Cultural Fire & the Pink Nodding Orchid
Last year Jagun Alliance rangers skillfully applied cultural fire practices in Wurring (winter) on Bandjalang land. The cool burn created ideal conditions for the prolific germination of the Endangered Pink Nodding Orchid – which had been absent from this site prior to the application and custodianship of cultural fire. The roots of this ground orchid actually have a symbiotic relationship with fungi that require the right kind of fire to maintain the ideal soil conditions and allow enough light to penetrate the ground, which allows the flower to thrive. There are less than 20 populations of this species remaining in NSW!
The burn across the Korinderie Ridge Community and the Minyumai Indigenous Protected Area was a great example of ‘tenure blind' fire management and cultural burning where neighbours are able to apply small scale mosaic burns together across private property boundaries.
Now that we’ve transitioned into Ngoon (summer) and the Dirrawong (goannas) are active, the Boonow (Pink Bloodwood) are just starting to flower, and cones hang from mature Black Sheoak. These provide food for the Gehrr (Glossy Black Cockatoo). Goowun (wallabies) and Eastern Grey Kangaroos graze on the bright green regrowth of a range of native grasses. After the sunw goes down Wijoon (Gliders) and Forest Owls can be heard, using the large tree hollows on site that were protected in the cultural burn. Within a short walk from the site a chorus of frogs are singing and breeding, including the threatened Wallum froglet.
Jagun Alliance Rangers worked in collaboration with Minyumai IPA Rangers and the Korinderie Ridge community to apply this burn. We’lll continue to work together with them and other property owners in the region to do post-burn monitoring work through 2024. This will help to record the positive impacts of cultural burning on Country and local ecosystems. Jagun Alliance Rangers will also support in monitoring critical habitat, such as that of the pink nodding orchid, to ensure the restoration and future survival of many threatened species.
*Bandjalang Language is taken from the Bandjalang seasonal calendar and the Minyumai Indigenous Protected Area website. Spelling and pronunciation may vary.