THREATS TO THE ESCARPMENT

Despite its outstanding cultural and environmental heritage value, the Illawarra Escarpment faces many threats. Most escarpment land is in private hands, and the areas that are dedicated to conservation – particularly the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area – are poorly resourced and maintained.

Key threats include invasive animals such as deer, weedy plants, climate change, and inappropriate human activities. Activities such as mountain-bike riding, bushwalking, horse-riding, and land clearing can damage plants, disturb animals and destabilise or eventually destroy entire ecological communities. 

These threats are already altering the escarpment, increasing erosion and making life harder for local plants and animals. Without greater protection, the natural value of the escarpment as we know it today will decline significantly and may even collapse.

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Photo: burnt Cabbage Tree Palms above Thirroul