How we're managing through the COVID-19 pandemic

We are pleased to reassure all concerned that the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute (BMWHI) is unlikely to face any major financial or operational crises in relation to the Covid-19 Pandemic. However, we are making a few operational adjustments during this period.

Working online

All of our key staff and contractors have the capacity to communicate and collaborate online, and so we have transitioned our mode of operations to a fully online, working-from-home model for the foreseeable future.

Contacting us

We will not be holding face to face meetings during the pandemic, but we are still available and working during normal working hours and we welcome contact via email and phone. We can also arrange video conferences if that suits your mode of communication.

Honouring our Commitments

We have been reviewing our financial and operational commitments over the next few months.  We are confident we are able to meet our commitments without putting staff, volunteers or contractors at risk.

BMWHI is fortunate that our financial situation is secure thanks to the generous ongoing support of our major philanthropic partner Scenic World as well as our members: the Blue Mountains City Council and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

We have also received a substantial philanthropic donation from the Peter und Luise Hager Foundation as well as project grant funding from the Communities Environment Program, the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife and the Australian Heritage Grants program.

How our projects will be affected

UNDP PNG Protected Area Management Capacity Building Training 

This education and training program was originally intended to include the delivery of three face to face courses on the ground in Papua New Guinea. We are currently exploring options to see what components of the program we can deliver online. The in-person delivery of the training program will be postponed until after the pandemic has passed and when travelling to Papua New Guinea is deemed safe.

Citizen Science Ecological Monitoring program

We will be postponing all the group field expeditions of our Citizen Science ecological monitoring teams until it is deemed safe to do so. Fieldwork will be scaled back and strict distancing protocols will be put in place for conducting research out in the field.

In the meantime, we will use this down-time to confer with experts and follow advice to safely set up our new monitoring zones and sites; prepare new methodological instructions and induction packs for volunteers; upgrade our online channels including the BMWHI database and our BioCollect project hub; and start the development of our proposed Phone App.

Low Carbon Living

We will be postponing all in-person audits and coaching sessions until COVID-19 is under control. Our staff can conduct support sessions online and over the phone. In this context you can also continue to monitor your carbon reduction outcomes with our online Carbon Calculator.

All other programs

Our other programs can be maintained with staff, volunteers and contractors working online from home and, where necessary, undertaking safe individual fieldwork.

We hope you are keeping safe and well and we wish everyone the best during these difficult times.

Sincerely,

The BMWHI Team