Partnerships

Why does the Authority need partnerships?

The management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WHA) is based on partnerships. As well as as other State Government and Local Government agencies the Authority relies heavily on the community to help manage the WHA. The health of the WHA also depends largely on the efforts of the community to conserve and rehabilitate biodiversity and control weeds and feral animals outside the WHA boundaries.

The Authority must also make sure that the WHA has a role in the life of the community. This means that the the community must play a role in the management of the WHA. The community must be able to enjoy its rainforests, rivers and spectacular scenery tand learn about its plants and animals. It also means that the WHA must be looked after so that the community can continue to enjoy assets such as clean water, genetic resources and scenic beauty.

Wet Tropics legislation stipulates that the community must play a role in WHA management. In recognition of this essential role, the policies for the implementation of the Wet Tropics Management Plan were called Protection Through Partnerships.

Who are the Authority's partners?

The Authority has partnerships with a wide variety of community sectors and community groups. Some of these groups were established by the Authority to help it manage the WHA and provide advice. These community sectors and groups are discussed in detail on other pages. They include:

• Rainforest Aboriginal people
• Wet Tropics Board Advisory Committees and Liaison Groups
• Landholders and neighbours of the WHA
• Community, conservation and volunteer groups
• Terrain NRM

The Cassowary Awards

In recognition of the essential role of the community in looking after and promoting the World Heriatge Area, the Authority initiated the Cassowary Awards in 1999. Each year the Authority pays tribute to some of those community members who have worked tirelessly to conserve and present the Area. The Cassowary Awards are given for excellence in a variety of categories including conservation, nature based tourism, Rainforest Aborignal Culture, neighbour, science, arts and unsung hero.

Since 2005 the Young Cassowary Awards have been given to school children and other young people. Information about the past winners of Cassowary Awards is detailed on the pages below.