Gondwana Rainforests of Australia

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia *

Box Log Falls, Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia.
Country Australia
Type Natural
Criteria viii, ix, x
Reference 368
Region ** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1986 (10th Session)
Extensions 1994
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia formerly known as the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, are the most extensive area of subtropical rainforest in the world.[1] The reserve includes 50 separate reserves totaling 3,665 square km, clustered around the New South Wales - Queensland border.[2]

The Gondwana Rainforests are so-named because the fossil record indicates that when Gondwana existed it was covered by rainforests containing the same kinds of species that are living today. The number of visitors to the reserve is about 2 million per year.[1]

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Conservation value

The forests were inscribed to the World Heritage list in 1986, covering only the New South Wales sites of approximately 3108 km虏 and extended in 1994 to cover the Queensland sites of approximately 592 km虏 which is a total of approximately 3700km虏. The rainforest reserves have an extremely high conservation value, with more than 200 rare or threatened plant and animal species.[2]

Eight separate areas have been identified as having outstanding heritage significance to Australia and are included on the Australian National Heritage List.[3] The altitude of the reserves ranges from sea level to almost 1,600 m (5,200 ft).[4]

National Parks

The Queensland areas include Lamington National Park, Mount Chinghee National Park, Springbrook National Park, Mount Barney National Park and Main Range National Park.

The New South Wales areas include Barrington Tops National Park, Dorrigo National Park, Mount Warning National Park, New England National Park, Mebbin National Park, Nightcap National Park, Border Ranges National Park, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Washpool National Park, Willi Willi National Park and Werrikimbe National Park.[5]

The most heavily visited parts are Dorrigo National Park and the Natural Bridge section of Springbrook National Park.[4]

Australian National Heritage List areas

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are divided into sections as below for listing on the Australian National Heritage List.

Main Range Group

Near Killarney, Queensland

Focal Peak Group

On the New South Wales鈥擰ueensland border

Shield Volcano Group

On the New South Wales鈥擰ueensland border on the McPherson Range and Tweed Ranges

Iluka Nature Reserve

Iluka Nature Reserve is on the coast at Iluka, New South Wales.

Washpool and Gibraltar Range

Contiguous areas between Glen Innes, New South Wales and Grafton, New South Wales

New England Group

Near Dorrigo, New South Wales

Hastings-Macleay Group

Southeast of Armidale, New South Wales

Barrington Tops Area

North of Dungog, New South Wales

See also

New South Wales portal
Queensland portal

References

External links