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.
Project updates
December 2025
In December, a collaborative event was held at Teresa James Reserve in Claremont Meadows with project partner Penrith City Council. This event focused on Caring for Country outcomes through traditional and cultural land management practices, involving cultural burns and structural thinning to remedy the imbalance of unhealthy Country.
This event on Country brought Local Land Services together with:
- community members
- Penrith City Council
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Participants learned how Phytophthora, a soil-borne pathogen, affects landscapes and more broadly Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands. They also learned how it spreads through human and natural movement, highlighting that cultural land management practices and Western science can work together in protecting and Caring for Country.
A highlight was the demonstration by Alice, a trained detection dog, who successfully identified Phytophthora in prepared sample pots before the group then walked the site as Alice searched for potential infections on Country. The event showcased innovative biosecurity tools and reinforced the importance of early detection in protecting and caring for Country.
Over summer, Local Land Services with Penrith City Council, had the pleasure of hosting representatives from Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Together, the group visited critically endangered Cumberland Plains Woodland sites – small but vital pockets of habitat surrounded by urban development. These areas not only support native plants and animals but remain deeply significant to the Dharug and other First Nations peoples.
Topics explored included:
- the challenges of conservation in urban landscapes
- the importance of connecting remnant vegetation
- how cultural practices help restore these precious ecosystems.
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. All outcomes for this project are recorded in MERIT.
For project enquires, contact the Greater Sydney Aboriginal Communities Team at gs.service@lls.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 795 299
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