- Wet Tropics Management
- Legislative framework
- Management partnerships
- Sustainable Tourism Plan
- Threats to the Area
- Research and a Learning Landscape
- How can I help?
The tabling in Australian Parliament this month of the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s (the Authority) State of Wet Tropics Report reveals the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area (the Area) faces significant environmental challenges—including increasing impacts of climate change and growing biosecurity threats.
The Area is home to unique and iconic animals such as the cassowary, the tree kangaroo and a multitude of bird and frog species.
It is globally recognised for its biological diversity and is of significant cultural, scientific, conservation and economic value for the region.
The State of Wet Tropics Report considers each of the main threats to the Area, and provides a snapshot of current management efforts and offers priorities for future action, however it identifies that the range and scale of current actions is not enough to address the significant and complex threats to the Area and its World Heritage values.
Executive Director of the Authority Scott Buchanan said, “the ever-increasing challenges posed by climate change and biosecurity threats is arguably becoming beyond current capacity to manage, though I am proud to say that this community is rallying and having a go.”
The Report notes several key management responses aimed at protecting the values of the area.
This includes a number of the targeted biosecurity programs such as the Authority’s Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program and Biosecurity Queensland’s Electric Ant and Tropical Weeds Eradication Programs. Increasing areas of land are being managed by Rainforest Aboriginal groups and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships are responsible for 87% of the area as national parks.
As well as this there are the great efforts of community through Natural Resource Management Groups, Landcare, local government, private protected areas and growing stewardship from the tourism industry.
Chair of the Authority Chrissy Grant said three of the four criteria underpinning the Area’s Outstanding Universal Value—the basis of its World Heritage listing—are under threat.
“While there are some exciting opportunities emerging, the overall message is sobering: despite ongoing efforts, the growing risks continue to outpace conservation actions,” Ms Grant said.
The report identifies the need for a concerted coordinated approach to climate change threats, similar to what is being undertaken with the Great Barrier Reef. It also calls for increased opportunities for First Nations led management, and additional focus on biosecurity, research, monitoring and restoration.
“A collaborative effort and ongoing commitment between government, First Nations Peoples, industry, property managers, researchers, and community is required to ensure that the Area’s natural, cultural, economic, and scenic values are protected for future generations,” Ms Grant said.
These concerning findings corroborate the trends documented in past State of Wet Tropics reports and reflect the compounding and urgent pressures on the Area’s values.
Of these, climate change is recognised as the greatest long-term threat to the Area, with the impact of invasive species and altered fire and hydrological regimes further exacerbating impacts.
This report identifies several critical priorities:
• A concerted collaborative response to climate change impacts. A coordinated and targeted response involving government, First Nations Peoples, industry, property managers, researchers and community.
• First Nations-led management. The application of traditional ecological knowledge, including long-term funding for Indigenous ranger programs.
• Biosecurity response. Prioritisation of critical biosecurity threats for local and regional action, and continuation of the Authority’s work to eradicate invasive yellow crazy ants.
• Upland rainforest resilience. Immediate on-ground actions that protect refugia, enhance landscape connectivity, and avoid extinctions.
• Rehabilitation and restoration. Proactive restoration efforts to restore and enhance critical habitat and improve condition of degraded landscapes across the Wet Tropics bioregion.
