Cultural legacies, fire ecology, and environmental change in the Stone Country of Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park, Australia

Central Arnhem Land (CAL) exhibits greater savanna heterogeneity and biodiversity compared to Kakadu National Park (KNP), primarily due to the continued integration of Aboriginal fire management practices and the cultural inclusion of Asian water buffalo. The study found that intact groves of Callitris intratropica, a fire-sensitive conifer, were more prevalent in CAL, indicating higher gamma diversity and habitat heterogeneity. This was attributed to traditional Aboriginal burning techniques and the ecological role of buffalo, which may mitigate destructive fires. In contrast, KNP, managed through prescribed burning and buffalo eradication, showed less biodiversity. The research suggests that sustainability in this UNESCO World Heritage Site relies on adaptive management that balances indigenous cultural practices with ecological disturbance regimes.

Trauernicht, C., Murphy, B. P., Tangalin, N., & Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2013). Cultural legacies, fire ecology, and environmental change in the Stone Country of Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park, Australia. Ecology and Evolution, 3(2), 286–297. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.460