World Heritage nomination for areas of Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula features a mosaic of diverse and relatively undisturbed habitats.
The Queensland Government is committed to preparing a World Heritage nomination for suitable areas of Cape York Peninsula. However, the nomination will only proceed with the consent of Traditional Owners and support from the community.
The Cape York Peninsula region (PDF, 191K)* is a place of special heritage, containing vast and relatively undisturbed landscapes, rich with Aboriginal traditions and customs, and extraordinary biological significance and diversity.
One of the best ways to protect these heritage values for future generations is to nominate them for World Heritage listing.
The Queensland Government will consult with the community, in particular the people of Cape York Peninsula, about potential World Heritage nomination. The community is encouraged to help identify cultural and natural heritage values, and determine boundaries and management strategies for any proposed World Heritage areas.
Involving the community
Have your say about a proposal to nominate suitable areas of Cape York Peninsula for World Heritage listing.
Cape York Peninsula is an important part of Queensland’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage.
The Queensland Government has recently released a discussion brochure (PDF, 5.1M)* about Cape York Peninsula and World Heritage and is inviting people to get involved and have their say.
A nomination will only occur if there is Traditional Owner consent and community support.
Over the last couple of years, the government has been working with local communities and scientists to gather existing information about the region’s cultural and natural heritage values and their management needs. It has also been working with Traditional Owners to help them plan for their country, as well as consulting with stakeholders and the broader community.
The discussion brochure ‘World Heritage for Cape York Peninsula – A chance to have your say’ describes what World Heritage is and how it works and discusses issues that communities have already identified as being particularly important, such as identifying the heritage values, land management needs and land use activities.
It also explains how people can get involved and includes a Contact and Feedback Form (PDF, 130K)* that can be completed and returned to DERM.
Over the next year, the Queensland Government will work with Traditional Owners, local communities, stakeholders and the Australian Government to identify the heritage values that could be included in a potential World Heritage nomination and to determine how those values will be managed.
The Queensland Government encourages everyone interested to have their say and get involved. Traditional Owners from Cape York Peninsula may also be eligible for funding to do some planning for country.
For more information:
Email : consultation.cypwh@derm.qld.gov.au
Call : 07 4222 5239
What are World Heritage areas?
World Heritage areas are places that have cultural and natural heritage of such importance that they are recognised worldwide as being significant. Only areas that are considered to be of ‘outstanding universal value’ according to one or more of the World Heritage criteria can be nominated.
Areas of outstanding universal value are places so special that there is no other place like them in the world. They are the best of the world’s best natural and cultural heritage.
World Heritage areas can include all sorts of land tenures, such as national parks, conservation parks, freehold land, Aboriginal land, pastoral leases, unallocated crown land and council reserves.
Once an area is included on the World Heritage list, the nominating country is obliged to manage, protect and promote its heritage values for the benefit of current and future generations.
Queensland is one of the most naturally diverse places on earth and already has five World Heritage listed properties
For more information on National and World Heritage areas, visit www.environment.gov.au or www.unesco.org.
Opportunities World Heritage can bring to Cape York Peninsula
World Heritage listing on Cape York Peninsula can:
- bring international recognition of the outstanding cultural and natural heritage of the area
- improve how the area is managed by involving the community
- protect and maintain the region’s outstanding heritage values
- provide support and resources to better manage on-ground resources
- present the region’s outstanding heritage values with better interpretation and visitor facilities
- provide potential economic and employment opportunities through tourism, land management and other community-based projects.
For more information
The Queensland Government is seeking your input into this program. For any additional questions or issues that have not been addressed in the fact sheet, please email us.
To be added to the contact list and receive further information about a potential World Heritage nomination on Cape York Peninsula, please provide a contact email address here.
Useful links
Fact sheets
- World Heritage Nomination for areas of Cape York Peninsula (PDF, 70K)*
- World Heritage Nomination for areas of Cape York Peninsula; For Pastoralists (PDF, 48K)*
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 22 March 2012