Tasmanian Wilderness
| Tasmanian Wilderness* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| State Party |  Australia
|
| Type | Mixed |
| Criteria | iii, iv, vi, vii, viii, ix, x |
| Reference | 181 |
| Region** | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1982 (6th Session) |
| Extensions | 1989 |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. | |
The Tasmanian Wilderness is a term that is sometimes used for the World Heritage Area in South West, Western and Central Tasmania, Australia.
There are also other areas in Tasmania that have the elements of being Wilderness areas, and there is also an organisation that has been known as the Tasmanian Wilderness Society.
The World Heritage Area is one of the largest conservation areas in Australia, covering 13,800 km², or almost 20% of Tasmania.
The area constitutes one of the last expanses of temperate wilderness in the world, including the renowned South_West_Wilderness.
Remains found in limestone caves attest to the human occupation of the area for well over 20,000 years.
Overview
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area on the Australian island of Tasmania is one of the country's largest protected areas. It is comprised of multiple variously designated protected areas such as national parks, conservation areas, state and forest reserves, and historical preservation areas, totaling approximately 1.38 million hectares (3.41 million acres), or about 20 percent of Tasmania's total land area. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1982, with UNESCO extending its area in 1989 to its present boundaries. Within the area are natural, cultural and historical features of global significance.
In it is contained alpine vegetation, extensive tracts of tall eucalypt forest, and one of the last expanses of temperate rainforest in the world. These provide habitats for a range of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world, including many rare and endangered species. In addition, a high proportion of Tasmania's karst areas, glacial landscapes and known archaeological sites also occurs within the area.
A rich and complex geology has created landforms of immense beauty. There is evidence within its limestone caves of human habitation for tens of thousands of years. In addition, Tasmania’s first penal colony in Macquarie Harbour, which operated from 1822 to 1833, is part of the protected area.
Geology
Flora and fauna
Historic Heritage
Protected areas
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is a contiguous network of reserved lands that extends over much of southwestern, western, and central Tasmania. In addition to constituting one of the last expanses of temperate rainforest in the world, the region contains alpine, sclerophyll, buttongrass moorland, and grassland and grassy woodland communities. Remains found in limestone caves attest to the human occupation of the area for more than 20,000 years.
The following protected areas, totaling 1,383,640 hectares (3,419,049 acres), are included in the UNESCO site:
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park - 161,000 ha
- Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park - 440,120 ha
- Southwest National Park - 605,000 ha
- Walls of Jerusalem National Park - 51,800 ha
- Hartz Mountains National Park - 7,140 ha
- Mole Creek Karst National Park
- Reserves
- Devils Gullet State Reserve - 806 ha
- Marakoopa Cave State Reserve - 790 ha
- Liffey Falls State Reserve (partially contained) 20 ha
- Farm Cove Game Reserve - 1,720 ha
- Meander Forest Reserve - 1,660 ha
- Liffey Forest Reserve - 1,055 ha
- Drys Bluff Forest Reserve - 680 ha
- Conservation areas
- Central Plateau Conservation Area - 89,200 ha
- Southwest Conservation Area - 616 ha
- Adamsfield Conservation Area - 5,400 ha
- Marble Hill Conservation Area - 77 ha
- Historic sites
- Macquarie Harbour Historic Site - 15,300 ha
- Wargata Mina Protected Archaeological Site - 155 ha
- Maxwell River Protected Archaeological Site - 560 ha
- Other designated areas
- Maatsuyker Island (Commonwealth freehold) - 180 ha
- St. Clare Lagoon - 29 ha
- Privately-owned land 320 ha
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair is a national park in the Central Highlands areaof Tasmania (Australia), 165 km northwest of Hobart. The park contains many walking trails, most well known of which is the Overland Track. Major features of the park are Lake St Clair and to the north, Cradle Mountain. This park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Access from the south (Lake St. Clair) is usually from Derwent Bridge on the Lyell Highway. Northern access (Cradle Valley) is usually via Sheffield, Wilmot or Mole Creek.
In 2005, the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service introduced a booking system & fee for use of the Overland Track over peak periods.
The Tasmanian Government has moved to allow development in national parks and conservations areas. An 'In principle' permit has been granted for the establishment of an 'eco-friendly' resort at Pumphouse Point at Lake St Clair.
The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a significant location of Tasmania's endemic species - 40-55% of the park's documented alpine flora is endemic. Furthermore, 68% of the higher rainforest species recorded in alpine areas in Tasmania are present in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The park's alpine vegetation is very diverse and, has largely escaped forest fires that have caused neighboring regions to suffer.
Animals present in the park include: pademelons, Bennett's wallabies, wombats, possums, ravens and currawongs.
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers is a national park in Tasmania (Australia), 117 km west of Hobart. It is named after the two main river systems lying within the bounds of the park - the Franklin River and the Gordon River.
The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park lies between the Central Highlands and West Coast Range of Tasmania in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It is dissected by the only road to pass through this area - the Lyell Highway.
The genesis of the Wild Rivers National Park was in the earlier Frenchmans Cap National Park which had the Franklin River as its boundary on the northern and western borders. Frenchmans Cap is a dominant feature in the region, and can be seen on the skyline from the west and north of the park.
