Githabul rangers are offering free cultural burning for private landowners.
This indigenous led program is bringing traditional fire management back on country.
Githabul rangers program manager Robert Boota is based in Kyogle and he said the offer is to help reduce the threat of what happened in the 2019 bushfires from happening again.
The cultural burn also protects wildlife and the environment, Mr Boota said.
Bush regen company Border Ranges Contractor is providing the service and it is the Githabul rangers who will use their experience of working on country to do the cultural burns.
“The cultural burn helps retain ecosystems and habitats,” Mr Boota said.
“If you don’t introduce fire, other plant species take over.”
Mr Boota worked with state forests for 23 years.
Native Title allows the Githabul rangers to practice culture on country and that includes cultural burning.
“There’s a lot of paperwork to go through to do a cultural burn,” he said.
“We know private property owners are struggling to burn.”
The rangers have firefighting certificates and the machinery needed to make fire breaks.
“We make sure our cultural burns don’t get out of hand,” he said.
Any property owners interested in cultural burning activities including preparation work such as weed control, slashing of roads and firebreak for containment lines can phone 0488 976 512 or email rboota@yahoo.com.au for more information. There will be a selection process for properties chosen.
The Rural Fire Service advises that a permit for burns is required in Kyogle LGA. More information can be found here.
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