UPDATE march 2026

NG3 and NG1 Savanna Fire Project development update

In January 2026, with support from Maki Planet Systems, we hosted international savanna fire ecology experts associated with ISFMI (International Savanna Fire Management Initiative), Maki, and KWT. These experts—Professor Jeremy Russell-Smith and Dr. Cameron Yates—hail from the Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research at Charles Darwin University (Northern Territory, Australia).
Valuable time was spent with our Australian colleagues engaging with our partnered Ju/'hoansi San and Bugakhwe San communities in western NG3 and western NG1, respectively, to:

• Further investigate and document the traditional Ju/'hoansi and Bugakhwe seasonal fire knowledge and management strategies. As explained in previous posts, the project is reviving these methods to effect ecosystem restoration, promote the recovery of edible wild plant resources, and enable participatory, community-driven, early-burning emissions abatement.  Surprisingly, this is the first detailed research into traditional San fire knowledge. While the fascinating results are new to science, they are remarkably similar to the traditional fire management systems used by Aboriginal Australians. In Australia, these methods have already underpinned more than 86 successful community-based carbon credit projects.
  
• Assess the results of the participatory pilot early prescribed burning undertaken in 2025 under a permit from Department of Forestry and Range Resources (see previous post ), using maps depicting our 2025 early dry season burns (green shaded areas) in relation to 2025 late dry season fires (pink/red shaded areas) as well as fire history data.  This enabled the communities to reflect on the results of their early burning, and to start planning more effective burning strategies for the upcoming 2026 prescribed burning season. A key objective of the strategic early burning - which prioritises areas of high grass fuel loads - is to prevent the ignition and spread of destructive late dry season fires,  thereby promoting the long-term restoration of plant food diversity and abundance, and habitat value to wildlife. 
• Learn more about community savanna fire management projects in Australia and the parallels between the application of Aboriginal and San fire knowledge systems and emissions abatement methods.  
• Ground-truth 2025 early vs late season burned areas, to investigate post-fire recovery and other environmental attributes and responses.

Schematic representation of Ju/'hoansi seasons and fire management considerations.

Schematic representation of Bugakhwe seasons and related fire management considerations

A non-profit company limited by guarantee - Tc'Oca Reserve - has been formed, comprised of 10 Directors, all of whom are Bugakhwe San originating from the Tc'Oca and associated traditional territories in western NG1.  This entity is in the process of applying for a lease area to implement its conservation and livelihood support objectives, with the planned emissions abatement carbon project as a primary source of revenue.  The community stands to secure a long-term contract with its carbon partner, ensuring consistent annual income through the sale of carbon credits.  Similar steps are in process for the Ju/'hoansi San in western NG3.