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Tasmania's precious forests protected forever
- Published_at:2013-06-24
- Category:Education
- Channel:DeptEnvironment
- tags:
- description: Tasmania's Giant Trees and Tall Eucalypt Forests gain World Heritage status Federal environment minister Tony Burke today welcomed the acceptance by the World Heritage Committee of the Australian Government's proposal for a boundary extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. "I am delighted the World Heritage Committee has chosen to agree with our proposal to add over 170 000 hectares to one of Australia's most remarkable and outstanding world heritage environments. "The nomination of a boundary extension for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area was a key environmental outcome of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement and I welcome the World Heritage Committee's recognition of the Australian Government's commitment to the protection of Tasmanian Forests. "This extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area means areas of exceptional beauty, particularly its majestic stands of tall eucalypt forests, glacial landforms and alpine and sub-alpine environments are now afforded the highest level of protection. Areas to be included in the boundary extension include old growth forests areas in the Upper Florentine and areas within the Styx, Huon, Picton and Counsel River Valleys which have long been of scientific interest to the World Heritage Committee. "The boundary extension will significantly enhance the wet eucalypt forests within the property and will enhance the connection between its tall eucalypt forest and rainforest" "The Styx-Tyenna area contains the greatest concentration of these trees in the world. "World Heritage protection makes an important contribution to the maintenance and protection of this superlative natural phenomenon. Few people realise that Tasmania has the world's tallest flowering plant Eucalyptus regnans. "Additional important habitat for rare and threatened species such as the endangered wedge-tailed eagle and the Tasmanian Devil are also included in the boundary extension. The Great Western Tiers are an important breeding ground for the endangered white form of the Grey Goshawk. "The new boundary also adds to the representation of the glacial features and processes in the World Heritage Area, including landforms which contain evidence of glacial movement along the Walls of Jerusalem and Central Plateau millions of years ago. "These remarkable and internationally recognised areas of exceptional beauty and importance will be protected under Australia's national environment law not only for future Australian generations but for the world. "While I am happy that the boundary modification has been accepted, I accept that the decision reflects that there is more work to do to document and manage the cultural values. "There are a number of significant sites of Aboriginal cultural heritage value recorded within the boundary extension, however further work is required to better understand and articulate how these contribute to Outstanding Universal Value. "I am committed to progressing this work in consultation with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community through a culturally sensitive process. I have announced $500,000 of funding for a study of the outstanding universal cultural values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, including those areas within the new boundary. "The past seven months has seen two incredible achievements for the protection of Tasmanian's remarkable forests environment. "I would to take this opportunity to once again thank all involved with the Tasmanian Forest Agreement and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area boundary extension nomination for their commitment and dedication to our long journey towards a sustainable Tasmanian forests industry and protection for its outstanding forests and other world heritage values," Mr Burke said. For more information on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area go to http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/tasmanian-wilderness/index.html
| ranked in date | views | likes | Comments | ranked in country (#position) |
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| 2013-06-25 | 1,153 | 31 | 3 |
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