A major research project led by Western Sydney University will help restore and future-proof NSW's grassy woodland ecosystems as the climate changes.
The NSW Government is investing $12.5 million in the project, with a further $9.6 million from project partners bringing the total to $22.1 million.
The project will establish large-scale trials across NSW to identify which native species, seed sources and genetic traits are best suited to future climate conditions.
NSW's grassy woodland ecosystems have been extensively cleared over the past 250 years, leaving many areas with only small, isolated remnants of original vegetation. Clearing reduces habitat connectivity, limits species movement and genetic diversity, and increases vulnerability to climate change.
Restoring ecosystems is essential for protecting biodiversity, storing carbon and ensuring healthy seed supplies for future restoration projects.
By combining field surveys, genomic analysis, reciprocal transplant experiments and restoration trials, the team will develop practical tools and evidence to guide climate-resilient woodland restoration across NSW.
The project will generate new evidence on how species, traits and genetic diversity shape ecosystem resilience under climate change, helping improve seed selection and increase the success of large-scale restoration projects.
The research will support the restoration of healthy, functioning ecosystems that provide benefits for biodiversity, carbon storage and climate-ready seed production. It will also deliver practical guidance, partnerships and demonstration sites to inform policy, investment decisions and on-ground restoration.
It 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.
Together with in-kind support, these projects will deliver more than $62 million in environmental, cultural and community benefits across NSW.
NSW Environmental Trust Director Katie Robinson said:
"Restoring our grassy woodlands is essential for protecting biodiversity, storing carbon and building resilience to climate change. This investment will help ensure restoration projects across NSW are guided by the best available science.
"By identifying the plants and seed sources most likely to thrive in future conditions, this research will help us restore healthier ecosystems that can support nature for generations to come.
"The five successful projects will deliver benefits across NSW by supporting biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, ecosystem restoration and better management of our landscapes and waterways."
Western Sydney University Associate Professor Paul Rymer said:
"We're effectively building a platform for climate-smart restoration, helping communities, land managers and governments make better decisions about what to plant, where and why.
"The research will help unlock the adaptive capacity and knowledge needed to give restored ecosystems the best chance of thriving in a changing climate."
The other four successful projects 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.
- Natural Resources Commission - Whole-of-Country Management for Healthy Country project ($11.8 million): A seven-year initiative supporting seven NSW Aboriginal communities to lead cross-tenure natural resource management and care for Country.
- 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.
