Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, Central Highlands
|
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| Location | Tasmania, Australia |
| Criteria | Cultural: iii, iv, vi, vii; natural: viii, ix, x |
| Inscription | 1982 (6th Session) |
| Extensions | 1989 |
| Area | 1,584,233 ha |
| Map showing the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. | |
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is a very special place in Tasmania, Australia. It is a huge area of protected land, almost 20% of Tasmania! This wilderness is one of the last big areas of wild, natural land in the world that has a mild climate. It includes the famous South West Wilderness.
In 2014, the Australian government at the time wanted to remove this area from the World Heritage list. This would have allowed trees to be cut down inside the protected zone. This was a big deal because it would have been the first time a rich country removed a site for money reasons. But the World Heritage Committee said no. Then, in 2016, the Tasmanian government also stopped trying to allow logging after a report from UNESCO (the United Nations group that protects these sites) said it was a bad idea.
What Makes This Wilderness Special?
This amazing area is one of Australia's largest protected zones. It covers about 15,800 square kilometers. That's nearly 20% of the entire island of Tasmania! It became even bigger in 1989 and 2013. It's one of the few large areas of wild, mild-climate land left on Earth.
The Tasmanian Wilderness has deep valleys and steep gorges. These were shaped by glaciers a long, long time ago. Scientists have found signs that people lived in the limestone caves here more than 20,000 years ago. This shows how important the area is for human history too.
Protecting the Wilderness
The Tasmanian Wilderness is a World Heritage Site because it has both amazing natural beauty and important history. Being a World Heritage Site means it is protected by international rules. This helps keep it safe for future generations.
In 2014, the Australian government wanted to change the rules for this area. They asked to remove it from the World Heritage list. This would have allowed logging, which means cutting down trees, inside the protected area. Many people were worried about this. It would have been the first time a developed country removed a site for economic reasons.
However, the World Heritage Committee met in Qatar and said no to the plan. They decided that the Tasmanian Wilderness should stay protected. The Australian government then said they would respect this decision. Later, in 2016, the Tasmanian government also decided not to allow logging in the area. This happened after UNESCO, the group that helps manage World Heritage Sites, said it was against their ideas for the area.
Parks and Reserves
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is made up of several national parks and other protected areas. These parks work together to keep this special wilderness safe. Here are some of them:
- Central Plateau Conservation and Protected Areas
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
- Devils Gullet State Reserve
- Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
- Hartz Mountains National Park
- Mole Creek Karst National Park
- South East Mutton Bird Islet
- Southwest National Park
- Walls of Jerusalem National Park
- Mt Field National Park
See also
In Spanish: Reserva natural de Tasmania para niños
