Oliver Costello of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service discusses the new NPWS cultural fire management policy which aims to support Aboriginal community aspirations to connect to and care for Country through cultural fire management on parks. Presentation from Nature Conservation Council of NSW 2017 Bushfire Conference - Fire, Fauna & Ferals: from backyards to bush.

1. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
NCC Bushfire Conference
Sydney 30 May 2017
Oliver Costello
Project Officer
Aboriginal Heritage and Joint Management Team
Park Cultural Values and Planning Branch
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
T 02 9585 6626
M 0491 211 501
E oliver.costello@environment.nsw.gov.au
W www.environment.nsw.gov.au/jointmanagement

2. 2
Acknowledgement of country

3. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) recognises the
importance of working with Aboriginal communities to manage NPWS
reserves.

4. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
This Policy - Aims to
support Aboriginal
community aspirations to
connect to and care for
Country through cultural
fire management on
parks.

5. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
Culturally informed burning is any
burn with cultural burning objectives and
Aboriginal community partnership in
planning and approval.
Community (low risk) cultural burning
enable Aboriginal community
participation. Culturally informed burns
that can be safely undertaken within the
Community (low risk) cultural burn
guidelines.
Definitions

6. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
 The Aboriginal Partnerships Policy is the
policy for NPWS working and developing
partnerships with Aboriginal Communities
 The Guidelines for Low Risk Cultural
Burning on NPWS Managed Lands
supports NPWS staff and community
 all NPWS managed lands, except Part4A
lands which can adopt there own polices.
Scope and application
 The Fire Management Manual guides all fire management approved by
NPWS managers and on NPWS lands.

7. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
1.5 Objectives
 Engage Aboriginal communities in fire management.
 Support the practice, promotion and renewal of
culture, through use of fire.
 Integrate cultural fire values, knowledge and
practices in NPWS fire management generally,
including identifying and protecting natural and
cultural values.
 Facilitate Aboriginal community participation in
community (low risk) cultural burns. Requirements
for low risk cultural burns are detailed in the
Guidelines for Low Risk Cultural Burning on NPWS
Managed Lands.

8. NPWS Cultural Fire Management Policy
1.5 Objectives – Continued
 Ensure safety for staff and community members and mitigate risk to assets and
cultural and nature values, while doing cultural fire management activities.
 Increase the cultural fire awareness and cultural capabilities of NPWS staff.
 Recognise and protect Aboriginal knowledge and practice in cultural fire
management as the cultural intellectual property of Aboriginal people.
 Protect and enhance natural and cultural values through culturally informed
planning and operations that implement appropriate fire regimes in partnership with
Aboriginal communities.
 Partner with public and private sector organisations to facilitate Aboriginal
community participation in cultural fire management.

9. Guidelines for Community (Low Risk)
Cultural Burning
Purpose
The guide supports NPWS
staff to consider and
undertake community
based low risk cultural fire
activities on NPWS
managed lands.

10. Guidelines for Community (Low Risk)
Cultural Burning
Cultural Assessment to determine:
• Purpose/objectives of the cultural burn
• Identify values, sites and locations
• Landscape considerations
• Cultural protocols & safety issues
• Participants - roles & responsibilities
• Desired Cultural Outcomes
• Monitoring and Evaluation process
Community identify Cultural Burns, Values & Protocols

11. Guidelines for Community (Low Risk)
Cultural Burning
APPROVING LOW RISK CULTURAL BURN
risk assessments and controls
 There are 26 requirements intended to
be used as checklists by burn planners,
Incident Controllers and competent
firefighters prior to, and during, low risk
cultural burns.
 JSA –and Volunteering process
 NPWS and community agree to proceed
with burn

12. RISK ASESSMENTS AND CONTROLS
 Planning and Initiation
 Burn Prescriptions
 Supervision
 Fire Awareness and Safety
 Obligations on Competent Fire
Fighters during burn operations
 Special Requirements (regarding
children, elder and others with
mobility or comprehension
difficulties
Guidelines for Community (Low Risk)
Cultural Burning

13. Cultural Fire Policy, guidelines and resources
• Aims to balance NPWS responsibilities for
safety with socially inclusive cultural
methods.
• In sharing our knowledge and abilities
while planning, conducting and monitoring
burns together, we build capacity and
respect.
• Will be reviewed in 2018 - following a
period of targeted engagement with
communities, stakeholders and NPWS
staff.

14. Cultural Fire Policy, guidelines and resources
Current and next steps:
• Targeted engagement
• Cultural fire ground awareness training/induction
• Develop Cultural Assessment and Planning support
• Implement and report on Cultural Fire Projects
• Support NPWS staff with implementation

15. Cultural Fire Policy, guidelines and resources
Thank you
Any Questions?
Please contact me for a copy’s and to have your say!
Oliver Costello
Project Officer
Aboriginal Heritage and Joint Management Team
Park Cultural Values and Planning Branch
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
T 02 9585 6626
M 0491 211 501
E oliver.costello@environment.nsw.gov.au
W www.environment.nsw.gov.au/jointmanagement