Aboriginal communities will be supported to lead the protection and restoration of Country across NSW, backed by an $11.8 million investment from the NSW Government with a further $1.7 million from project partners.
The funding will support six Aboriginal communities to develop Whole-of-Country Management Plans, followed by 18 months of on-ground implementation, bringing together cultural knowledge, local experience and western science to improve biodiversity and deliver lasting benefits for Country and communities.
With biodiversity continuing to decline across NSW, the funding acknowledges the recognised need for Aboriginal-led, cross-tenure approaches to Caring for Country.
Led by the Natural Resources Commission and regional Aboriginal organisations, the project will develop Whole-of-Country plans in six areas to bring together communities, land managers and stakeholders across different land tenures.
It builds on a successful project with the Banbai Rangers and Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council, which demonstrated Aboriginal-led planning can strengthen cultural authority, improve collaboration and deliver practical outcomes for Country.
Aboriginal communities will lead the planning, design, on-ground works and early implementation of local solutions that heal Country and protect nature for future generations.
The NSW Environmental Trust is providing $11.8 million in funding for the project, which is one of the first five major environmental initiatives being delivered under the NSW Environmental Trust’s 2024 to 2029 Strategic Plan and reflects a new approach to funding strategic, long-term initiatives addressing significant environmental challenges.
The NSW Environmental Trust is investing $39.1 million in the five projects, and when combined with partners’ support, there will be more than $62 million in environmental, cultural and community benefits across NSW.
NSW Environmental Trust Director Katie Robinson said:
“Aboriginal people have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years, and this investment will support communities to lead that work into the future.
“By backing Whole-of-Country planning, we’re working at a cross-tenure landscape scale, combining cultural knowledge and science to deliver better outcomes for nature and communities across NSW.
“Protecting our environment takes practical action, strong partnerships and smart investment, and that’s exactly what each of the five major projects funded by the NSW Environmental Trust do.”
Natural Resources Commission Bryce Wilde Executive Director said:
“The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) is proud to work alongside Aboriginal communities through the Whole-of-Country Management for Healthy Country Program.
“The program recognises the knowledge and leadership of Aboriginal land managers and supports communities to have a strong voice in how Country is planned for, invested in and managed.
“By bringing regional Aboriginal land managers together to share knowledge and shape cultural land management priorities and investment strategies, the program will help improve biodiversity, strengthen environmental resilience and support healthier Country for future generations.”
Environmental Trust had 4 other successful major grant recipients
They are:
- Barkandji Native Title Prescribed Body Corporate and the Water, Wetlands and Coastal Science branch of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) – Darling Baaka River Health project ($4 million): Improving river health decision-making by combining cultural indicators, joint monitoring and predictive modelling for the Darling Baaka River.
- IndigiGrow – ACHIEVE project ($6 million): Supporting the conservation and expansion of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a critically endangered coastal vegetation community in Sydney, through living seedbanks, culturally informed propagation and specialised workforce training.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Domain Trust and Bundjalung Tribal Society – Seed and Culture Conservation project ($4.8 million): Establishing an Indigenous-led seed conservation system on Bundjalung Country to strengthen cultural knowledge, support ecological restoration and build climate resilience.
- Western Sydney University – Climate Adaptation Trials ($12.5 million): Establishing large-scale trials across NSW to identify species, seed sources and genetic traits best suited to future climate conditions.
