The unprecedented Australian bushfires of 2019-2020 burned an area larger than the United Kingdom, killed at least 33 people, killed or displaced nearly 3 billion animals, and destroyed the habitat of more than 500 species. In 2023, the fires were even larger. This devastation has led scientists and planners to ask how the world’s most fire-prone continent can prepare for future megafires. Today, they are taking inspiration and learning from indigenous peoples who have been burning the land lightly for some 60,000 years.
Filmmaker Kirsten Slemint accompanied James Shaw – of the Melukerdee tribe of the South East Nations – as he trained young Aboriginal people to conduct cultural fires on Bruny Island in Tasmania. Burning the land at low temperatures, he says, reduces the amount of fuel and provides nutrients for the plants and seeds beneath the ash. Conservation biologist Hugh Possingham notes: “The whole system evolved through Aboriginal burning. It’s one of the cultures that humanity needs to learn from in the years to come if we are to truly stabilize this planet.”
When asked what inspired her to make a film about the Australian fires, Slemint said: “Australia is not the only country battling devastating wildfires and it can offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to the global community. I think the film’s messages of respect, community and hope are critical to creating a better future where both our environmental and cultural heritage are protected and celebrated.”
About the filmmaker: A graduate of the UK’s National Film and Television School, Kirsten Slemint is a freelance filmmaker and producer based in London. Her work explores the interfaces between humans and nature and is driven by her interest in achieving specific social and environmental goals.
About the competition: The Yale Environment 360 Film Contest is now in its 11th year and honors the best environmental documentaries of the year. The goal is to recognize work that has not been widely known before. This year we received 714 entries from 91 countries on six continents. The winners were announced by Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Kolbert, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Thomas Lennon and The e360Editor-in-Chief Roger Cohn.
