Getting Along with the Landholders and Neighbours

Who are the Area's landholders and neighbours?

The WHA includes about 200 freehold blocks or parts thereof (2 percent of the Area) and over 100 leases (10 percent of the Area, mainly due to some large grazing leases). There are more than 2500 individual blocks of land neighbouring the Area’s 3000 kilometre boundary and many more in the catchment areas. Neighbouring land is managed for a multitude of purposes including conservation, timber production, grazing, sugar cane and other agriculture, beekeeping, tourism and private residences. The Area’s largest neighbour is the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area which abuts the east coast, shares interests in the management of coastal fauna and flora and is affected by run off from river systems which pass through the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The good neighbour policy

Many World Heritage Area landholders make a significant contribution to its management. Neighbouring landholders also play a particularly important role in conserving the World Heritage Area. Many of the major threats to World Heritage values occur along the extensive boundaries of the Area. The assistance of landholders and neighbours is vital for the retention and rehabilitation of habitat and wildlife corridors, fire management, weed and feral animal control, and care of water quality and flows – all of which can also benefit landholders. The Authority's policy is to be a good neighbour and work constructively towards addressing these issues. The Authority believes informed and supportive neighbours greatly enhance the management of the World Heritage Area. The Authority's statutory control does not extend outside the World Heritage Area boundary, so a cooperative partnership with neighbours is vital.