by Unesco. Photo: Sam Lawrence.
On December 5, 2024, managers from Palau’s Rock Islands Southern Lagoon and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, alongside UNESCO and IUCN experts, will share insights on managing visitor behavior for sustainable tourism. The discussion will focus on minimizing environmental impact, supporting local communities, and aligning with global biodiversity goals.
Read more: Online meeting: Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO World Heritage Marine Sites
by Tabatha Badger, Tasmania Greens MPS. Photo: Dan Broun.
The Tasmanian Greens have urged UNESCO to intervene over alleged government failures in managing the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Their letter cites unfulfilled commitments from the 2016 management plan, delays in reporting, inadequate environmental assessments, and support for controversial developments like Lake Malbena. They criticize both state and federal governments for prioritizing commercial interests over conservation and neglecting obligations to restore Lake Pedder. The Greens call for UNESCO’s intervention to protect the site’s natural and cultural heritage from further harm.
by Caitlyn Todoroski, TimeOut. Photo: Brad Newton.
Australia boasts some of the world’s most stunning rainforests, offering lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique ecosystems. Highlights include the ancient Daintree Rainforest, the Gondwana Rainforests of New South Wales, and Tasmania’s Tarkine. These destinations provide opportunities for hiking, wildlife spotting, and connecting with nature.
Read more: The 12 best rainforests in Australia to add to your bucket list
Discover 101 derelict spots around the country, many steeped in stories that will make your spine tingle…
Source: Are You Brave Enough To Face The Ghosts Of Australia’s Past?
Forget Fraser Island. The world’s largest sand island is now officially known by its traditional name, K’gari, the government of the Australian state of Queensland announced Wednesday.
Source: Australia’s popular Fraser Island has reverted to its traditional name of K’gari | CNN
For many millennia, Indigenous Australians have engineered Australia landscape. From an ochre mine to fish traps, here are five remarkable examples of First Nations technical know-how.
Source: 5 Indigenous engineering feats you should know about
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in Victoria is Australia’s first site listed purely for its Indigenous cultural value.
Source: Australia’s newest UNESCO World Heritage site is brilliantly alive
Establishing the age of K’gari (Fraser Island) confirms it emerged before the reef, despite the climate being suitable for coral growth long before then.
In the Butchulla language K’gari means paradise.
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Pronounced ‘gar-ree’, this unique Aussie spot is the world’s largest sand island…
Source: Lost in Paradise: What to see on sandy K’gari (Fraser Island)
There are still a few finishing touches to be made, but the official opening of the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre at Budj Bim in south-west Victoria is another important milestone for local Indigenous people.
Source: Australian World Heritage site older than pyramids celebrates big step forward
This UNESCO World Heritage listed site features more than 30,000 years of Gunditjmara history can runs guided tours.
Source: Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
Fraser Island was renamed to the original Butchulla name, K’gari. Returning to original place names is a significant step in First Nations people maintaining cultural identity in Australia.
Source: Celebrating K’gari: why the renaming of Fraser Island is about so much more than a name
Melbourne’s iconic Royal Exhibition Building has been pressed into service to help with a health crisis – and not for the first time.
Source: ‘It’s stunning’: Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed vaccine hub
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