Tasmanian Wilderness
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Forestry /wood production
- Ground transport infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Potential construction of a dam (issue resolved)
- Commercial logging in areas adjacent to the World Heritage property.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1998**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998
For the Tasmanian Wilderness the State Party was asked to provide information on specific joint action undertaken by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments that may have implications for new proposals for boundary extensions to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. The Minister for the Environment in Australia has informed the Centre that there are a number of areas classified as Dedicated Reserve adjacent to the existing World Heritage area that may, under the terms of the 1997 Regional Forest Agreement, be available for boundary modification. However, as yet there have been no discussions between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments on this issue. The Minister has stated that he will keep the Centre informed of any progress in relation to possible boundary extensions.
Action Required
The Bureau, based on additional information that may be available at the time of the twenty-second session of the Bureau, may recommend appropriate actions to the consideration of the State Party and/or the Committee as well as the Centre and IUCN.
22nd extraordinary session of the Bureau in 1998:
At its last session (June 1998) the Bureau had requested the State Party to provide a timetable for the implementation of the Regional Forestry Agreement, including possible boundary extensions to the World Heritage site. The Australian authorities have informed the Centre that negotiations between the Tasmanian and the Commonwealth Governments for setting a timetable, potentially involving the extension of the boundaries of the World Heritage site, are underway. They have undertaken to provide the timetable when the two Governments reach an agreement.
Decision required: The Bureau may wish to adopt the following text and transmit it to the Committee for noting:
“The Bureau recommends that the Centre and IUCN maintain contacts with the Australian authorities to obtain information on the timetable once an agreement between the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments has been reached.”
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
At its twenty-first session, the Bureau had requested the State Party to provide a timetable for the implementation of the Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA), including possible boundary extensions to the World Heritage site. The Australian authorities have informed the Centre that negotiations between the Tasmanian and the Commonwealth Governments for setting a timetable, potentially involving the extension of the boundaries of the World Heritage site, are underway. They have undertaken to provide the timetable when the two Governments reach an agreement.
The Bureau requested the Centre to transmit the report from the Australian NGO’s to the State Party for review. The Bureau recommended that the Centre and IUCN maintain contacts with the Australian authorities to obtain information on the timetable for the implementation of the RFA once an agreement between the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments is reached.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 BUR V.B.37
Tasmanian Wilderness (Australia)
The Bureau noted that the Tasmanian Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA) signed by the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Governments on 8 November 1997, has enabled the following:
- establishment of a significantly increased reserve system for Tasmania’s Forest Estate;
- participation by the signatories in further World Heritage assessment of relevant Australia-wide themes; and
- initiation of discussions between the signatories on possibilities for further World Heritage nominations of parts of Forest Estate as “Dedicated Reserves”, or additions to the present World Heritage site.
The Bureau requested the State Party to keep the Centre informed of any potential boundary extensions that may be foreseen for the Tasmanian Wilderness and to provide a timetable for the implementation of the Regional Forestry Agreement, including possible boundary extensions to the World Heritage site.
22 COM VII.30
Reports on the State of Conservation of Mixed Properties Noted by the Committee
VII.30 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/5) and included in Annex IV on the following properties:
Tasmanian Wilderness (Australia)
Mount Taishan (China, Peoples Republic of)
Mount Huangshan (China, People's Republic of)
Ohrid Region with its Cultural and Historical Aspect and its Natural Environment (Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of)
Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (Mali)
Tongariro National Park (New Zealand).
No draft Decision
AustraliaDocuments examined by the Committee
22COM (1998)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
