{
  "id": 8370929,
  "title": "'Desert rangers are deadly': Aussies up for world prize",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/desert-rangers-are-deadly-aussies-up-for-world-prize",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-18T18:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://theleader.com.au/story/9353333/desert-rangers-are-deadly-aussies-up-for-world-prize"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An Indigenous project covering over one-third of Australia is among the finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize, one of the world's most renowned environmental awards. The Earthshot Prize, established by Britain's Prince William in 2020, recognizes projects addressing major environmental challenges, including climate change, nature conservation, and pollution. The Indigenous Desert Alliance, a collective supporting 70 Indigenous ranger teams and comprising 29 member organizations, has been shortlisted as one of the 15 finalists for the 2026 competition, competing against 6,999 other nominations for a share of the $1.9 million prize. The alliance's Right Way Desert Fire program combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern techniques to reduce bushfire risks, targeting an area of about the size of Argentina, home to 78 threatened species. The alliance's chief executive, Samantha Murray, highlights the potential value in the global attention generated by the contest and the possibility of gaining more advocates for the alliance's work. The Earthshot Prize recognizes projects such as the alliance's Right Way Desert Fire program, which has the potential to protect special places, animals, and biodiversity by utilizing slow cool burning practices.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}