2015•05•21

From 18 – 21 May 2015,  the United Nations University (UNU) Traditional Knowledge Initiative (TKI) co-hosted a series of savanna fire management activities in conjunction with the local organisation CIS Timor:

• Indigenous Perspectives on Savanna Fire Management Workshop, 18 May 2015, Kupang, Indonesia
• Asia Regional Workshop, 19 – 21 May 2015, Kupang, Indonesia

The Asia Regional Workshop included a field visit to key savanna areas of West Timor and discussion on the physical and cultural aspects of fire management in the region.

Savanna landscape, Nusa Tenggara Timor, Indonesia. Photo: UNU

The goals of both workshops were to:

• share information and raise awareness of the Australian experience of savanna fire management;
• explore the trends, challenges and possibilities for emissions reduction savanna fire management in Asia;
• connect governments, civil society, indigneous people’s organisations, intergovernmental organisations, research institutions and the private sector concerned with savanna fire management in Asia; and,
• support the Initiative’s Asia Regional Assessment.

Participants included representatives from Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

The workshops are an activity of the UNU TKI’s International Savanna Fire Management Initiative, supported by the Australian Government through its aid budget. The initiative aims to raise awareness globally of Australia’s experience in methodology based fire management and explore the feasibility of the approach as a tool for emissions reductions, biodiversity protection and creating sustainable livelihoods opportunities for indigenous and local communities in fire dependent landscapes globally.