The Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 acknowledges the significant contribution that Rainforest Aboriginal People make to the future management of the cultural and natural values within the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, particularly through joint management agreements. Cooperative management currently occurs across 46.9% of the World Heritage Area through Indigenous land use agreements and cooperative management agreements. Indigenous Protected Areas have been declared across 29.2% of the World Heritage Area. Land tenure resolution negotiations have commenced in some parts of the World Heritage Area (i.e. north of the Daintree River) providing an opportunity for joint management of national parks within the Eastern Kuku Yalanji estate. Limited progress has been made in establishing formal cooperative management arrangements in the central Wet Tropics (includes the Atherton Tableland) and further resources and support are required, in particular to support Indigenous ranger groups, country-based planning and land management activities.
The Authority will: