I think managed is an appropriate word which describes the process the indigenous people applied to the land. They not only farmed on the land, but the use of controlled burns helped renew the area after it had been used. After farming in an area, it will deplete nutrients in the soil. If you want to use that area again in the future, you will have to have some sort of long term understanding of the land to regenerate the area.

Those fires also help guide wildlife to previously used, burned and planted areas ensuring the wildlife is not wiped out in the process. And since the burns are low heat, this helps get rid off weedy overgrowth, open seed pods and prepare the area for a new growth cycle. I assume there will be lots of bugs and micro-fauna survive underground to help kick start the renewal process quickly after a burn occurs. Managing this cycle requires a lot of effort. Especially if you consider that this was happening all over Australia by many different communities.

Australia was described to be green and beautiful by the first European settlers who arrived there. Without indigenous intervention, the land has been trampled and ruined by European farming practices. Now we have the red desert many people imagine when they think of Australia.

If you want to know more, I'd suggest watching This 14 minute mini-documentary which briefly covers things nicely with sources.

I think what bothers me most about this comment is that there seems to be a recurring theme I'm seeing on lemmy. Whenever there is a post or comment about indigenous peoples, there will be someone quick to post minimizing and belittling statements about indigenous peoples. These statements never have any supporting evidence and from my perspective seem to be aimed at erasing indigenous culture, history, efforts, achievements and dignity.

If anything, now more than ever, we need to learn from these communities. We may have lost an incredible amount of indigenous/local land knowledge due to unchecked colonialist pursuits, but there is still knowledge out there by people willing to share. We shouldn't ignore or erase these peoples because someone else told us they are simple barbarians.