As the season of Barrkana progresses, smoke starts to appear on the horizon.

But these aren't wildfires.

They're carefully conducted traditional burns.

OK, yeah, this is the spot we might do.

Smith: For countless generations, First Nations people have used fire to manage Country.

These burning practices are a conversation between people and the land.

The wind, soil, animals and trees all inform us of when and how to burn, and no two places are the same.

Burning in the cool, dry season keeps the fires low and the burn scars small.

[Bird calling] [Music] Smith: It preserves the food, shelter and nesting trees that so many animals rely on.

The burned areas also create a patchwork of fire breaks.

If we don't reduce the fuel load now, lightning storms will spark catastrophic wildfires later in the year.

[Fire roaring] When Europeans forced our traditional owners from their land, the long-running burning practices were severed.

For decades, late-season wildfires ravaged the landscape, pushing many species towards extinction.

Creatures like the Gouldian finch now hang on by a thread.

These tiny rainbows used to flock all over our savannas in their thousands.

But years of hot fires have destroyed their food source and the old trees with their precious nesting hollows.

Managing fire is key to preserving the ecosystems, and First Nations people have understood this for thousands of years.

[Indistinct radio transmission] Recently, ecologists have studied the traditional burning techniques and recognized how effective they are.

[Helicopter blades whirring] Now they're working with traditional owners, combining modern technology and timeless wisdom to apply these practices on a huge scale.

[Indistinct radio transmission] And the rewards of all this hard work are being seen all over the Kimberley.

[Animals calling]