Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest – Community action, education and capacity building.
The Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest is a threatened ecosystem facing ongoing pressures from land use, invasive species, and lack of community awareness. In response, a partnership led by Hawkesbury River County Council and HNLN has delivered education, citizen science, and community engagement initiatives—culminating in Bilpin Environment Day—to build local capacity and support long-term conservation efforts.
Capacity building - LEP23-015_LLC
The issue
The Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest is an endangered ecological community located in Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains. It is evident that this sensitive ecosystem is under constant threat of degradation due to surrounding land uses/disturbances, a lack of education around what it is and how its managed among landholders, invasive weeds being present in the region and pest animals, mainly household cats. Threats like these cause key threatened species like the greater glider to be at further risk of death, injury and habitat loss. It is more important than ever to educate the community and support the protection of this important ecosystem.
The solution
Hawkesbury River County Council (HRCC) partnered with the Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network (HNLN) to provide land management support to local landholders and build community capacity through education and training, funded by NSW Environmental Trust. Students from Bilpin Public School participated in bush excursions with HNLN and Hooked on Nature, engaging in citizen science to deepen their understanding of the Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest (BMSCF). HNLN also equipped and trained Mountains for Wildlife and local volunteers. The initiative culminated in Bilpin Environment Day, attracting over 120 attendees and 16 environmental stallholders, fostering community engagement, knowledge sharing, and support for local conservation initiatives.
The impact
Bilpin Environment Day gave local conservation efforts for the BMSCF a valuable boost by connecting landholders with land management groups and bush regeneration experts. The event fostered collaboration, encouraged knowledge exchange, and laid the groundwork for ongoing habitat restoration. Since the event, numerous follow-up discussions and initiatives have emerged, further advancing conservation goals. The principal of Bilpin Public School expressed appreciation for the opportunity, noting that students have since shown increased curiosity and enthusiasm for observing and engaging with the natural environment—a promising sign of growing awareness and stewardship among the next generation.
Project lead organisations and partners
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) was the applicant for this project funding. BMCC remains a joint delivery partner and lead agency for this project, with the support from HRCC and HNLN.