World Heritage Identification Number: 181
World Heritage since: 1982
Category: Mixed Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇦🇺 Australia
Continent: Oceania
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Tasmanian Wilderness: A Unique Expansive Temperate Rainforest
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) is a remarkable testament to the natural beauty and biodiversity of Tasmania, Australia. This vast conservation area, spanning over 15,800 square kilometers or approximately 25 percent of Tasmania's total area, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The TWWHA is situated within a region that has undergone significant glacial activity, resulting in the formation of steep gorges and valleys. This geographical diversity, coupled with the mild temperate climate, creates an ideal habitat for various flora and fauna species. The area is particularly renowned for its extensive temperate rainforests, which are among the last remaining expanses of this unique ecosystem worldwide.
The TWWHA encompasses several national parks and reserves, including the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, the Southwest National Park, Mount Field National Park, Hartz Mountains National Park, Mole Creek Karst National Park, and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. These protected areas offer visitors a chance to experience the pristine wilderness, with opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife spotting.
One of the most notable features of the TWWHA is the abundance of ancient limestone caves. These caves serve as a time capsule, providing evidence of human habitation dating back over 20,000 years. Archaeological findings in these caves, such as tools and artifacts, offer valuable insights into the history and culture of the indigenous peoples who once inhabited this region. Some recent research findings hint to occupation in Tasmania as far back as 35,000 to 40,000 years ago, highlighting an even deeper history.
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to Tasmania. Notable inhabitants include the Tasmanian devil, the forester kangaroo, and the swift parrot. The area's rich biodiversity is further enhanced by its varied habitats, ranging from dense rainforests to alpine moorlands.
A mammal you will not find in the TWWHA today is the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine). It was once found across the island, and survived in the remote forests of Tasmania until the early 1900s. The Tasmanian tiger's population declined rapidly because of intensive hunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of competing species and diseases. The thylacine was officially declared extinct in 1936, the year the last known individual died in the Hobart Zoo.
In addition to its natural wonders, the TWWHA holds significant cultural value for the indigenous Aboriginal communities of Tasmania. The area has been a site of continuous human occupation for thousands of years, with the indigenous people relying on the land for food, shelter, and spiritual guidance.
The Aboriginal owners were forcibly removed from Tasmania during the 1830s. Although Indigenous people no longer live permanently in the TWWHA, some places are of great significance to the present-day Aboriginal Tasmanian community (Palawa), and they continue to play a vital role in the management and preservation of the Tasmanian Wilderness.
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area stands as a beacon of conservation efforts, offering a glimpse into the past while safeguarding the future of this unique and irreplaceable ecosystem. Its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site underscores the global significance of this pristine wilderness, ensuring its protection for generations to come.
UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
In a region that has been subjected to severe glaciation, these parks and reserves, with their steep gorges, covering an area of over 1 million ha, constitute one of the last expanses of temperate rainforest in the world. Remains found in limestone caves attest to the human occupation of the area for more than 20,000 years.
Encyclopedia Record: Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, abbreviated to TWWHA, is a World Heritage Site in Tasmania, Australia. It is one of the largest conservation areas in Australia, covering 15,800 km2 (6,100 sq mi), or almost 25 per cent of Tasmania. It is also one of the last expanses of temperate wilderness in the world, and includes the South West Wilderness.Additional Site Details
Area: 1,584,233 hectares
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
(vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(viii) — Outstanding example representing major earth stages
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: -43.1184722222 , 146.2305555556
