Restoring Country and Ecosystems: Highlights from the Cumberland Plain Restoration Workshop

“Working together is the only way we can be successful.” - Paul Rymer

On Monday 19 May 2025, the Cumberland Plain Research Program hosted a full-day Restoration Workshop at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Campus in Richmond. The event brought together more than 30 participants, including researchers, First Nations Knowledge Holders, government agencies, restoration practitioners, and industry partners.

Together, we explored how to restore threatened ecosystems at scale - an urgent priority across the fast-changing Cumberland Plain. The workshop centred on three guiding principles: restoration must be grounded in science, guided by Country, and informed by those doing the work on the ground.

Participants engaged in presentations, site visits, and working group discussions. Morning sessions shared new research and unpacked persistent challenges in ecological restoration. A highlight was the tour of experimental field sites, where participants saw firsthand how applied science is shaping restoration practice.

Afternoon sessions created space for dialogue and priority-setting, focusing on restoring grassy ecosystems, strengthening native seed supply, and ensuring First Nations knowledge is meaningfully embedded from the outset.

The day was a true team effort. Thank you to everyone who made the event possible, and to all participants for your insights, energy, and generosity in sharing your experience.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and strengthening the partnerships that are essential to successful restoration across the Cumberland Plain.