Ep 46 Fire ecology and cultural fire management | Dr Ursula Rodrigues

In this episode, I sit down with Ursula Rodrigues, a fire ecologist whose PhD research explores the intersection of Western ecological science and Indigenous knowledge systems. Through close collaboration with Noongar Elders, families, and land caretakers, Ursula has helped advance a two-way learning approach to cultural fire management, using methods such as ecological monitoring, mapping, and yarning to build a deeper understanding of how people can care for Country.   

Together, we explore the ancient role of fire in Australian landscapes, how native plants have adapted to fire over millions of years, and how cultural burning practices differ from modern prescribed burning. We discuss the incredible complexity of Indigenous fire knowledge, from reading seasonal cues and individual plant needs to making place-based decisions that consider animals, people, and entire ecosystems. We also unpack the challenges of restoring cultural fire practices, the importance of collaboration between Indigenous communities and scientists, and what the future of fire management might look like in a changing world.