Tasmanian Wilderness Australia

Tasmanian Wilderness

Short Report

In a region which is exposed to heavy ice age, these parks and reserves, with their steep gorges, covers an area of more than 1 million hectares, are one of the last extensive temperate rainforest in the world. Still found in limestone caves witnesses of human occupation of the area for more than 20,000 years.

Wide Report

It covers an area of more than 1 million hectares, the Tasmanian Wilderness is one of the last extensive temperate rainforest in the world. It consists of an interconnected network of reserved lands that extends over large parts of southwest Tasmania includes several islands. In contrast to the mainland and the island of Tasmania is a rugged region with fold structures in the western half and fault structures in the east, both of which are represented in the property. Expand the structure province in the south-west is a very robust and densely wooded area overgrown with north-south oriented mountain ranges and valley systems. Changing climatic conditions have also affected landscape development stresses, most recently by late Cainozoic and forms part pleistocene era glacial and periglacial events. Glacial erosion has contributed to spectacular landform features such as horns, arêtes, cirques, U-shaped valleys and rock basins (tarns). The coastline is subject to a number of sea changes during the glaciations has created and now offers a classic example of a drowned landscape, as demonstrated by the diverse coastline in the south. Special landforms associated with the development of karst have formed by the solution of ammonium carbonate rocks such as (Precambrian) dolomite and (Ordovician) limestone. Features include cave systems, natural arches, clints and grikes, 'dolines' confiscated, carts, pinnacles and blind valleys.

The vegetation has much in common with cool, temperate regions of South America and New Zealand and the rest of Australia. Next to climatic and edaphic factors, the vegetation has developed in response to fire. Aboriginal occupation in the last 30,000 years has constituted an important source of fire; more recently many fires can be attributed to the interests of the fishermen, logging, and prospectors. The fauna is a worldwide interest, in that it has an exceptionally high percentage endemic species and groups estuary of ancient lineage. In view of the varied topography, geology, soil and vegetation in association with aggressive and variable weather conditions to make a combination of a wide range of animal habitats, fauna correspondingly diverse.

The insular nature of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Wilderness in particular, has contributed to the uniqueness and has contributed to the protection against the effects of exotic species which greatly affect the continental fauna. Tasmania Australia was cut off from the mainland by the flood of Bass Strait at least 8000 years ago, allowing the isolation of the indigenous inhabitants. The Tasmanian aboriginal people were until the arrival of the European explorer Abel Tasman, the longest isolated human group in world history, surviving 500 generations without external influences. Investigations and excavations of domestic river valleys have 37 cave sites, all considered to be occupied between 30,000 and 11,500 years ago on the basis of the findings. Recent discoveries of rock art on three cave sites have shown that this painting had a ceremonial interpretation; hand stencils predominated. Stone artifact scatters and quarries and rock shelters in the Tasmanian highlands indicate a striking adaptation to this subalpine environment in the later Holocene. The south coast consists of a range of shell centers; proof until now available for changing patterns of shellfish exploitation for thousands of years until the arrival of the Europeans in the beginning of the 19th century.

Historical Data

Cradle Mountain-Lake st Clair was again declared a national park (124,848ha) at July 18, 1971 in the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970, after which several extensions and limits adjustments have been made. Cradle Mountain was originally established as a scenic reserve (63,943ha) at may 16, 1922 under the Landscape Conservation Act 1915 and extended by 60,705ha with More st Clair and Oakleigh Creek Protected Area December 1, 1936. These areas are also received at different times sanctuary state (May 31, 1927 in the case of Cradle Mountain) under the animals and birds Protection Act 1919. (Oakleigh Creek conservation Area is not upgraded to national park status together with the rest of the scenic reserve in 1971).

Franklin-Lower Gordon wild Rivers was a national park on May 13, 1981. Of its 195,200ha expanse, 14,125ha were repealed on september 2, 1982 and based on the Hydro-Electric Commission. This country is leased to the Department of Lands, Parks and Nature of 1 December 1986 for 25 years; for the purposes of the National Parks and wildlife Act it is considered as a reserve. Three protected areas with a total area of 23,135ha ceased to exist on the inclusion in the national park at the time of the adoption, Namely Gordon River state Reserve (created on May 3, 1939 and also on 19 June), Frenchmans Cap National Park (created on June 14, 1941, extended on 29 August 1951) and Lyell Highway State Reserve (established on 3 May 1939).  Southwest National Park was created on October 16, 1969 after enlargement and renaming of More Pedder National Park.

The latter was established on March 23, 1955, some of which was originally part of Port Davey state Reserve set at October 24, 1951. Southwest National Park was again declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 and extended to 372,300ha in November 3, 1976, Since when additional extensions have taken place on 17 November and December 1, 1976, and may 13, 1981.

Validity of establishment of other protected areas are as follows: 

The walls of Jerusalem National Park June 17, 1981

Exit Cave state Reserve April 4, 1979 

Central Plateau Conservation Area February 10, 1982 

Southwest Conservation Area July 9, 1980

Southwest National Park has been declared a biosphere reserve in october 1977. A conglomerate of national parks, consisting of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, Franklin-Lower Gordon Wild Rivers and Southwest, was registered on the World Heritage List in 1982 and named Western Tasmanian Wilderness National Parks. It was renamed Tasmanian Wilderness in 1989. All the details of the progress of the reservation required, except in the case of woods and Sarah Island Historic Reserve are included in the World Heritage nomination (Government of Australia, 1988).

Source:whc/unesco