A Miwok fire practitioner sees signs of renewal in wildfire-scorched California landscapes, advocating for wider use of Indigenous cultural burns to manage land and reduce wildfire risks.
Sarah Hopkins reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Don Hankins, a Miwok cultural fire expert, observes ecological resilience in areas managed with cultural burns during the Park Fire in Northern California.
- Indigenous fire practices, which have been restricted by historical policies, show promise in reducing wildfire intensity by promoting native species and reducing flammable grasses.
- Despite success on smaller scales, significant policy barriers prevent widespread adoption of cultural burns.
Key quote:
“Indigenous communities often recognize colonization as the beginning of the climate crisis.”
— Don Hankins, cultural fire practitioner
Why this matters:
Indigenous fire practices could play a crucial role in mitigating wildfire risks as climate change intensifies. Addressing policy barriers may allow these methods to be implemented more widely, enhancing ecological resilience.
Related: LISTEN: Deniss Martinez on Indigenous science and cultural fire practices
