Altered fire regimes pressure on the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
Key Finding
Appropriate fire regimes are critical to maintaining many of the property’s World Heritage values.
Intense wildfires and fires outside planned burned guidelines are potential threats to Gondwana Rainforests’ Outstanding Universal Value.
The impact of fires is a significant concern for World Heritage values in the property.
About 46% (27,065 hectares) of the Queensland section of the property was impacted by the 2019–2020 bushfires.
- This included 6,861 hectares of rainforest.
- Up to 1,639 hectares of Araucaria cunninghamii rainforest (an OUV attribute) was impacted.
- Extensive areas of eucalypt woodlands and forests were severely affected. This is likely to impact a range of relict, endemic, disconnected, primitive and rare and threatened species of World Heritage significance.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has been updated on the 2019–2020 bushfire impacts on this property.
The Queensland Government continues to work with the Australian Government on bushfire impact assessment as well as planning and recovery actions.
This threat is considered high.
More Information:
- Gondwana Rainforests of Australia State of Conservation Update — April 2020
- Statement of Outstanding Universal Value
- World Heritage outlook
