Established in 2001, the Reserve is ecologically representative of the local Shoalhaven area, which is home to temperate rainforest and threatened species; such as the Brush-tailed rock-wallaby and the apex predator, the tiger quoll.

The geological basin is filled with sandstones and shales from the Permian to Triassic periods that overlies older basement rocks of the Lachlan Fold Belt.

[2] The southern part of the Sydney basin, the Permian deposits, are subdivided into two major units, the Shoalhaven Group and the Illawarra Coal Measures.

The Berry Mountain Section of Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve has private dams that provide water to nearby residences.

[11] Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve has mixed habitats but is dominated by coastal hinterland subtropical warm temperate rainforest consisting mainly of coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetulum) which occurs in protected slopes and gullies.

[12] Other common trees showing dominance in this region includes red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), the scribbly gum (Eucalyptus sclerophylla), brown barrel (E. fastigata), Sydney peppermint (E. piperita), silver quandong, brown beech (Pennantia cunninghamii), soapy box (Citronella moorei), and giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa).Small patches of Southern Escarpment Shrub/Fern/Herb Moist Forest also occur in these areas, dominated by brown barrel E. fastigata, whitetopped box E. quadrangulata and river peppermint E. elata.

Two endangered plant species Solanum celatum and Cryptostylis hunteriana (vulnerable orchid) were also recorded in the Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve.

[1] The tall shrubland dominated by Melaleuca linariifolia, together with Leptospermum polygalifolium and Leptomeria acida on plateau tops of Black ash and Red Rocks sections shows significance due to restricted distribution.

[12] The Berry Mountain section of Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve[14] showed three separate groupings: firstly, mixed subtropical/warm temperate rainforest on boulder and scree slope, with silver quandong Elaeocarpus kirtonii, maidens blush Sloanea australis and brush cherry Syzygium australe on deeper soil secondly, warm temperate rainforest of coachwood, crabapple Schizomeria ovata, sassafras, jackwood Cryptocarya glaucescens, bolly gum Litsea reticulata and lilly pilly on shallower soils and lastly, dry rainforest of whalebone tree Streblus brunonianus, deciduous fig Ficus henneana, red olive-berry Elaeodendron australe, grey myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia and water gum Tristaniopsis laurina on shallowest soils subject to water stress.

Several endangered native animal species are found in Camberwarra Range Nature Reserve which includes eastern bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus), brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata), sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa), powerful owl (Ninox strenua), giant burrowing frog (Heleioporus australiacus), olive whistler (Pachycephala olivacea), spotted-tail quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), eastern bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) and long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus).

[12] Also, faunal surveys (using remote cameras and hair funnel traps) conducted by citizen scientists (staff and students from the University of Wollongong) since 2014 have revealed the following common native species in abundance: swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor), bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), Eastern swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus), brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii), ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), and sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).

For example, clearing and incursion weed, agricultural pest control and introduced predators such as cats and foxes may affect the fauna and flora in the nature reserve.

Lantana is a most common incursion weed type in wet forest margins of Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve.

[1] This area contains the Endangered Ecological Community known as the Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest (in the Sydney Basin Bioregion); see Schedule 2, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 no 63.

[15] The Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest is one of ten priority management sites which have been identified by the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage.

The total site area is 1,322 (ha) The developmental control of this Reserve is effectively exercised by the director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW).

Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve management objectives are to protect and conserve the biodiversity, the geological features and the cultural values of landscapes.

Other land management issues include encroachment and introduction of weeds, invasion by feral cats, foxes and other introduced animals.

There is a degree of difficulty in achieving effective fire protection, in avoiding disturbance from trail bikes and quads, and there can be pollution of streams (spillage, fertiliser runoff) and illegal forest clearing for timber that is sold for furniture manufacture, housing, fencing and boutique firewood use, like the special aromas coming from certain wood-fired ovens.

It is now widely regarded that key objectives of many programmes, which seek to maintain ecosystem function, should include strategies to conserve such carnivores.

Thus, continued monitoring, and where applicable, the eradication of pest species such as foxes, cats and dogs, including the use of poison ground baits, is recommended.

The study also highlights the relationships between clearing of native habitat and the spread of introduced species[17] Seeking data: images of sugar gliders Uncle Frank Mumbler from the South Coast of NSW, Australia.

This film, and many other recordings made in 1987, 88 and 89, are with The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) - a world-renowned research, collections and publishing organisation.

AIATSIS promotes "knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions, languages and stories, past and present".