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7.30: Management of the northern savanna

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Aerial view of a river and surrounding ravines
7.30: Management of the northern savanna

SUBJECTS:  Science, Technologies

YEARS:  5–6, 7–8


Around the world, tropical savannas are in serious trouble.

This clip from 2007 explores the use of Aboriginal technology for sustainable management of the environment in Australia's huge northern tropical savanna.

Hear from two environmental scientists who discuss why traditional fire-management practices may reduce the incidence of destructive wildfires and maintain biodiversity.


Things to think about

  1. 1.A savanna can be described as a region of grasses and trees, where the numbers or types of tree don't prevent sunlight from reaching the grasses. Do you know of any famous savannas? Fire has a long history on the Australian continent. Do you think bushfires are bad for ecosystems in Australia?
  2. 2.What does the presenter say about the state of Australia's northern savanna? What does Professor Brendan Mackey say is the key problem for savannas around the world? How does Dr Barry Traill describe the types of fires that have occurred over the last 200 years?
  3. 3.What does the clip portray as the main difference between the types of bushfires that occurred in the northern savanna before and after European colonisation? What does the clip present as evidence that traditional ecological knowledge and practices can support native plants and animals? How might controlled burning (fire-stick farming and prescribed burning) assist Australia in the future?
  4. 4.Dr Traill says in the clip that both 'less fire' and 'very hot destructive fires' in some areas can pose problems for their habitats and the species living in and near them. Investigate a specific Australian forest habitat that you know of or might have visited. Does Dr Traill's statement apply to your chosen forest habitat? If yes, how much?



Date of broadcast: 22 Aug 2007


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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