How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight fire
As Europe faces its worst wildfires in decades, Australia offers lessons in disaster preparedness.
Professor Marta Yebra, a fire expert from Spain now based in Canberra, leads a research center focused on combating Australia's frequent wildfires using advanced technology and Indigenous knowledge. The Black Summer fires of 2019-20, the nation's worst on record, prompted this approach. While technology such as satellites and AI can detect fires, Indigenous communities offer crucial local insights that technology alone cannot provide.
The indigenous practice of "cultural burning" involves setting controlled fires to maintain a balanced ecosystem. This method, passed down through generations, complements satellite imagery that identifies areas with high fuel moisture content. By combining Indigenous knowledge with modern technology, Yebra's team has found remarkable agreement between their data and the perspectives of local Indigenous guides like Adrian Webster.
Webster uses his deep understanding of the land, gleaned from years of observation and training, to verify satellite data and guide firefighters to high-risk areas. This collaborative approach allows for more effective fire management, especially as climate change increases the frequency of extreme fire weather in southern Europe.
Yebra believes Australia's experience could be invaluable to the continent as it grapples with its own wildfires. Webster emphasizes the importance of proactive measures, such as lighting cool fires and prescribed burns, to reduce fuel load and prevent the spread of fires. These strategies, rooted in Australia's long history with fire, offer a promising model for other regions facing similar challenges.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
