Caring for Country

Partnering with First Nations communities to care for threatened ecological communities on Country across the Cumberland Plain.

Last updated: 03 May 2025

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Project overview

Natural Heritage Trust

Status: In progress

The Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC) of this project include:

Cumberland Plain facts:

Threat level: critically endangered.
Cumberland Plain supports extensive ecological diversity and is culturally significant.
Without responsible fire management practices, this type of Country experiences declining health.
Less than 6% of the Cumberland Plain Woodland vegetation type is left in the world.
Some of the diverse plants and animals in the area include:
- critically endangered regent honeyeater
- critically endangered swift parrot
- endangered nodding geebung shrub (found nowhere else in the world)
- endangered Cumberland Plain land snail.

Project background

First Nations people hold a deep sense of responsibility through their connection to Country to ensure the features and beings within it – land, water, fire, animals, plants, places, natural features and even seasons – are cared for with a deep dignity and abiding respect.

The Natural Heritage Trust Caring for Country project comprises First Nations led projects working alongside public land managers in the Cumberland Plain to restore health and balance to this part of Country, for generations to come.

Project objectives

The aim of this project is to:

empower First Nations communities to continue Care for Country through continuing traditional land management practices, ensuring the ecological communities in focus return to health
enhance the structural balance and diversity of the open woodland, increasing presence of grasses and herbaceous layer, and protect canopies, in the TECs
preserve and protect native plants and animals, including threatened species
support an ongoing partnership of caring for Country between First Nations communities and land managers in the TEC areas.

These objectives are focused through the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Shale Woodland and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest, along with Shale Sandstone Transition Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion. Cultural, social and economic benefits for First Nations communities are integral to supporting this important work into the future.

Both vegetation communities are listed as Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) and are identified as Priority Places under the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022–2032.

Project delivery

Work on the Caring for Country project includes:

empowering the Dharug, Dharawal and Gundungurra Traditional Owners alongside connected First Nations peoples, to be the voice for, and continue cultural practice on Country
enacting Caring for Country practices such as low intensity cultural burns to improve cultural, social and ecological outcomes within the TECs
enabling traditional ecological knowledge sharing events for First Nations peoples
engaging First Nations community through education events
strengthening connections between land managers and local First Nations communities, sharing knowledge, skills and experience to support ongoing sustainable and cultural led land management practices.

Project timeline

2023–24:

areas in Country identified supported with vegetation mapping
surveying of current vegetation structure
First Nations engagement
assessing Country within planned work sites
discussions with land managers about planned works.

2024–26:

delivery of Caring for Country practices commences including:
- cultural burning
- access to Country
- knowledge sharing events.

2026–27:

continue to grow Caring for Country practices with existing and new sites
begin transition of First Nations communities and land managers to continue collaborative Caring for Country practices.

2027–28:

continue Caring for Country practices at work sites
animal survey (landscape renewal monitoring)
Traditional Owner and landholder field days
project close (30 Jun 2028)
outcomes reporting.

Work underway

Engagement and consultation with local First Nations communities and public land managers are underway to determine suitable work activities for the project period.

How to get involved

General community participation is not available for this project. However, you can learn more about Caring for Country and helping to restore ecological habitats on your own property by accessing information and resources from our regional web pages.  

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Funding and partnerships

Our key delivery partners are:

Dharug, Dharawal and Gundungurra and connected First Nations communities

First Nations businesses

public land managers.

This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by Greater Sydney Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.