The Desert Habitat Method – How Aboriginal rangers measure cultural burning success

Traditional burning techniques have kept country healthy for tens of thousands of years. This knowledge has been passed down for generations, and the desert habitat method is one way to show the rest of the world the impact and importance of this work. It involves looking at satellite images, vegetation maps and rainfall data. It also involves country visits to monitor the effects of burning spinifex, documenting the age of spinifex plants and mapping weeds. Through this, the method measures exactly how rangers are making country healthier. "We care for our land so it's a place where we can teach our children too and leave them with our stories and knowledge to keep forever to pass on," said Maisie Wayne, South Tanami IPA Management Committee member.