The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is gearing up to host its much-anticipated 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium in Sydney August 31 - September 9. The overarching theme, "Heritage Changes," is a clarion call to examine the dynamic shifts shaping the 2020s and the pivotal role heritage plays in driving positive change and fostering a sustainable future. Find out more here.
It is our great pleasure to formally announce the appointment of Jane Powles as our CEO. Jane brings an impressive skill set, experience and background to the role, including executive leadership, policy development and advocacy in a range of for-purpose organisations. Jane comes with a strong passion for working collaboratively to drive change for a more just, equitable and sustainable world and is looking forward to supporting conservation efforts in the region.
After 2 years of teaching online, we are thrilled to once again be able to offer our field-based course on Applying the Conservation Standards.
From 12th -16th September 2022 we will be hosting conservation professionals from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific at the Katoomba Convention Centre for a 5 day intensive, collaborative learning experience in residence and in nature. Registrations of interest are now open, with enrolments closing at the end of July.
In late 2020, the Protected Areas Collaboration for Learning & Research (PAC) was established as a joint venture between the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. In 2021, The Nature Conservancy also joined the venture through a Memorandum of Understanding. A comprehensive update on the activities and initiatives of the PAC joint venture can be viewed here: https://www.bmwhi.org/protected-areas-collaboration
The Institute is pleased to support the release of the independent documentary ‘Mining the Blue Mountains’ by filmmaker James O’Connor, investigating mining pollution in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
The film features Dr Ian Wright, a BMWHI research associate and WSU water scientist who has been studying pollution from mines and the related impact on waterways in the World Heritage Area for over ten years.
The Institute has been awarded a grant of $130,000 from the Australian Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources through their Bushfire Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat Community Grants Program.
The project will engage scientists and the community in conducting critical post-fire fieldwork in the Grose Valley region of the Blue Mountains, to inform remedial actions and preparations for future fire events.
The Greater Blue Mountains will share in $13 million of Morrison Government funding to support habitat and wildlife recovery in the wake last summer’s bushfires.
Minister for the Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley, announced the funding allocation in Springwood on November 23 where she and Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, thanked organisations, including BMWHI, involved in the bushfire recovery process.
The Protected Areas Collaboration for Learning & Research (PAC) has announced a new joint venture agreement with partners the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute.
The collaboration brings together organisations, experts and practitioners dedicated to growing education, research and learning for heritage protection, stewardship, conservation management and capacity development for protected areas in Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
The Federal Government will provide $142,000 to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute under the Heritage Grants Program for a project that will develop a monitoring system for endangered upland swamps within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
This Commonwealth Heritage Grant is of enormous value in helping support the conservation of the critically endangered upland swamps of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
The NSW Government has commissioned an independent expert inquiry into the 2019-20 bushfire season, seeking advice and input ahead of the next bushfire season.
The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute submission to the NSW Bushfire Inquiry has outlined four key recommendations, spanning fire management practices, funding and communication recommendations. Read our full submission and learn more about the bushfire inquiry in this article.
The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute has established an exciting education and training partnership with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority of Papua New Guinea, funded by the United Nations Development Program.
Through this partnership, BMWHI will deliver a capacity building program to help train customary landowners and CEPA to effectively manage the network of protected areas in Papua New Guinea.
On Clean up Australia Day 2020, staff and volunteers from BMWHI and Scenic World will join the Blue Mountains City Council and the Garguree Swampcare group in a clean up of the Maple Grove Park area next to Katoomba Falls.
This will involve more than picking up rubbish, we will also be weeding and conducting general remediation to help swamp conservation. All interested members of the community are encouraged to join us and support the excellent work of Swampcare.
Dr John Merson and Dr Rosalie Chapple have been invited to represent BMWHI and the Australian Committee for the IUCN in a series of ministerial roundtables reviewing the impacts of bushfires on Australian world heritage sites.
Chaired by Environment Minister Sussan Ley and including the Threatened Species Commissioner, Dr Sally Box, these roundtables are helping shape the federal government’s wildlife and habitat recovery strategies.