The Gordon and Franklin Rivers were the subject of one of Australia's largest conservation battles - the battle to save the Gordon River from being dammed for a hydro-electric scheme.
The Franklin Dam was part of a proposed hydro-electric power scheme that had been in the plans of The Hydro for some time. But it was the enthusiastic endorsement by Robin Gray's Liberal Government which would have seen the river flooded. It became a national issue for the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, led by its director at the time, Bob Brown.
The Lyell Highway winds for 56 kilometres through the heart of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Hartz Mountains National Park
Hartz Mountains is a national park in Tasmania (Australia), 55 km southwest of Hobart. The National Parks is usually covered with snow in winter, with access limited only to 4WDs. Only experienced walkers should walk the tracks (Lake Esperence - 90 Minutes Return and Hartz Peak - 4-5 hours return) in winter. When the snow melts in late spring the waterfalls that surround the park are beautiful and abundant in wildlife. It is one of 20 Tasmanian National Parks.
Mole Creek Karst National Park
Mole Creek Karst is a national park in Tasmania (Australia), 168 km northwest of Hobart. It is the only national park in Tasmania created specifically to protect karst landforms.
Southwest National Park
The Southwest National Park is located in the south-west of Tasmania, Australia.
The eastern boundary is 93km west of Hobart and the park stretches to the west and south coasts. This park comprises the bulk of Tasmania's South West Wilderness.
The Southwest National Park covers an area of 6,052km² (605,213 hectares) and forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The park is well known for its pristine wilderness and remoteness, while weather in the park is highly changeable, and can be severe. The area is largely unaffected by humans. Although evidence shows Tasmanian Aborigines have visited the area for at least 25,000 years, and European settlers have made occasional forays into the park area since the 19th century, there has been very little permanent habitation and only minimal impact on the natural environment.
The core of the park was created in 1955 and was originally called Lake Pedder National Park. Over the following 35 years the park was gradually extended and renamed, finally reaching its present size in 1990.
Within the area there is only one road, to the hydro-electricity township of Strathgordon. The southern and western reaches of the park are far removed from any vehicular access. The only access is by foot, boat, or light aircraft.
The tiny locality of Melaleuca in the extreme south-west provides an airstrip and some very basic facilities, mainly to do with the National Parks Service. This area is also the summer breeding grounds of the highly endangered orange-bellied parrot
Two main walking tracks cross the park, one south from Lake Pedder to Melaleuca, the other west from Cockle Creek along Tasmania's south-coast to Melaleuca. The walks are generally for more experienced walkers, taking approximately ten to fourteen days to complete the full route. Alternatively a flight to or from Melaleuca may be arranged to split the walk, or for tourist access for day trips. Several more difficult walks also exist, encompassing the Eastern and Western Arthurs Ranges, Precipitous Bluff, the South West Cape, and Federation Peak (supposedly Australia's most difficult and dangerous walk). Many of these later routes are not recommended for inexperienced walkers, or for people travelling alone. Sea access to the region is best gained via Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. See the South West Wilderness article for more details.
Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Walls Of Jerusalem is a national park in Tasmania, Australia, 144 km northwest of Hobart. The park takes its name from the geological features of the park which are though to resemble the walls of the city of Jerusalem in Israel. As a result many places and features within the park also have Biblical references for names, such as Herods Gate, Lake Salome, Solomons Jewels, Damascus Gate, the Pool of Bathesda.
The most prominent feature of the park is King Davids Peak.
Central Plateau Conservation Area
The Central Plateau conservation area is an animal & plant conservation area in Tasmania, Australia.
The Central Plateau of Tasmania is the largest area of high ground in Tasmania. It is bound to the north east by the Great Western Tiers, a large number of hydro electric schemes emanating from rivers that flow to the south - and to the west by Cradle Mountain national park.
Devils Gullet State Reserve
Devils Gullet is a state reserve in Tasmania, Australia. It is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Australian Government. Tasmanian Wilderness Retrieved September 4, 2008.
- Chapman, John, Monica Chapman and John Siseman (2006) Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair and Walls of Jerusalem National Parks 5th ed. Laburnum, Vic. : J. Chapman. ISBN 1920995013
- Gee, Helen, Janet Fenton, Greg Hodge, and Chris Cowles. 1983. The Southwest book: a Tasmanian wilderness. Sydney: Collins. ISBN 9780002173056
- Poll, Mark J. 2005. Visitor experience in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Thesis (Ph.D.)—University of Tasmania, 2005.
- Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service. Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Retrieved September 4, 2008.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Tasmanian Wilderness Retrieved September 4, 2008.
External links
All links Retrieved August 23, 2008.
- Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
- Visitors Guide to Tasmania's National Parks - Lake St Clair
- Visitors Guide to Tasmania's National Parks - Cradle Mountain
- Visitors Guide to Tasmania's National Parks - Southwest National Park
- South West National Park
Credits
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- Tasmanian_Wilderness history
- Cradle_Mountain-Lake_St_Clair_National_Park history
- Franklin-Gordon_Wild_Rivers_National_Park history
- Hartz_Mountains_National_Park history
- Mole_Creek_Karst_National_Park history
- Southwest_National_Park history
- Walls_of_Jerusalem_National_Park history
- Central_Plateau_Conservation_Area history
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