Fraser Island World Heritage integrity

Key finding

The World Heritage area of Fraser Island and a number of small adjacent islands off the west coast covers 181,851ha. Its boundary extends 500m seaward from the high water mark around Fraser Island and the smaller islands. The majority of Fraser Island is national park: all of the marine area within the World Heritage area lies within Great Sandy Marine Park.

The integrity of the Fraser Island World Heritage area is maintained: there is no perceptible human threat to longshore drift and other ongoing processes that make this area of outstanding universal value. The property is sufficiently large, diverse and free from disturbance and contains all ecosystem components required for viable populations of all species and continued maintenance of natural ecosystem functions.

The evolution of soil profiles on Fraser Island remains essentially undisturbed. Weeds, plant diseases and feral animals are present but in low numbers and are subject to active management. Disjunct and relict populations of flora and fauna, including those associated with the lakes and creeks, have remained intact and will continue to be important for ongoing speciation. While the tall rainforests were affected to some extent by past logging, this practice has stopped and the forests have the capacity to return to their former grandeur.

More information:

• Statement of outstanding universal value

• Previous Fraser Island World Heritage natural criteria
• Next Invasive species pressure on Fraser Island