Traditional Land Management Benefiting Modern Australia
Clip: Season 2 Episode 1 | 2m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
Sanjayan starts controlled wildfires under the watchful eye of Kiwirrkurra Rangers.
Conservationist, M. Sanjayan learns the traditional method for starting controlled wildfires with the Kiwirrkurra community of Australia's remote Gibson Desert. These small managed burns protect against mega-fires by creating natural breaks and removing highly flammable growth.
Traditional Land Management Benefiting Modern Australia
Clip: Season 2 Episode 1 | 2m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
Conservationist, M. Sanjayan learns the traditional method for starting controlled wildfires with the Kiwirrkurra community of Australia's remote Gibson Desert. These small managed burns protect against mega-fires by creating natural breaks and removing highly flammable growth.
How to Watch Changing Planet
Changing Planet is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Dr. M. Sanjayan On Our Climate Future
Dr. M. Sanjayan discusses how he stays optimistic about our climate future, our role in climate change, his climate heroes, and more.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThe Pintupi use land management techniques that are beneficial to modern Australia.
“By doing little fires through the year, ” “it stops the big hot wildfires, ” “that might happen in the summertime.
” Spinifex grass covers about a quarter of Australia.
This iconic spiky plant provides shelter for native species as well as tools and food for Indigenous Australians.
It relies on fire for regrowth.
They set fire to dried sticks or bunches of highly resinous spinifex.
“Oh fire stick... ” “To regrow plant for animal.
” “Okay ” “Bush plant.
” “...and you do this all the time?
” “For animal and for people too.
” “Yeah for food.
” The Kiwwikurra actually dribble fire onto patches of grass as they walk.
“Easy for them to carry as they walk along, ” “and when it's run out they burn it again.
” “Okay.
Okay.
” “So we should go do this?
” “Yeah.
” “Now.
” “Okay.
” “All right.
” I'm starting to think the women are warming to me when they invite me to give it a try.
“Very hot?
” “Yeah, it is very hot.
” “Where do I do it?
” “It's funny how quickly she was doing it... ” “...and I can't get a fire going.
” Australia has evolved to burn, but the ferocity of its modern wildfires is hellish.
These small managed burns protect against mega-fires by creating natural breaks and removing highly flammable growth.
Beavers Help to Control California's Forest Fires
Video has Closed Captions
Eco-hydrologist, Dr. Emily Fairfax explains the impact beavers have in burnt landscapes. (2m 29s)
Camel Crisis in the Australian Outback
Video has Closed Captions
M. Sanjayan witnesses the damage done by camels to an Australian ancestral waterhole. (2m 22s)
Collaring a Big Male Jaguar in the Pantanal, Brazil
Video has Closed Captions
Changing Planet revisits the team collecting vital data to protect Brazil's top predator. (3m 18s)
Traditional Landowners Preserving Native Species
Video has Closed Captions
M. Sanjayan visits the Kiwirrkurra community and learns how they control invasive species. (4m 11s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
