Following an announcement by the then NSW Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Bob Debus in March 2007, the Great Eastern Ranges initiative began its journey with a small team in the former NSW Department of Environment and Conservation with funding from the NSW Environmental Trust. Surveys and analysis of satellite images were used to identify connectivity gaps and threats. In response, five regional partnerships were established in NSW that included community organisations, government agencies. local government, landholders, Aboriginal groups, research organisations and businesses.