Caring for Country

Key information

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

• Cumberland Plain
• Shale Sandstone Transition Forest.

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.

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.

• 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. 

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.