million tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions annually, however this figure represents 2 per cent of all carbon projects registered with the Australian Government.

"Carbon projects owned and run by Indigenous people lead to the best outcomes for climate, Country and people. The North Australia Savanna Fire Forum is designed to encourage increased First Peoples participation in the Indigenous carbon industry," Dr Yibaruk said.

Last year's Forum was well attended, with more than 30 Indigenous language groups represented in what ICIN described as an "extraordinary exchange of ideas".

The annual Forum is held in partnership between Indigenous owned and led ICIN and Charles Darwin University.

The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network, an independent, Indigenous-led non-for-profit is owned by full members, those being Indigenous organisations that own carbon projects or directly produce carbon credits.

6th Annual North Australia Savanna Fire Forum

Tuesday 20 - Thursday 22 February, 2024

Larrakia Country, Darwin Convention Centre