BURNING SEASON

Every year from around May until July is when most of the annual burning is done in the Top End. Once a landscape that was managed according to a long and unbroken tradition by the indigenous peoples of this nation, these days it's more of a ramshackle affair that tries to tie in modern science, traditional knowledge, diverse land practices and the problem of increased fuel loads from invasive grasses.

These early dry season fires are known as cool burns. Carried out at a time of year when it's cooler, with dew-filled mornings, these burning events help prevent more destructive late dry season fires in October or November.