The ongoing challenge of monitoring and responding to persistent wildfires on Cape York is in good hands with the establishment of Australia’s first Carbon Management Hub (CMH) by Traditional Owners in the region.
Ajiin CMH chief executive officer Deb Symonds said the team boasted more than 30 years of combined experience in cultural burning, carbon abatement and fire management, with a range of services on offer including fire implementation plans, risk analysis, compliance training, and various fire management training programs.
“This pioneering fire management hub is set to be the first of its kind, not just in Cape York,” she said.
“We place significant importance on the development of fire training, strategic and operational planning, and wildfire response while building capability in Cape York.
“We passionately believe the Ajiin CMH has the potential to significantly impact operations and deliver essential services to all landholders in our region.
“Our vision is to provide service delivery for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous landholders through partnerships, and with emerging technologies, including AI, we can deliver almost real-time fire snapshots of Country.
Ms Symonds said the team was well-equipped to address the ongoing challenges of wildfires, which had been exacerbated by the effects of climate change on seasonal patterns in recent years.
“Our response teams are capable of deploying within 24 hours to provide on-site firefighting assistance,” she said.
“Additionally, we can mobilise helicopters equipped with water buckets to reach inaccessible areas.
“After many years of dedicated effort, we are excited to introduce the Ajiin CMH, which will be able to provide monitoring and response teams to the whole of Cape York.”