Ecological and Cultural Understanding as a Basis for Management of a Globally Significant Island Landscape

K’gari (Fraser Island), an Australian World Heritage Site, faces significant ecological and cultural management challenges due to its unique isolation, biodiversity, and rich First Nations history. Research identifies a contested balance between tourism pressures, biosecurity threats, and climate change while emphasizing the need for equitable co-management involving Indigenous Peoples. The study reveals that island uniqueness, though underfunded in research, demands greater investment to address conservation gaps. It proposes a framework for sustainable management that integrates ecological integrity with cultural custodianship, offering global applicability to similar World Heritage Sites.

Walker, K., Baldwin, C., Conroy, G., Applegate, G., Archer-Lean, C., Arthington, A., Behrendorff, L., Gilby, B., Hadwen, W., Henderson, C., Jacobsen, C., Lamb, D., Lieske, S., Ogbourne, S., Olds, A., Ota, L., Ribbe, J., Sargent, S., Schaffer, V., et al. (2022). Ecological and Cultural Understanding as a Basis for Management of a Globally Significant Island Landscape. Coasts, 2(3), 152–202. https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts2030009